Kyle Wiggers
Apple is no stranger to the chips business. Its W2 wireless coprocessor manages Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity on the Apple Watch Series 3, and its T2 wafer handles encryption, voice recognition, audio, and image processing in the latest-generation MacBook Pro. But according to CNBC, Apple is turning its attention to a new area of semiconductor research: biometric analysis.
In a report published today, CNBC uncovered job postings from Apple’s Health Sensing hardware team that hint at a custom processor for health data management. “We are looking for sensor ASIC architects to help develop ASICs for new sensors and sensing systems for future Apple products,” one reads. “We have openings for analog as well as digital ASIC architects.”
Two previous listings — one in June and one posted earlier this month — sought engineers with expertise in “health, wellness, [optical,] and fitness” sensors.
In July, Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst with a reliable track record, said that upcoming Apple Watch models would boast better battery life and heart rate detection. It’s unclear, though, whether those improvements are the result of architectural changes.
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