Wearable clothing news : September 2021

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Boston-Based Microphone Startup Vesper Raises $18 Million In Funding

Vesper, a Boston-based startup that makes tiny microphones and voice-activated technology, raised $18 million more in funding. Amazon once again was among the company’s backers. The funding round was led by Boston venture firm Accomplice. Vesper also received investments from Applied Materials Ventures, Sands Capital, Bose, Amazon Alexa Fund, Gopher Asset Management, ITIC, World Peace Group, Unitrontech, and MegaChips. The round brings Vesper’s total funding to date to $73M.

The funding will enable the startup to accelerate hyper-scaling of its smart microphones and accelerometers from tens of millions of units per year to hundreds of millions per year, support research and development, and expand into new markets, Vesper said in a news release.

“This additional financing is a strong show of support from new and existing investors to enable Vesper to rapidly scale production to capitalize on new sales opportunities,” said Matt Crowley, CEO of Vesper. “Our vision to use our proprietary ZeroPower Listening architecture to bring order of magnitude improvements in power consumption to always sensing systems is being validated by many of the world’s most innovative companies across multiple markets. This financing will allow us to serve new customers and applications, and help accelerate the transition to edge AI enabled always listening systems.”

In April, Vesper raised $8 million, bringing the company’s total funding to $65 million. The funding round was led by Applied Ventures but included funding from Accomplice, Amazon Alexa Fund, Bose Ventures, Sands Capital, and other undisclosed investors.

About Vesper

Vesper is a privately held smart sensor company based in Boston, MA. Vesper’s award-winning microphones and accelerometers deliver tremendous value by embedding intelligence at the extreme edge of the network. For more information, visit www.vespermems.com, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Accomplice

Accomplice is a seed-led venture capital firm that embraces risk, and is the most determined, patient capital partner for entrepreneurs building things that matter. We have been part of the origin story of AngelList, Carbon Black, Currencycloud, DraftKings, Integral Ad Science, Hopper, PillPack, Plastiq, Recorded Future, SecurityScorecard, Skillz, Veracode, WHOOP, and Zoopla. Accomplice has pioneered a community approach through platforms like Spearhead, BOSS, Rev, and TUGG. Based in Boston.

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Wednesday, September 29, 2021

The best Wear OS apps for your Google-powered smartwatch

Looking to spruce up that new Android smartwatch? Download some of these great Wear OS apps for fitness, entertainment, dating, directions, shopping, and work.

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Amazon is having a SECRET SALE on Apple products today

Amazon is offering discounts for a wide range of Apple products, including the AirPods Pro, the 2021 iPad, the Apple Watch Series 6, and the 2020 MacBook Pro.

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Biosensors to Measure Antibiotic Levels From Breath Samples

A team of engineers and biotechnologists at the University of Freiburg has for the first time shown that it is possible to determine the concentration of antibiotics in the body of mammals using breath samples. The breath measurements also corresponded to the antibiotic concentrations in the blood.

The team’s biosensor – a multiplex chip that allows simultaneous measurement of several specimens and test substances – will in future enable personalized dosing of medicines against infectious diseases on-site and help to minimize the development of resistant strains of bacteria.

The sensor was created by scientists led by Dr. Can Dincer and H. Ceren Ates, FIT Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, and Professor Dr. Wilfried Weber, Professor of Synthetic Biology and a member of the team of speakers at the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS — Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, reports University of Freiburg.

The sensor is based on synthetic proteins that react to antibiotics, resulting in a current change. The observations have been published in the Advanced Materials journal.

Previously researchers could only detect traces of antibiotics in the breath

The researchers tested the biosensor on the blood, plasma, urine, saliva and breath samples of pigs who had received antibiotics. They were able to show that the result achieved with biosensors in the pigs’ plasma were as accurate as the standard medical laboratory process. Previously, measurement of antibiotic levels in exhaled breath samples was not possible: “Until now researchers could only detect traces of antibiotics in the breath. With our synthetic proteins on a microfluidic chip, we can determine the smallest concentrations in the breath condensate and they correlate with the blood values,” explains Dincer.

A scientist speaking — Dr. Can Dincer (Photo credit: University of Freiburg)

Sensor will help to keep antibiotic level stable in severely ill

Physicians need to keep the antibiotics level within a personalized therapeutic range for patients suffering severe infections, at the risk of threats such as sepsis and organ failure or even the death of the patient. Inadequate administration of antibiotics could allow bacteria to mutate so that the medicines no longer work: they become resistant. “Rapid monitoring of antibiotic levels would be a huge advantage in hospital,” says Ates, “it might be possible to fit the method into a conventional face mask.” In another project at the University of Freiburg, Dincer is developing wearable paper sensors for the continuous measurement of biomarkers from exhaled breath. Clinical trials to validate the antibiotic biosensor by testing the system with human samples are planned.

Bacterial proteins as sensor

The microfluidic biosensor bears proteins that can recognize beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin, affixed to a polymer film. Antibiotic of interest in the sample and an enzyme-coupled beta-lactam are in competition to bind these bacterial proteins. This competition generates a current change – like in a battery: the more antibiotic there is present in the sample, the less enzyme product develops, which leads to a lower measurable current. The process is based on a natural receptor protein that resistant bacteria uses to detect the antibiotics that threatens them. “You could say we are beating the bacteria at their own game,” Weber says of the process developed by his group.

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Withings smart ScanWatch Horizon looks just like a desirable diver’s watch

The Withings ScanWatch Horizon adopts the popular diver's watch style and the same health tech as the original ScanWatch to make a highly desirable smartwatch.

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Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Amazon’s next generation of Halo View adds fitness and nutrition features

Amazon's next-gen Halo View wearable brings new fitness tracking and nutrition features to the table.

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Qualcomm Introduces Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program to Help Accelerate Wearables Adoption

Qualcomm has introduced the Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program. The program focuses on bringing together device manufacturers, mobile operators, platform players, independent hardware and software vendors, and system integrators to help accelerate wearable adoption and reduce development time of wearables products.

By emphasizing collaboration within an ecosystem centered on the Snapdragon Wear Platform, member companies could reduce time to commercialization, increase business opportunities, and create more intelligent, connected wearables. Consumers can enjoy richer, more personalized experiences with devices designed to cater to their specific needs.

“We see tremendous potential for wearables in the coming years, though this comes with formidable challenges. How do we build systems to help meet growing demand and find proper solutions for an expanding market? The first and perhaps most important answer to this question comes by fostering an ecosystem where a diverse range of companies involved in the wearable technology chain share new and existing solutions within a universal platform,” Qualcomm said.

The Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program is attracting incredible companies from a wide range of industries and development points. Zebra Technologies, a manufacturing company specializing in real-time tracking, scanning, and analyzing for businesses, provides invaluable expertise in technology that can be applied to intuitive enterprise-focused wearables for smart, hands-free usage. Best Buy Health, a leader in tech-enabled senior care, can offer next-generation wearables for seniors that support advanced remote patient monitoring and integration with health systems. Other companies are bringing their technological know-how of supply chains, connectivity, and industry knowledge to the ecosystem for a deep understanding of Snapdragon Wear and the Wearables industry.

Qualcomm Technologies’ Senior Director, Product Marketing, Pankaj Kedia, who heads the company’s wearables business, recently hosted a roundtable for the Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program featuring existing members and industry leaders from Verizon, Fossil, and Best Buy Health. Members discussed their thoughts on and vision for the wearables industry in the coming years, and stressed the importance of an ecosystem program that brings everyone to the table for new solutions and innovation at every step, from production to deployment.

Companies connecting with one another on new solutions and optimizations at every stage of development is what will drive wearables into a new phase of adoption. We encourage companies with a vested interest in wearable development to apply to the Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program where they’ll benefit from shared knowledge of Snapdragon Wear optimizations and solutions. The offer is open to any company, and those that join will also be invited to our inaugural Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program summit in fall 2021, where collaborators and program member companies will join together to discuss trends and solutions in the wearables industry.

“For decades, we built the foundational technologies that help people connect, compute, and communicate. One of the keys to our success — and the success of the wearables ecosystem — is collaboration with other industry leaders and development specialists. Snapdragon Wear is helping a new mobile computing market thrive, and this program will accelerate progress and build lasting relationships,” Qualcomm said.

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MIT Unveils a Toolkit That Allows Anyone To Design Their Own Muscle-Sensing Wearables

MIT’s Science and and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has created a toolkit that lets users design health-sensing devices that can detect how muscles move. To design the toolkit, the researchers used a technique called Electrical impedance tomography (EIT). EIT is actually an imaging technique that measures and visualizes a person’s internal conductivity. (EIT is typically used for things like observing lung function or detecting cancer.)

Using “EIT-kit,” the team built a range of devices that support different sensing applications, including a personal muscle monitor for physical rehabilitation, a wearable hand gesture recognizer, and a “bracelet” that can detect distracted driving.

While EIT sensing usually requires expensive hardware setups and complicated image reconstruction algorithms, the use of printed electronics and open-source EIT image libraries has made it an attractive, low-cost, and portable option. But designing EIT items is still tough, and usually requires a proper fusion of design knowledge, adequate contact between the device and the human, and optimization, writes Rachel Gordon at MIT News.

The EIT-kit 3D editor puts the user in the driver’s seat for full design direction. Once the sensing electrodes (which measure human activity) are put on the device in the editor, it can be exported to a 3D printer. The item can then be assembled, placed onto the target measuring area, and connected to EIT-kit’s sensing motherboard. As a final step, an on-board microcontroller library automates the electrical impedance measurement, and lets users see the visual measured data, even on a mobile phone.

A person showing thumbs up — EIT-Kit is a toolkit for designing wearable devices that use electrical conductivity to sense motion and monitor health. (Photo courtesy of MIT CSAIL)

Existing devices can also only sense motion, limiting users to understanding only how they change positions over time — but EIT-kit can sense actual muscle activity. One device prototyped by the team, which looks like two simple bands, sensed muscle strain and tension in the thigh to monitor muscle recovery post-injury, and may even possibly be used to prevent reinjury. The muscle monitor here used two electrode arrays to create a 3D image of the thigh, as well as augmented reality to view the muscle activity in real-time. In this case, just sensing motion would be useless, since a person doing a rehabilitation exercise correctly requires using the correct muscle. In addition, the researchers sensed biological tissue via an EIT device that analyzed the tenderness of raw meat.

“The EIT-kit project fits my long-term vision of creating personal health-sensing devices with rapid function prototyping techniques and novel sensing technologies,” says MIT CSAIL PhD student Junyi Zhu, the lead author on a new paper about EIT-kit. “During our study alongside medical professionals, we discovered that EIT sensing is largely patient- and sensing-location dependent, because of measuring configurations, signal calibration, electrode placements, and other bioelectrical-related factors. These challenges can be resolved with customizable hardware and automation algorithms. Beyond EIT, other health sensing technologies face similar complexities and personalized needs.”

The team is currently collaborating with MGH to develop EIT-kit for creating remote rehabilitation devices to monitor different parts of a patient’s body while healing. Since all EIT-kit devices are mobile and customized to a patient’s body form and particular injury, they can be easily used at home to give doctors a more holistic picture of the healing process.

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Best Cyber Monday deals 2021: What to expect

We help you plan for and get the best of the loads of Cyber Monday deals for a wide variety of products.

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Best cheap GoPro alternative action cameras for September 2021

If you're staying active outside, a good action camera is a perfect way to record your adventures.

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Best cheap Fitbit deals for September 2021

Out of shape? Get a head start on your summer beach bod with the best cheap Fitbit deals currently available.

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Monday, September 27, 2021

Know Labs Introduces KnowU, A Portable Medical-Grade Glucose Monitoring Device That Utilizes Bio-RFID

Know Labs, an emerging leader in non-invasive medical diagnostics, introduced the KnowU, a new portable medical-grade glucose monitoring device that utilizes Bio-RFID, Know Labs’ non-invasive diagnostic technology.

The KnowU is a convenient, non-wearable, on-the-go alternative to fingersticks, which are used to check blood glucose levels, often multiple times per day, by more than 90% of the global population with diabetes. The KnowU joins the Know Labs UBand as an additional non-invasive glucose monitoring solution and an extension of the product portfolio, powered by Bio-RFID. UBand is a medical-grade wearable continuous glucose monitoring device. Both have the potential to revolutionize how 1.5 billion people manage their diabetes or pre-diabetes. The KnowU is expected to begin the FDA pre-approval process in 2022, reports BusinessWire.

The KnowU has two elements: a base that powers the device and displays blood glucose readings, and a pocket-sized battery-powered portable monitor that contains the Bio-RFID sensors, which can be carried by the user to check blood glucose levels on the go. Like the UBand, the KnowU will use Know Labs’ smartphone app to store and display readings.

“We know that not all people with diabetes are looking for a wearable continuous glucose monitoring device to manage their diabetes. Some simply want to replace the painful, inconvenient and expensive fingersticks they currently rely on,” said Phil Bosua, Know Labs CEO and Bio-RFID inventor. “The Bio-RFID sensor we currently use for our internal product testing fits in your pocket and is ready for final use, so we decided to create the KnowU as a portable, affordable and convenient alternative requiring no disposable items, such as test strips and lancets.”

A smart wristband — UBand (Photo: Know Labs)

“The addition of the KnowU to our product portfolio does not change our timeline for the UBand commercial launch, which is proceeding as planned,” said Ron Erickson, Know Labs Founder and Chairman. “The KnowU leverages the same science and technology created for the UBand and will be faster to build and commercialize therefore accelerating our time to launch. Our Bio-RFID technology is form-factor agnostic and the KnowU is a great example of how we can leverage it to increase Know Labs’ addressable market and guarantee we have multiple product solutions for every need.”

Know Labs is focused on launching what the company believes will be the world’s first non-invasive medical-grade glucose monitoring solution, via two devices.

About Know Labs

Know Labs’ technology uses spectroscopy to direct electromagnetic energy through a substance or material to capture a unique molecular signature. The Company refers to its technology as Bio-RFID. The Bio-RFID technology can be integrated into a variety of wearable, mobile, or bench-top form factors. This patented and patent-pending technology makes it possible to effectively conduct analyses that could only previously be performed by invasive and/or expensive and time-consuming lab-based tests.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 just got its first discount, and it’s a big one

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has received its first discount on Amazon, with the 42mm, Bluetooth version of the wearable device available for just $342.

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Google is finally bringing YouTube Music to older Wear OS watches

Google's YouTube Music app is no longer exclusive to watches running Google Wear OS 3. The company is bringing it to older devices this week.

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Best cheap smartwatch deals for September 2021

Smartwatches make life easier by sending alerts right on your wrist. Many also provide fitness-tracking features, so now is a great time to pick one up for cheap. With so many models available, you can find a deal almost all of the time.

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Best cheap Apple Watch deals and sales for September 2021

The Apple Watch has surged to prominence in recent years. If you're in the market for an iOS wearable, we've sniffed out the best Apple Watch deals available right now.

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Apple Launches Study To Detect Depression, Cognitive Decline Using Apple Watch and iPhone

Apple is working on a technology to help detect depression and early-stage cognitive decline, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The efforts spring from research partnerships last year, when Apple partnered with the University of California at Los Angeles to launch the three-year program through UCLA’s Depression Grand Challenge. The goal was to allow researchers to monitor participants for signs of stress, anxiety and depression through the Apple Watch and a wearable sleep monitoring device developed by Beddit, with data gathered by an app on the user’s iPhone.

Now, Biogen is joining the project. The pharmaceutical company received approval this summer from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new drug to treat mild cognitive impairment.

The code name for the UCLA project is “Seabreeze” while “Pi” is the code name for the Biogen project.

The UCLA researchers will use the iPhone’s video camera, keyboard, and audio sensors, as well as the Apple Watch, to collect data, according to The Wall Street Journal. This could include how users speak, how often and how fast they walk, their heart and breathing rates, their sleep patterns, and more. Researchers may also measure typing speed and the frequency of typos.

The back side of a smartphone — Image: blocks, Unsplash

“The analyses made possible by the scale, length and design of this study will provide the most extensive evidence available to date regarding the possible uses of digital tools for assessing and tracking behavioral health,” Nelson Freimer, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA and the study’s principal investigator, said at the time. “We envision a future in which these tools will become indispensable for depression sufferers and those providing them care.”

Apple, along with Biogen, will also detect cognitive impairment in patients. The cognitive impairment can develop into Alzheimer’s in a later stage. Early detection could help the users from contracting serious illnesses like Alzheimer’s. The tech giant along with Biogen plans to track almost 20,000 people who have signed up for the project.

Apple hopes that if the data gathered from Apple devices correlates with a health condition, Apple could develop an app or feature that could warn people that they are at risk so they can seek care.

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Friday, September 24, 2021

Sequent SuperCharger 2.1 Premium HR review: Infinite power, limited tech

The Sequent SuperCharger means you never charge a smartwatch again, but it comes at the expense of smart tech.

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Best cheap Apple deals and sales for September 2021

Apple fans know how fleeting deals can be, but we've rounded up some great Apple deals for you right here.

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5 things we love about WatchOS 8, and 1 that has us baffled

WatchOS 8 is available to download now, so which features should you try out first? Here are five things we like, and one other that is less successful.

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Supersapiens Glucose Display Wearable Is Designed Specifically For Athletes

Supersapiens has announced a new wearable device specifically designed for athletes. Dubbed the Energy Band, the wearable, in conjunction with Abbott’s Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, can display your glucose data in real-time on your wrist or to a bike’s handlebar as you exercise without the need to go through a smartphone.

“Supersapiens is dedicated to empowering athletes to maximize their training and increase performance gains1 with well-fueled workouts. Real-time glucose visibility, available at a glance, is an industry-first for sports performance,” says Supersapiens Founder and CEO Phil Southerland. “This is one more step forward to fully integrating the Supersapiens energy management system in all athletes’ training — to help them effectively manage fueling to sustain high-intensity work and go faster longer.”

The Supersapiens Energy Band’s features and benefits include:

Real-time visibility – Supersapiens’ unique and simple-to-use interface displays current glucose values along with a trend arrow. Simply by tapping on the side, athletes can see different stats, including daily glucose exposure and tracking against their daily goal.
Direct Bridge – The Supersapiens Energy Band connects directly to Abbott’s biosensor, giving athletes the convenience of wearable access to their real-time glucose data. The Supersapiens Energy Band is the only wearable device on the market capable of directly connecting to Abbott’s biosensor. Other compatible devices such as Garmin require a user’s phones to act as a data bridge, according to Globe Newswire.
Workout-proof – Designed to handle a rainstorm, swim, or sweaty workout, the Supersapiens Energy Band is water-resistant up to 50 meters (5ATM).
Easy to read – the Supersapiens Energy Band’s 8 color memory in pixel LCD display with backlight module allows for several display options, including an always on display, allowing for easy reading at night or in bright sunlight.
Speedy charging – no more waiting around to recharge the battery. The Supersapiens Energy Band fully recharges in about 3 hours and runs off a lithium ion battery.
Small but mighty – the sleek design fits comfortably on the athlete’s wrist and securely straps to the handlebars with its sweat-resistant fluoroelastomer band.

“Since the beginning, we knew that we needed a hardware device that bridged directly to the biosensor. The Supersapiens Energy Band has been a labor of love, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team for bringing this product to life,” says Supersapiens co-founder and president Todd Furneaux. “Providing an athlete with visibility to their glucose levels can help them understand the efficacy of their nutrition choices, fuel appropriately, avoid fatigue from low glucose events, and know when to replenish during training and competition. This translates into more fueled training minutes, which provides bigger performance gains.”

A partnership with global healthcare leader Abbott makes Supersapiens the only energy management system that directly integrates with a Bluetooth-enabled sports CGM (continuous glucose monitor) — the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor. The Supersapiens Energy Band represents the latest breakthrough from Supersapiens on its mission to provide athletes with truly meaningful and actionable glucose data through real-time glucose levels transmitted directly to their phone, the Supersapiens Energy Band, and select Garmin bike computers and smartwatches. Supersapiens set of data interpretation tools leads the future of fueling, energy management, and sports performance.

The Supersapiens Energy Band is available for sale on the company’s website for €159.

The Supersapiens system, powered by Abbott’s Libre Sense, including the Supersapiens Energy Band is now available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

About Supersapiens

Supersapiens is a US-based sports performance company focused on energy management systems that empower athletes to effectively manage in-training fueling to sustain high intensity work, properly manage glucose levels to maximize recovery, and achieve bigger performance gains.

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Don’t miss this insane deal on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 today

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, which remains a solid option despite its successor's launch, is available from Best Buy at $100 off, lowering its price to $300.

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Facebook’s New Wrist-Based Wearable Lets You Interact With Augmented Reality

Facebook is building an interface for Augmented Reality (AR) that won’t force us to choose between interacting with our devices and the world around us. The social media giant is developing natural, intuitive ways to interact with always-available AR glasses because the company believes this will transform the way we connect with people near and far.

“Imagine being able to teleport anywhere in the world to have shared experiences with the people who matter most in your life — no matter where they happen to be,” says Andrew Bosworth, who leads FRL. “That’s the promise of AR glasses. It’s a fusion of the real world and the virtual world in a way that fundamentally enhances daily life for the better.”

Rather than dragging our attention to the periphery in the palm of our hand like our mobile phones, AR glasses will see the world exactly as we see it, placing people at the center of the computing experience for the first time and bringing the digital world to us in three dimensions to help us communicate, navigate, learn, share, and take action in the world, Facebook said in a blog post.

The future of Human-Computer Interface demands an exceptionally easy-to-use, reliable, and private interface that lets us remain completely present in the real world at all times. Two of the most critical elements are contextually-aware AI that understands our commands and actions as well as the context and environment around us, and technology to let us communicate with the system effortlessly — an approach we call ultra-low-friction input.

Although, the system is many years off, Facebook wants to develop the wristband to enable controls such as being able to touch and move VR objects or type on a virtual keyboard at high speed.

Why the wrist?

“There are many other input sources available, all of them useful. Voice is intuitive, but not private enough for the public sphere or reliable enough due to background noise. A separate device you could store in your pocket like a phone or a game controller adds a layer of friction between you and your environment. As we explored the possibilities, placing an input device at the wrist became the clear answer: The wrist is a traditional place to wear a watch, meaning it could reasonably fit into everyday life and social contexts. It’s a comfortable location for all-day wear. It’s located right next to the primary instruments you use to interact with the world — your hands. This proximity would allow us to bring the rich control capabilities of your hands into AR, enabling intuitive, powerful, and satisfying interaction,” Facebook said.

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Thursday, September 23, 2021

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Verizon BlueJeans Telehealth Integrates with Apple Health To Streamline Patient Care

Verizon’s virtual care product BlueJeans Telehealth announced that it had enabled integration with the Apple Health app to allow patients to share data with clinicians during telemedicine visits. Building on the overall patient care experience, the new Televisit Tile and integration with the Apple Health app empower patients to share specific categories of health data like heart rate, sleep, falls, and more with their provider during telehealth appointments for more informed conversations, while providing patients with control over which data they choose to share.

According to McKinsey and Company, as of July 2021, telehealth utilization has stabilized at levels 38X higher than before the pandemic. The same study found that “between 40 and 60 percent of consumers express interest in a set of broader virtual health solutions, such as a ‘digital front door’ or lower-cost virtual-first health plan.”

Delivering Data-Driven Care

By mapping the patient experience more closely to clinical team workflows, BlueJeans Telehealth helps replicate the experience of onsite care encounters and patient interactions, while also providing the flexibility of virtual-first care. BlueJeans Telehealth now features a new Televisit Tile that compiles and displays encounter-specific information collected during the visit. The Tile displays patient-entered symptom data and will support information and document sharing to ensure a seamless communication exchange with healthcare providers. Ideal for group sessions, the new Tile features a patient selector to ensure that user data will only be viewable and secure between the patient and their healthcare provider, reports Verizon.

Two smartphones and a smartwatch — Apple

With these new purpose-built workflows meant to improve the patient’s telehealth experience from anywhere, BlueJeans Telehealth works across mobile and desktop devices and includes single-touch, download-free access to mitigate potential technology challenges. For those joining from an iPhone, integration with the Apple Health app allows patients to share certain categories of their Health app data — including heart rate, ECG, sleep, step count, falls and mobility data — directly into the BlueJeans Telehealth app, so patients and healthcare providers can have more meaningful and tangible health-related conversations that can improve the overall outcome of the visit. Health app users remain in control of which categories of Health app data they choose to share with their provider during each telehealth appointment, and shared data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

Using the BlueJeans iOS app, users will be able to select Apple Health app data from within the pre-visit patient landing experience or through the Televisit Tile during the visit. Once synced, the healthcare provider will be able to see and interact with the Apple Health app data patients have chosen to share from the Televisit Tile while in the Provider View. The healthcare provider can expand data to better observe trend lines as well as screen share the data for use during the televisit.

“The future of virtual healthcare is dependent on connectivity and the ability to drive real-time insights and deliver care through connected health,” said Krish Ramakrishnan, Chief Innovator and Strategist, BlueJeans by Verizon. “By empowering patients to share this level of contextual information directly into the BlueJeans Telehealth visit, we are enabling patients and healthcare providers to have more meaningful conversations and successful virtual consultations that can lead to better patient outcomes.”

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Australian Government Allots US$7 Million to Enhance Healthcare Using Wearables

The Australian government is investing $10 million (US$7 million) in research projects using the latest digital and mobile technology to improve primary health care delivery.

“Our Government is committed to using digital information, as well as new health technologies and tools, to remotely deliver quality, convenient health care to Australians, regardless of location,” the Australian Dept. of Health said in a News release.

Australian researchers can now apply for grants to undertake this critical research through the landmark Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Two areas of primary health care research will be funded – one to test and implement new applications of existing wearable electronic devices, and the other to examine new ways to deliver point-of-care testing, particularly for those in rural and remote areas.

Whilst most patients in Australia can access pathology testing services, point-of-care testing has the potential to significantly enhance access to diagnostic technologies and clinical management models, including patient engagement, compliance, safety, and satisfaction.

Sydney Opera House overlooking the Sydney harbor — Photoholgic, Unsplash

By further understanding wearables, it’s hoped that digital health will allow individuals to better manage their own health and lifestyle as part of a coordinated care with their GP, requiring fewer visits to their GP.

Research is the key to better health care and treatments – and the Australian Government is investing record amounts in Australian health and medical research.

The grant opportunity will be managed through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It is funded over two years from 2021–22 to 2022–23.

The grant opportunity is under the MRFF Primary Health Care Research Initiative. This Initiative provides $45 million over nine years to enable or support an increase in Australia’s evidence base in primary health care through research to improve service delivery and patient outcomes and translate this knowledge into action.

The Government’s $20 billion MRFF is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.

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Apple Watch Series 6 is a steal at Amazon today — but hurry!

The Apple Watch Series 7 is coming soon, but the Apple Watch Series 6 is still an excellent buy, especially with Amazon's $70 discount for the wearable device.

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Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Samsung and Thom Browne give you a reason to spend more on a Galaxy Watch 4

Samsung and Thom Browne have announced the limited-edition Galaxy Watch 4 Classic will be released on September 29 for $800. Find out what makes it special.

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Ynvisible and PragmatIC Join Forces to Offer Complete Flexible Display Modules

Ynvisible Interactive, a fast-growing IoT firm, and PragmatIC Semiconductor, a world leader in flexible electronics, have entered into non-binding Technology Partnership and Supply Agreement, for a period of 3 years for services and deliverables of up to 2 Million U.S. dollars, focused on fully integrated flexible display modules.

Many applications in growing markets such as smart packaging and healthcare require a display, for example to provide assurance that the item was transported correctly, or to guarantee authenticity, or simply to provide a read-out of critical data. Traditional displays are inherently expensive, rigid and relatively bulky, which means that they are not suitable for packaging or printed media, or for embedding into mass market devices. Ynvisible’s printed electrochromic technology is ideal for these applications, enabling sustainable ultra-low-power displays in novel thin and flexible form factors.

But the display itself is only part of the puzzle – a driver circuit is also required to determine the behavior of the display. Until now, this has required a separate silicon integrated circuit (or chip), which is not only cumbersome and expensive but also detracts from the form-factor benefits of a thin and flexible display. Now, Ynvisible will employ a thin and flexible integrated circuit (FlexIC) from PragmatIC Semiconductor, embedded within the printed display to deliver a complete module, reports Business Wire.

The two companies also see strong synergies in their vision of enabling innovators to create optimized custom designs in a fraction of the time and cost required using traditional electronics. Under the recently signed agreement, PragmatIC will develop and supply a range of FlexICs that Ynvisible will integrate into both standard and customer-bespoke display modules.

“By integrating flexible integrated circuits we can now dramatically enhance the product solutions we offer our customers,” said Michael Robinson, CEO of Ynvisible. “We look forward to working with PragmatIC to deliver a range of flexible display modules that can offer easy integration with enhanced functionality across our verticals of supply chain, play and packaging and medical devices.”

A person looking at a computer screen — PragmaticIC

“Ynvisible’s electrochromic display technology is a great match for our thin, flexible chips,” said Scott White, CEO of PragmatIC Semiconductor. “Alongside our FlexIC Foundry, this accelerates our vision of opening up exciting new opportunities beyond RFID, such as smart medical devices and visually interactive packaging.”

About Ynvisible

Ynvisible is a leading company in the emerging printed and flexible electronics sector. Ynvisible’s interactive printed graphics solutions solve the need for ultra-low power, mass deployable, & easy-to-use electronic displays and indicators for everyday smart objects, IoT devices, and ambient intelligence (intelligent surfaces). The company offers a mix of services, materials and technology to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products.

About PragmaticIC Semiconductor

PragmatIC Semiconductor is a world leader in ultra-low-cost flexible electronics. Their unique technology platform enables innovators to create novel solutions to everyday problems that are beyond the scope of conventional electronics. The company’s ConnectIC® family of flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs) are thinner than a human hair and extend proven applications such as RFID and NFC into mass market use cases, enabling the potential for trillions of smart objects that can engage with consumers and their environments.

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How to use an Apple Watch to control your iPhone camera

The Apple Watch's native camera app cannot record images. It's a helper app to your iPhone's camera. Here's how to view and shoot photos with your watch.

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The New WHOOP 4.0 Comes With Pulse Oximeter and Skin Temperature Sensor

WHOOP has introduced the next generation of its proprietary technology, WHOOP 4.0, a personalized 24/7 digital fitness and health coach. The new technology leverages an upgraded sensor configuration for optimal accuracy and includes WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear Technology, a first-of-its-kind line of smart apparel which enables members to wear their WHOOP 4.0 on multiple locations across the body.

WHOOP members will receive first access to upgrade to WHOOP 4.0 free of charge. WHOOP 4.0 will also be available for purchase for new healthcare, government, business, and athletics customers, WHOOP said in a press release.

“I’ve been thinking about this technology for more than a decade, and I can promise you that this is the most innovative product we have ever released,” said Will Ahmed, WHOOP Founder & CEO. “We’ve always aspired to develop wearable technology that is either cool or invisible. With the launch of WHOOP 4.0 and WHOOP Body, we have accomplished both.”

WHOOP 4.0 features include:

Upgraded Sensor Configuration: The active sensor area now contains 5 LEDs (three green, one red, and one infrared), 4 photodiodes, and advanced algorithms to provide even more accurate heart rate measurements
33% Smaller Size: WHOOP 4.0 is 33% smaller than WHOOP 3.0 with a five-day battery life
New Feature – Sleep Coach with Haptic Alerts: WHOOP 4.0 is engineered with haptic alerts that members can set to wake them up through gentle vibrations at the optimal time based on their sleep needs and cycles
New Feature – Pulse Oximeter: The upgraded hardware is equipped to calculate blood oxygen levels (SPO2) to help members unlock additional daily health insights
New Feature – Skin Temperature Sensor: WHOOP 4.0 measures skin temperature to provide members another layer of knowledge about their bodies
New Feature – Health Monitor: Members can track live heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate in one view. The Health Monitor also allows members to easily download and export 30-day or 180-day trends of these metrics into a report that can be shared with a coach, trainer, PT, or physician
WHOOP Battery Pack 4.0: The upgraded battery pack built for on-the-go charging is now waterproof and lets members double tap to view battery level
Next Generation Battery Technology: WHOOP 4.0 is the first product in the world powered with Sila’s silicon anode battery materials. Engineered with cell configuration improvements and long cycle life, the new battery delivers 17% higher energy density than WHOOP 3.0, facilitating a reimagined industrial design that also unlocks WHOOP Body

Two wristbands with sensors — The WHOOP 4.0 is two-thirds the size of the 3.0 (Photo: WHOOP)

WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear Technology enables WHOOP 4.0 to collect accurate data from areas including the torso, waist, and calf. This new collection of apparel is the first of its kind in the wearables industry and allows members to wear WHOOP 4.0 off of their wrist. In addition to apparel, WHOOP has developed new accessories and designs, including:

Fast Link Slider: WHOOP 4.0 is built with a new Fast Link slider that makes it easier than ever to swap WHOOP 4.0 between a variety of colorful bands and all-new WHOOP Body sensor-enhanced technical apparel
SuperKnit & HydroKnit Bands: WHOOP 4.0 includes a new SuperKnit band which comes pre-threaded and is constructed for ultimate comfort and durability. WHOOP will also release a HydroKnit band that is fast drying and optimized for water sports and activities
Any-Wear Detection: A novel location detection technology identifies when and where WHOOP 4.0 is on the body

WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear Technology is available in two collections with prices ranging from $54 to $109. The Training Collection includes sports bras, compression tops, leggings, shorts, and athletic boxers. The Intimates Collection includes bralettes and everyday boxers. WHOOP Body and SuperKnit Bands are only available in combination with WHOOP 4.0.

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4 things we love about WatchOS 8, and 2 that have us baffled

WatchOS 8 is available to download now, so which features should you try out first? Here are four things we like, and two others that are less successful.

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Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Hinge Health Acquires Computer Vision Technology Wrnch To Boost Its Motion Tracking Capabilities

Hinge Health, the world’s #1 Digital Musculoskeletal Clinic, has acquired wrnch, developer of the leading computer vision platform for measuring human motion. wrnch’s three-dimensional motion-tracking technology enables the same precise tracking of full-body movement used by elite athletes and the motion picture industry. Hinge Health now has the largest computer vision team in digital health.

This acquisition underlines the commitment of Hinge Health, the market leader in musculoskeletal (MSK) care, to pioneering better ways of delivering care. Movement-tracking technologies, such as computer vision and motion sensors, enable Hinge Health’s clinical care team to deliver the most responsive and personalized whole-body approach to MSK care, improving outcomes and member experience while reducing costs, reports BusinessWire.

Combining motion sensors and computer vision further burnishes Hinge Health’s digital physical therapy solution as the most comprehensive on the market, uniquely enabling the following:

Motion assessments to objectively measure a patient’s functional ability across strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance to inform care plan personalization.
Expanded exercise tracking as computer vision and motion sensors together enable the widest range and measurement of full-body exercises, including yoga and aerobics.
Enhanced clinical care programs that improve rehab of difficult-to-treat areas, such as the head, neck, and hands, by tracking 87 unique points on the body.

A person wearing a wearable band on his arm — The Hinge Health Enso has the most advanced technology for electrical nerve stimulation. Enso delivers non-addictive pain relief within seconds for thousands of members. (Photo: Hinge Health)

Hinge Health continues to pioneer new standards in personalized MSK care by pairing a comprehensive clinical care team with the industry’s most advanced technology portfolio:

Computer vision and motion sensors for exercise therapy and motion assessments.
Hinge Health Enso, a groundbreaking wearable technology for immediate noninvasive and non-addictive pain relief.
HingeConnect for bridging the gap between in-person and digital MSK care and enabling real-time interventions by integrating health data with 750,000+ providers.

“We built wrnch into the world’s leading artificial intelligence and computer vision R&D lab to understand human motion, shape, and intent,” said Dr. Paul A. Kruszewski, founder and CEO of wrnch. “I’m so excited to combine our artificial intelligence technology with Hinge Health’s Digital MSK Clinic to improve clinical outcomes for millions of members.”

Hinge Health cofounder and CEO Daniel Perez explained, “We won’t stop investing in technology to deliver the most patient-centered digital clinic that improves member experience and outcomes while reducing costs. wrnch allows us to take a giant leap forward in all respects.”

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Best Buy is practically giving away the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 today

The 41mm, GPS version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is on sale, with Best Buy offering a $100 discount that brings the wearable device's price down to $300.

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Best cheap GoPro alternative action cameras for September 2021

If you're staying active outside, a good action camera is a perfect way to record your adventures.

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LivaNova and Verily Enroll First Patient in Study to Detect Depression Using Smartwatch

LivaNova, a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, and Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet focused on life sciences and healthcare, announced that the first patient has been enrolled in their collaborative UNCOVER study or “The RECOVER Sub-Study, Which Leverages Quantitative and Credible Research Tools from Verily, Will Provide Assessment Measures for Depressive Episodes.”

UNCOVER is an opt-in research study for patients taking part in the ongoing LivaNova clinical study RECOVER or “A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects with Treatment-Resistant Depression.” The UNCOVER sub-study deploys technology-enabled research tools from Verily to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of VNS Therapy as an adjunctive treatment for difficult-to-treat depression (DTD).

Participants in the UNCOVER sub-study will use two Verily-developed digital tools – a wearable, multi-sensor device (Verily Study Watch) along with an Android smartphone application (Verily Mood App). The Verily tools measure passive and active data, such as the participant’s pulse rate, activity levels and sleep quality. The Mood App also allows participants to record voice diaries to more accurately assess depressive episodes and their effect on daily living, LivaNova said in a news release.

“After detailed planning with our colleagues at LivaNova, we are pleased to have launched the UNCOVER study and enrolled the first participant,” said Dr. William Marks, Head of Clinical Science and Neurology at Verily. “These Verily tools will collect behavioral, environmental, and physiological data from study participants, with the goal of painting a clearer picture of depressive episodes and the impact depression has on individual’s lives over the course of the study.”

A wearable device — LivaNova’s Symmetry VNS Therapy System for depression (Photo: LivaNova)

Quantitative data obtained from these Verily tools will supplement the clinical outcomes collected in the RECOVER study, providing clinicians a more comprehensive view of whether each patient’s depression is improving, staying the same, or worsening.

Depression continues to be an important health concern globally and an area in need of more effective treatments. Research shows the number of adults experiencing depression in the U.S. has tripled in recent times. Before the pandemic, 8.5% of U.S. adults reported being depressed, whereas that number has risen to 27.8% as the country deals with COVID-19.

“For as many as one in three patients, medication alone may not be enough to combat depression that is difficult to treat,” said Damien McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of LivaNova. “As we re-confirm the effectiveness of VNS Therapy in treating depression through the RECOVER study, we hope to learn even more through the UNCOVER sub-study about each patient’s journey and the daily improvements in their lives with the use of Verily tools so we can provide the most effective treatment for this disorder.”

Launched in September 2019, RECOVER is studying up to 1,000 people ages 18 or older who have depression or bipolar depression that has been difficult to treat. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study is assessing how VNS Therapy can offer patients relief from their DTD symptoms and improve quality of life. Symmetry®, the LivaNova VNS Therapy System for depression, is the first and only FDA-approved implantable device specifically designed for DTD.

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Fitbit Charge 5: A truly advanced fitness tracker

The Fitbit Charge 5 has a new look and impressive feature list packed into a wearable, user-friendly design.

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Monday, September 20, 2021

Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Apple Watch Series 6

The Apple Watch Series 7 hits the scene with a bright new color scheme and expanded screen space. We provide a comparison with the Apple Watch Series 6.

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EPFL Researchers Develop Microchip With Its Own Cooling System

Managing the heat generated in electronics is a huge problem, especially with the constant push to reduce the size and pack as many transistors as possible in the same chip. The whole problem is how to manage such high heat fluxes efficiently. Usually electronic technologies, designed by electrical engineers, and cooling systems, designed by mechanical engineers, are done independently and separately. But now EPFL researchers have quietly revolutionized the process by combining these two design steps into one: they’ve developed an integrated microfluidic cooling technology together with the electronics, that can efficiently manage the large heat fluxes generated by transistors. Their research, which has been published in Nature, will lead to even more compact electronic devices and enable the integration of power converters, with several high-voltage devices, into a single chip.

The best of both worlds

In this ERC-funded project, Professor Elison Matioli, his doctoral student Remco Van Erp, and their team from the School of Engineering’s Power and Wide-band-gap Electronics Research Laboratory (POWERLAB), began working to bring about a real change in mentality when it comes to designing electronic devices, by conceiving the electronics and cooling together, right from the beginning, aiming to extract the heat very near the regions that heat up the most in the device. “We wanted to combine skills in electrical and mechanical engineering in order to create a new kind of device,” says Van Erp.

Microchip — The researchers placed microfluidic channels very close to the transistor’s hot spots, with a straightforward and integrated fabrication process, so that they could extract the heat in exactly the right place and prevent it from spreading throughout the device. (Credit: EPFL 2020)

The team was looking to solve the issue of how to cool electronic devices, and especially transistors. “Managing the heat produced by these devices is one of the biggest challenges in electronics going forward,” says Elison Matioli. “It’s becoming increasingly important to minimize the environmental impact, so we need innovative cooling technologies that can efficiently process the large amounts of heat produced in a sustainable and cost-effective way.”

Microfluidic channels and hot spots

Their technology is based on integrating microfluidic channels inside the semiconductor chip, together with the electronics, so a cooling liquid flows inside an electronic chip. “We placed microfluidic channels very close to the transistor’s hot spots, with a straightforward and integrated fabrication process, so that we could extract the heat in exactly the right place and prevent it from spreading throughout the device,” says Matioli. The cooling liquid they used was deionized water, which doesn’t conduct electricity. “We chose this liquid for our experiments, but we’re already testing other, more effective liquids so that we can extract even more heat out of the transistor,” says Van Erp.

Reducing energy consumption

“This cooling technology will enable us to make electronic devices even more compact and could considerably reduce energy consumption around the world,” says Matioli. “We’ve eliminated the need for large external heat sinks and shown that it’s possible to create ultra-compact power converters in a single chip. This will prove useful as society becomes increasingly reliant on electronics.” The researchers are now looking at how to manage heat in other devices, such as lasers and communications systems.

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NVIDIA To Acquire Arm For $40 Billion, Bringing Together Two Of The Most Powerful Chip Companies In The World

AI is the most powerful technology force of our time. In the future, trillions of computers running AI will create a new internet-of-things all over the world – from smart retail, to manufacturing and service robots, to self-driving cars and smart cities – reinventing computing as we know it.

NVIDIA and SoftBank Group Corp announced in September last year a definitive agreement under which NVIDIA will acquire Arm Limited from SBG and the SoftBank Vision Fund (together, “SoftBank”) in a transaction valued at $40 billion, NVIDIA said in a press release.

The combination brings together NVIDIA’s leading AI computing platform with Arm’s vast ecosystem to create the premier computing company for the age of artificial intelligence, accelerating innovation while expanding into large, high-growth markets. SoftBank will remain committed to Arm’s long-term success through its ownership stake in NVIDIA, expected to be under 10 percent.

“AI is the most powerful technology force of our time and has launched a new wave of computing,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “In the years ahead, trillions of computers running AI will create a new internet-of-things that is thousands of times larger than today’s internet-of-people. Our combination will create a company fabulously positioned for the age of AI.

“Simon Segars and his team at Arm have built an extraordinary company that is contributing to nearly every technology market in the world. Uniting NVIDIA’s AI computing capabilities with the vast ecosystem of Arm’s CPU, we can advance computing from the cloud, smartphones, PCs, self-driving cars and robotics, to edge IoT, and expand AI computing to every corner of the globe.

“This combination has tremendous benefits for both companies, our customers, and the industry. For Arm’s ecosystem, the combination will turbocharge Arm’s R&D capacity and expand its IP portfolio with NVIDIA’s world-leading GPU and AI technology.

“Arm will remain headquartered in Cambridge. We will expand on this great site and build a world-class AI research facility, supporting developments in healthcare, life sciences, robotics, self-driving cars and other fields. And, to attract researchers and scientists from the U.K. and around the world to conduct groundbreaking work, NVIDIA will build a state-of-the-art AI supercomputer, powered by Arm CPUs. Arm Cambridge will be a world-class technology center.”

Update

The Verge reported last month (August, 2021) that NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has admitted for the first time that the company’s planned acquisition of Arm may take longer than the initially-scheduled 18 months. The acquisition, which would bring together two of the most powerful chip companies in the world, is facing scrutiny from regulators in the US, UK, and China.

“Our discussions with regulators are taking longer than initially thought, so it’s pushing out the timetable,” Huang told The Financial Times. “It’s not one particular delay,” he added. “But we’re confident in the deal, we’re confident regulators should recognize the benefits of the acquisition.”

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Best cheap smartwatch deals for September 2021

Best cheap Apple Watch deals and sales for September 2021

Friday, September 17, 2021

Best cheap Apple deals and sales for September 2021

Apple fans know how fleeting deals can be, but we've rounded up some great Apple deals for you right here.

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Thursday, September 16, 2021

NFL Upping The Tech Game

The most popular sport in America deserves the most advanced technology. From the players and stadiums to its game coverage and apps, the NFL leverages the latest in wearables, mobile connectivity, data modeling, streaming, and more to make football safer and smarter. Read on to see how it’s a touchdown all-arouand for fans of football and tech.

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Apple Watch Series 7 Coming This Fall With a Brand-New Look, Brighter Screen and Faster Charge

On Tuesday, Apple announced that its new Apple Watch Series 7 will be available this Fall for a starting price of $399.

The Apple Watch Series 7 features a reengineered Always-On Retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders, making it the largest and most advanced display ever. The narrower borders allow the display to maximize screen area, while minimally changing the dimensions of the watch itself.

“Apple Watch Series 7 delivers significant improvements — from our largest and most advanced display, to enhanced durability and faster charging — making the world’s best smartwatch better than ever before,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “Powered by watchOS 8, Apple Watch brings useful new capabilities to help customers stay connected, track activity and workouts, and better understand their overall health and wellness.”

Most durable Apple Watch ever

Apple claims that its Apple Watch Series 7 is the most durable Apple Watch ever, with a stronger, more crack-resistant front crystal. It is the first Apple Watch to have an IP6X certification for resistance to dust, and maintains a WR50 water resistance rating.

New design

The stunning display of Apple Watch Series 7 offers nearly 20 percent more screen area and thinner borders at just 1.7 mm — 40 percent smaller than those on Apple Watch Series 6. Through an innovative design that maximizes the screen area while minimally changing the dimensions of the overall case size, Apple Watch Series 7 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, Apple said in a press release.

Most Durable Apple Watch Ever

Apple Watch Series 7 features a redesigned front crystal with a stronger and more robust geometry that is over 50 percent thicker than that of Apple Watch Series 6, making it more crack-resistant without compromising optical clarity.

Faster Charging

Apple Watch Series 7 provides all-day 18-hour battery life on a single charge, and 33 percent faster charging compared with Apple Watch Series 6, through a new charging architecture and Magnetic Fast Charger USB-C Cable.

Smartwatches — The stunning Apple Watch Series 7 display is nearly 20 percent larger than that of Apple Watch Series 6, and over 50 percent larger than that of Apple Watch Series 3, with an optimized user interface for greater readability and ease of use. (Photo credit: Apple)

watchOS 8

watchOS 8 debuts additional watch faces designed especially for the larger display on Apple Watch Series 7. The new Contour face takes the dial right to the edge of the display and fluidly animates throughout the day, emphasizing the current hour.

Wellness

The new Mindfulness app, sleep respiratory rate tracking, and Tai Chi and Pilates workout types can help improve overall wellness.

Cycling, Workout, and Fall Detection Updates

watchOS 8 also brings new features to anyone who rides a bike. Apple Watch uses advanced algorithms to analyze GPS, heart rate, accelerometer, and gyroscope data to detect when users begin a ride, and prompts them to start an Outdoor Cycle workout if one was not initiated.

New voice feedback through the built-in speaker of Apple Watch, or through AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones, will also automatically announce workout milestones and Activity ring status, helping users stay focused during activities like running or HIIT.

With watchOS 8, fall detection algorithms are updated and optimized for detecting falls during workouts — including cycling — and have been tuned to recognize the unique motion and impact of falls from a bike and other workout types.

Wallet and Home

New Wallet and Home app functionality provide more convenient access to the car and places users live, work, and visit. Enhancements to Messages and the Photos app make staying connected to loved ones even easier.

Apple Watch and the Environment

In line with Apple’s commitment to the environment, Apple Watch Series 7 has more recycled content than any other Apple Watch, featuring 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets. Apple Watch Series 7 is also made without harmful chemicals like mercury, PVC, beryllium, and BFRs.

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