In 2016 we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of our WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in Munich as well as the 10th birthday of our Founder Christian Stammel’s brainchild: the WT brand. We compiled a video for you with the greatest moments of our past conferences since 2006. Enjoy!
We wish you a great start into 2016! And we hope to see many of you for our anniversary celebrations on January 26 and 27 in Munich.
WT | Wearable Technologies had an in-depth conversation with the CEO of Kenzen, Sonia Sousa, to discuss how their wearable patch is spicing up the market. We have provided the interview below.
Kenzen has recently emerged on the wearable market. Can you explain what the Kenzen team does and what your wearable device is?
Kenzen believes for wearables to deliver value they must reliably measure physiology – beyond monitoring vital signs – to enter the clinical realm. We are looking at a comprehensive solution that includes both disposable sensors and a rechargeable monitor, all in the form of an adhesive patch. The Kenzen smart patch can be worn on the body in locations that measure the best ECG, respiration, temperature and sweat signals.
Hydration is really important as an underlying condition of health. Having a patch that has both solutions, vital signs and recognition of biomarkers in sweat, allows for Kenzen to be relevant in clinical situations. It is important that we have a comprehensive system that can be customized to the user.
How does your innovative technology differentiate from other wearables?
Nobody has been able to accurately assess hydration level, so we looked at that in the beginning. If you are attempting to detect heat stroke, then you need to measure hydration, body respiration and temperature. The ability to track and monitor multiple conditions is what we aim for – to provide clinical relevance for the long term.
There are a lot of people talking about patches, because it is novel to have wearable monitoring technologies located on any part of the body. But to make the patch invisible, and non-intrusive with one’s lifestyle, is a differentiation that sets Kenzen patch from other solutions. The second is the ability to continuously collect vital signs and biomarkers in sweat – in real time. That is incredibly different. It is true that there are a few companies looking at sweat, but no patches on the market yet.
Even so, we have spent a lot of time designing a wearable that can be upgraded, because we know that technology is moving at a fast pace. New sensors are being developed rapidly. When a company is committed to a form factor, and the sensors inside change – you need to redesign a lot of things (PCB board, casing), and sell a completely new version of the device. With the Kenzen patch, our sensors are disposable. When you are ready to re-order, we can offer you an upgraded version, with no change to the monitor you already own. We are creating a bridge between hardware and software by connecting the patch sensors to a microcomputer for more capabilities.
Lastly, we are really good at doing data analytics and physiological monitoring. Since customization is extremely valuable for the consumer, our approach provides an opportunity to combine unique sensors and algorithms for reports and notifications that are most important for our users.
Most wearable engineers are creating their bio-metric monitoring devices inside plastic casings; what inspired the Kenzen team to make the Echo in the form of a patch?
We have talked to a lot of people – physicians, athletes, labor workers – to gain their perspective. What we quickly understood was that Kenzen needed to be clinically relevant, and highly accurate. Beyond that, we learned that users are not going to wear a monitoring device everyday unless it was very easy to use and wear. The obvious choice was a patch. Secondly, we understood that having it be disposable allows for Kenzen to be scalable, which is important to stay relevant in this market.
What customer segment has shown the most interest in purchasing the Echo?
It’s pretty amazing – we have contracts in place with risk management companies to improve safety and health of workers that are working in extreme conditions. It is imperative companies make worker safety a priority, and this is now possible by measuring physiological data and environmental conditions. Our first application is injury prevention for athletes and workers in extreme conditions.
Secondly, we’re focused on customers that do not have a chronic condition but show signs of risk or have a family history of disease. Kenzen can provide assistance to these customers’ lives by predicting and pre-empting negative health events.
You will be stepping to the stage at WTeu16 – what about the conference are you most excited about?
My co-founder and I are excited to celebrate this 10 year milestone with the WT | Ecosystem. You guys have created an amazing group. We are excited to hear and learn from the other speakers. More importantly, we think an ecosystem of companies can solve global healthcare problems and bring wearables technologies together to deliver meaningful health insights. I will be a sponge at WTeu16, learning and engaging, because I want to be a part of an ecosystem that wants to makes wearables relevant – and of course, I love Germany!
Lastly, what is your favorite wearable device?
The Kenzen patch, of course! But seriously, right now it is the Apple Watch. Having a microcomputer on your wrist is a perfect way to receive information. It is also exciting to see what the future may hold. I look forward to the day where I can leave my phone at home, but still able to connect and communicate with people – wherever they are.
If you feel inspired by the words of Mrs. Sousa, be sure to register for WTeu16 to hear her speak. The event is fast approaching- on January 26th in Munich, Germany. You can also sign up through the Kenzen website to receive the frist Echo Patch!
Most wearable sports trackers offer one sensor that you stick in one spot. TuringSense's full Pivot system places sensors at wrists, elbows, shoulders, chest, waist, knees, and ankles. This means no need for a camera to capture your motion.
The post This tennis multi-sensor wearable tracks 3D motion without a camera appeared first on Digital Trends.
While the claims of clothes that purport to offer workout gains are usually overblown, Antelope makes some interesting points about their gear. We've seen Electrical Muscle Stimulation technology in a full outfit before, but not without lumps and bumps.
The post This compression wear hides electrical muscle stimulation without lumps and bumps appeared first on Digital Trends.
Three exciting tech projects from inside Samsung's C-Lab innovation workshop will be on display at CES 2016. They include a cool smart belt that works like a fitness tracker, and a weird smart band that turns your finger into a speaker only you can hear.
The post At CES 2016, Samsung’s going to show off three cool, secret tech projects appeared first on Digital Trends.
Samsung recently filed a patent application for a smart ring, which might be able to control other devices and applications through gestures. This follows similar interest in the concept from Apple and Microsoft, who have filed similar patents in the past.
The post Samsung might be planning to launch a smart ring appeared first on Digital Trends.
Memory loss, disorientation are all symptoms of Alzheimer disease. It´s painful to see when your loved one doesn’t recognize the area where they lived their whole life. To keep them safe and sound we decided to write an article about wearables that will help you face this disease.
Clevercare is an emergency alarm that allows patients with memory loss to be a bit more independent. This wristband is cool because it allows patients to be a bit more independent. The care taker will now always know where their loved ones are and will get a notification if they approach the areas that could potentially be dangerous for them. Patients also get reminded about when to take their medications and other daily tasks like locking their front door.
GPS SmartSole is embedded insole that gives you a real time information about where you loved ones are at any given time. The insole is connected to an app and can be used also for children and is a great tool for locating your loved ones in case they wander off.
This next device is not necessarily meant for patients suffering from Alzheimer disease but for elderly in general. Hip fractures are a number one cause for immobility for seniors. Hip-Hope is a hip protector belt, providing impact absorption. A special system inflates air bags and alerts care takers as soon as they get triggered. We can´t prevent falls from happening, but with this product we can influence a better result when it happens.
We know these product cannot necessarily substitute a care taker, especially in a faze when the disease is progressing. What it can do is help patients be a little more independent and give them at least some control back.
Apple devices were the most popular mobile device activated over the Christmas period this year, stealing a nearly 50-percent share, according to the latest data. In the same research, it's shown phablet-sized devices are increasing in popularity.
The post There’s a 50-percent change you unwrapped an Apple product at Christmas this year appeared first on Digital Trends.
Still not excited about wearables and smartwatches? You're about to be. Samsung's new bio-processor can monitor your health and use an ECG reading to free you of passwords for good.
The post Samsung’s clever, minuscule health chip could change wearable tech design in 2016 appeared first on Digital Trends.
We haven't heard much about Google's wearable, which never really hit the market for consumers. A new FCC filing gives us a glimpse at the latest iteration that's been making rounds through Google's Glass for Work partners.
The post Google Glass lives! And the FCC just leaked photos of the next version appeared first on Digital Trends.
It was said that 2015 would be the year of the wearables and it was indeed. The Pandora box was opened and now we have devices almost for everything. If your head is like ours full with new information everyday and you can’t remember what happened back in January of February, don’t worry we will guide through all the relevant news in these past 12 months.
January : Holy Cow!
In January Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens, an AR headset. The HoloLens displays images that appear much like holographic projections, and provides surround sound as well. The brains of the headset include a CPU, GPU, and a so-called “holographic processing unit.” The system can track eye movements, listen to voice commands, and can follow hand gestures much like a Microsoft Kinect.
Guess and Montblanc turned up from the luxury end of the business to present us pieces of wearable tech. Besides that another important event was CES. Lots of new wearables were presented there and left us with a teaser of the new ones that will come.
February : Smart-what?
Pebble, with its third generation of its smartwatch – the Pebble Time launched again another Kickstarter campaign to get funding for their new smartwatch. The new features like a color screen and voice input were the highlights of the new version. Mondaine was the first of the traditional Swiss watchmakers to release a smartwatch. Swatch Group unveiled its first smartwatch too: the Touch Zero One for volleyball players and fans. It features a step counter, power hits and power claps and is gathering information using its built-in sensors and sending them on to an app. Michael Kors also announced in February that they are entering the wearable tech market with high-tech fashion products.
March : B&B
In March big events took place such as Baselworld in Basel and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. At the Swiss event Intel, Google and TAG Heuer teamed up to create and Smartwatch. Breitling’s first smartwatch that features a digital and analog display was also unveiled there. The device can be connected with an app on your smartphone that allows you to perform various adjustments on the watch. Many other companies joined this event to present their new smartwatches.
Shortly before the Watch and Jewelry show in Basel, Apple organized another special event. At the event they unveiled more news about the long awaited Apple Watch including their $10,000 model. It seems like the Apple watch was the trigger for most of the Swiss watch makers to partner and come up with their approach to smartwatches.
In Barcelona the Mobile World Congress brought us news from HTC and their partnership with Valve unveiling a new virtual reality headset. The virtual reality headset runs by the name of Re Vive and has little light sensors studded throughout the headset for tracking your head as you move. Huawei and LG also presented wearables there. Save the date this year! January: CES, February : Mobile World Congress.
April : And even more smartwatches….
Samsung unveiled that it was giving members of its global developer community early access to the Software Development Kit (SDK) of its next generation Gear device. This marked the first time that Samsung released its wearable SDK for third-party developers in conjunction with the design and construction of its device before the product launch. Asus also announced their new wearable: the Asus VivoWatch with 10-day battery life. The software was developed by Asus solely for the device and manages a variety of tasks, including fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, and notifications.
May : I/O
The Google I/O Conference on May 28th and 29th took place in San Francisco. Google unveiled Jump Camera, 16 camera modules in a circular array. Jump Camera system is open-source technology, which provides a way for creators to capture high-quality 3D video. The downside is you need multiple cameras to create a 3D image. Along with this Google also launched what they called Expeditions. A new VR initiative that lets teachers take their students on virtual field trips to places they might not otherwise be able to visit. Expeditions is a software and hardware kit teachers can sign up for online that works with existing smart phones. The phone is placed inside a re-usable, foldable cardboard goggles. On the second day of Google I/O conference they revealed their new partnership between Google and…Levi’s! Together they have created the beginning of smart pants that can control your phone. Their collaboration is part of a bigger initiative by Google called “Project Jacquard,” which is essentially a type of “smart” yarn that allows textile manufacturers to create electronic clothing more easily.
June : $$$
June was a month of acquisitions. Intel bought Altera for $ 16,7 Billion to defend its presence in data centers. This acquisition may help Intel defend and extend its most profitable business: supplying server chips used in data centers. However, this was not the first, nor the last purchase from Intel since they acquired company Recon Instruments. Recon was formerly an Intel Capital portfolio company. This acquisition gives Intel an experienced wearable computing team that will help them expand the market for head mounted display products and technologies.
Our long term partners from Clothing + were acquired by Jabil. The Finland-based textile electronics Clothing Plus brings expertise in integrating electronics in textile. This merger will make it possible for brands to get all services for a textile electronics product from one door with manufacturing capacity.
Inside the healthcare industry, Panasonic Healthcare bought Bayer Diabetes Care for EUR 1,022 million. Bayer’s Diabetes Care business is a technological leader in blood glucose monitoring systems, lancing devices and diabetes management software. The business accounted for EUR 909 million in sales in 2014, with Contour™ being the principal product portfolio and is designed to meet the needs of all patients regardless of type of diabetes, stage of disease, or testing frequency.
Google unveiled that they were working on a healthcare wearable that provides constant patient information for participants in medical studies and clinical field trials. The device can monitor pulse, heart rhythm, skin temperature, light exposure and noise levels, providing valuable data not just about a patient, but about their surroundings too.
July : Samsung keeps working on it….
The new Samsung watch, the Gear A was not unveiled nor presented in July, but they left us some hints about what it would look like… a rotating, functional bezel ring, which will complement its round design. The Gear A would be Samsung’s 7th smartwatch! The rotating bezel adds physical controls to the touchscreen. It can be used for a number of navigation actions including scrolling, zooming and adjusting levels, such as volumes and brightness.
August : Shopping time!
Adidas acquired Runtastic a European maker of fitness apps and wearable activity trackers, in a deal that valued Runtastic at 220 million euros, or about $239 million. Runtastic counts 70 million registered users and with Adidas can better compete with rivals like Under Armour and Nike. Nokia sold it’s HERE digital mapping and location services business to a consortium of leading automotive companies, comprising AUDI AG, BMW Group and Daimler AG (the “Consortium”). The transaction values HERE at an enterprise value of EUR 2.8 billion with a normalized level of working capital and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016. HERE is developing a location cloud that harnesses the power of data generated by vehicles, devices and infrastructure to deliver real-time, predictive and personalized location services.
Speedo was collaborating with Misfit to launch the Speedo Shine, a device that tracks walking, running, cycling, and more, and automatically tracks light and deep sleep. Speedo Shine tracks a swimmer’s lap count and swim distance with industry-leading accuracy and works for all stroke types. Sony upgraded it’s smart band family with the second generation of the SmartBand. The biggest upgrade was a heart rate monitor, which augmented the device’s ability to track users’ fitness. Samsung also unveiled its latest smartwatch! The Gear S2. There are 3 different models from the Samsung Gear S2, the S2, the S2 Classic and the S2 with 3G. The Gear S2 has a round screen, relatively small profile, and a few sleek band options. It has a rotating bezel, though, a home button, and a back button to make navigation easier. The Gear S2 connects to your phone via Bluetooth, but it also has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC. In theory, you could use this device to make mobile payments and control other NFC-enabled devices. The 3G model has built-in connectivity and can work on its own without your phone, thanks to the “first-ever e-SIM with voice capability.”
September : Fashion & Style
Jaguar launched a new car, the Jaguar F-Pace. The vehicle is combined with a wearable Activity Key. This key is a waterproof wristband that allows you to indulge in outdoor physical activities without worrying about carrying your keys!
IFA was the big event in September with a highlight in our beloved friends…the smartwatches. Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, Lenovo, LG and Asus also presented their respective smart pieces! Too many smartwatches for an already overcrowded market. We made an in depth review about IFA!
Also happening in September is Fashion Week. The New York Fashion week featured models on a runway in responsive dresses and sports bras made out of 3-D printed panels armed with tiny computer modules that sense and respond to a person’s body. The smart clothing brand Chromat, in concert with Intel worked to develop dresses and sports bras that integrate Intel’s Curie module — a tiny piece of hardware featuring a battery, motion sensors, and wireless connectivity. The Chromat Aeros Sports Bra uses Curie sensors to gauge your heat level, and the bra will open vents and cool the body down. The dress uses the Curie modules to sense adrenaline and stress levels, so if stress levels are high, the dress will expand into an imposing shape.
October : Reading your mind and your activity
Runtastic joined the smartwatch race launching a new line of watches. The Moment has four different types of watches, they all track your daily activities and sleep, only differs one from another in the aesthetics. Fossil, partnered with Intel Innovation to design the guts of their line of watches and bracelets. The Fossil Q, is a connected accessory line designed to fit your style and track your activity. The collection consists of a connected bracelet, a connected non-display watch, and a round face display watch. The Q Grant is the watch and the Q Dreamer & Q Reveler is the bracelet designed for both men and women that tracks your activity, filters notifications and inspires your curiosity from sunrise to sundown. Swatch with Bellamy, the new pay-by-the-wrist watch is not new in the smartwatches world, but now they are taking a different approach joining forces with China UnionPay and Bank of Communications to introduce contactless payment “by-the-wrist” to China. The first four watches have built-in NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, allowing people to use their watches to pay for purchases in shops and stores around the country.
Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo launched a new experience that aims to use neuroscience to help match customers’ moods with the perfect T-shirt. Customers put on a headset that uses a single sensor on the forehead to measure brain activity, as people watch seconds-long video clips that each represent up to 10 moods. The technology’s algorithm then employs five metrics — interest, like, concentration, stress and drowsiness — to measure the user’s response to the videos and tries to best match a design with the user’s mood.
November : Swiss watches are stepping up in the smartwatch market
Luxury smartwatch from TAG HEUER was the hit of the month. The Tag Heuer Connected face is a crystal sapphire, eschewing the toughened glass of their rivals and in favor towards their customers looking for something more luxurious. The price tag for the “Swiss Engineered” smartwatch is € 1,350 . Another big player within the Swiss watchmakers is Movado. The Movado Bold Motion smartwatch, in partnership with HP, has a stylish analog face. The Bold Motion is a stainless steel, 44mm watch face with LED backlighting in blue or white. The Bold Motion also includes a step tracker, which displays your daily progress as a ring around the watch face. This collaboration with Movado is the first of what HP is calling its “Engineered by” collaboration program. This program allows HP to participate in the smartwatch industry without having to release HP branded smartwatches.
Fossil Group acquired Misfit .Together with Fossil Group, Misfit gains access to Fossil Group’s design teams and global expertise in sales, marketing, and distribution. Misfit will continue to develop activity trackers under the Misfit brand, while Fossil Group will scale Misfit technology across Fossil, Skagen and a targeted portion of its portfolio of 16 brands in 2016.
Xiaomi launched its second smart wristband! This time it boasts optical heart rate monitoring technology. The new 1S device is set to go on sale in its homeland for just $16. In terms of design, it’s pretty much the same deal as its predecessor; a module containing the sensors and hardware slips inside a replaceable rubber strap. The Mi Band 1S tracks a user’s steps and provides estimates on calories burned and distances covered. It also monitors sleep and provides incoming call alerts from a paired smartphone.
December & 2016 :
December is the anticipation of what 2016 will bring. And what is it that? As we have been announcing, smart patches will take over the market in 2016. Virtual Reality will keep growing and second and third generations of smartwatches will continue to pop up. We will see a teaser of 2016 at CES in a few weeks! Till then, sit, relax and watch!
In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. It's too much to keep track of, so here are the top 10 tech stories you may have missed this week. We've got everything from SpaceX's historic landing to Kim Kardashian's butt emoji.
The post Weekly Rewind: SpaceX succeeds, Beatles finally stream, X-ray vision arrives appeared first on Digital Trends.
Fitbit reigned as the top wearable in Apple’s App Store on Christmas. The leader of the wearables market boasted the No. 1 free app in the App Store on December 25, which seems to indicate a bevy of device activations.
The post Fitbit was the No. 1 free app in Apple’s App Store on Christmas Day appeared first on Digital Trends.
If you're about to strap a new Android Wear smartwatch to your wrist, but need some guidance on how to set it all up, and find the best features for using it, you'll want to take a look at our guide. Here, we cover everything from pairing your watch to transferring music to it.
The post The only guide you need to get started with Android Wear appeared first on Digital Trends.
SmartCap is a fatigue management tool for anyone using heavy machinery. It scans brainwaves to keep miners, drivers, and shift workers alert and awake while on the job. In dangerous industries over long shifts, SmartCap helps promote worker safety.
The post SmartCap monitors brainwaves in machinery workers and truck drivers to keep them alert on the job appeared first on Digital Trends.
Customizing your watch face is a big part of Android Wear, but it can be a little tough to find one worth placing on your wrist. Here are 10 watch faces to check out from the Google Play store.
The post Check out 10 of the best Android Wear watch faces to download appeared first on Digital Trends.
If you've already got your eye on a shiny new Apple Watch, then you might want to consider a few handy extras. Come on in for a look at the best Apple Watch accessories we've seen so far.
The post Accessorize your Apple Watch with cases, stands, straps, and more appeared first on Digital Trends.
Battery woes are what plague today's tech. The Apple Watch, like most smartwatches, almost always needs to be charged daily, so a new Kickstarter campaign wants to help by offering a band that charges the watch.
The post The Prime strap beefs up Apple Watch’s battery life appeared first on Digital Trends.
This LifeVest is a wearable defibrillator for people who aren't able to have a pacemaker implanted due to other medical issues. It was recently approved to monitor the heart and deliver life-saving shocks to patients as young as eight years old.
The post This FDA-approved wearable defibrillator could save children’s lives appeared first on Digital Trends.
The Bellabeat Leaf is a gorgeous piece of smart jewelry that tracks more than just your activity and sleep quality. We’ve worn the Leaf since the first day it came out to test its powers.
The post Bellabeat Leaf review appeared first on Digital Trends.
The placement of bindings opens up interesting options like balance tracking, which goes beyond the stat tracking we've all come to expect from sports gear. Pressure sensors monitor your board flex and weight distribution.
The post Cerevo’s smart snowboard bindings light up the trails appeared first on Digital Trends.
Before you put on your cool new Gear VR headset, you should know which apps and games are worth a download. We've put together a list of the best available right now, to make sure you can start enjoying VR straight away.
The post 10 immersive apps and games that make Samsung’s Gear VR a must-have appeared first on Digital Trends.
First responders wear and carry a number of devices for various functions. However, typically these devices do not allow to communicate with one another, nor do they connect to command-and-control or to other agencies. Therefore, wearable technology is encouraged to use for the purpose of increasing efficiency by connecting them to each other or to other parties in real-time through a secure network to save lives. In this article WT | Wearable Technologies would love to show you wearable devices for first responders.
Evena
November 16th, 2015 at WT | Wearable Technologies Show MEDICA, Evena fist launched their Eyes-On Glasses 3.0. The glass is appropriate for pre-hospital cares, hospitals and outpatient surgery centres. The Evena Eyes-On Glasses provide hand-free, cart-free imaging and unique features for vascular access. For example, along with ultrasound function, Eyes-On Glasses provide superior vascular imagine at any depth, without disrupting workflow. With this device, doctors can quickly and easily locate and access the best veins for each patients- even in a challenge environment.
Spintower
Spintower has another solution for time saving with D.A.R.V.I.N. It enables doctors and ambulance at the place of accident to work more effectively by allowing a live video and communication at any location on earth to transmit important and urgent information encrypted and real-time. D.A.R.V.I.N can be connected with endoscopes, infrared cameras, measuring tools and sensors.
Mutualink
Mutualink develops a Wearable Smart Gateway that enables first responders to share multimedia information with command posts and other agencies in real-time over secure wide area network. The Wearable Smart Gateway (WSG) powers by the tiny and ultra-low power Intel Edison chip. The WSG devices include body cameras, heart rate monitors, locator beacons and other handheld sensors – and instantly transmits this data to relevant parties. This capability improves situational awareness and provides unprecedented interoperability to first responders.
Pebble
What if the same devices that can track your activity or sleep can help first responders in dangerous situation? A good idea? CommandWear, a wearable technology and public safety solutions company, has created an app for Pebble Smartwatch with a purpose to help first responders’ job much easier. In a louder environment, it is not a good idea to use smartphone or radio. That is the reason why CommandWear app has text message capabilities to send first responders and paramedics messages while they are operating. Besides, with the Pebble app and CommandWear app, the best care are ensured by the first responders.
In emergency situations where saving time means saving lives, it is always of great necessity to have an expert besides you to rescue. Thanks to the help of wearable tech, we have the sense of safety that there are always quick first responders for saving our lives real-time under any circumstances.
The RE-vibe is the world's first anti-distraction wearable, leveraging a proprietary algorithm to remind wearers to stay (or get back on) task, all by way of slight vibrations on the wrist.
The post RE-vibe is the anti-distraction wearable you need in your life appeared first on Digital Trends.
Razer’s new Nabu fitness tracking smartband delivers all the basic functions you expect from a fitness band, plus smart notifications, at a price lower than many competitors.
The post Razer Nabu review appeared first on Digital Trends.
If you want to lose weight, clothes like those from Thin Ice that is supposed to make you shed pounds just sitting around sounds too good to be true -- and not even the studies quoted by the company can make the claims true.
The post Can cooling clothes really burn fat? Thin Ice’s claims crackle under weight appeared first on Digital Trends.
On 26th and 27th January 2016, WT | Wearable Technologies will celebrate the 10th anniversary WT | Wearable Technologies Conference. To joining us in celebration are the most innovative, inspiring and interesting exhibitors from various fields within the wearable technology ecosystem. We are happy to introduce first our experts in smart textiles and energy.
Smart Textile Experts
With the vision of helping every person to activate the full potential of the body, Antelope develops Antelope-series which is the most revolutionary sportswear of the past decades. It is used to stimulate each of your major muscle groups based on the textile embedded EMS (Electro Muscle Stimulation). Attendees will have the opportunity to work out in the most effective and time efficient manner.
AIQ Smart Clothing based out of Taiwan is the company which creates innovative smart clothing. They create fashionable, functional and comfortable solutions to meet your everyday needs whether in sports & fitness or home & leisure. Their goal is to make your life easier, safer and smarter. Come to our conference to see what technology are hiding underneath their sleeves.
Another expert which also focuses on the integration of electronic functionalities in textiles (Smart Fabrics/ Intelligent Textiles) is Foster Rohner. Their core competencies are in the area of textile conductors, textile heating, textile sensors and textile lighting. For example, the integration of LEDs, sensor and heating structures into textiles.
Both Frauhofer ISC and Frauhofer IZM specialize in smart textiles. However, for many years Frauhofer ISC enables various applications like strain or pressure sensors for monitoring life functions or stimulating muscles or nerves; while Frauhofer IZM emerged to the smart textile industry in2001. Besides, Frauhofer IZM also focuses on stretchable electronic systems as well as wearable sensors.
Energy Experts
Meet Varta Microbattery-one of the world’s leading battery manufactures at our Munich conference. Varta Microbattery is the solution of battery for more than 100 countries all over the world. They develop and produce batteries for all major electrochemical systems and cell geometries.
Ascent Batteries is a leading designer and manufacturer of shaped Lithium-Polymer rechargeable batteries. They continuously devoted its resources and effort to develop higher performance & critically reliable rechargeable batteries for wearable electronics, portable electronics and industrial application. Along with advanced technology, stringent quality control and cost competitiveness, they offer wide range of quality Lithium-Polymer batteries to meet customers’ demands for higher energy density, safer, lighter weight and longer lifecycles.
Last but not least, Jenax provides flexible battery which is agile in form and shape. Therefore, it can be easily integrated into any application that is curved, bent or even crumped while presenting high performance.
For more details about the exhibitors sharing their amazing products, WT | Wearable Technologies will be back with a second overview. The WT | Network is happy to meet you in person in 2016 in Munich.
Submit your proposal for stage appearance at our two brand new conferences in Barcelona and Sydney in 2016:
WT | Wearable Technologies Conference 2016 EUROPE – Barcelona
February 24, 2016 – CCCB, Barcelona – #WTBCN16
Mobile World Congress edition. The event is the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, organized by the GSMA on 22-25 February 2016.
WT | Wearable Technologies Conference 2016 AUSTRALIA
May 12, 2016 – Whitehouse Institute of Design, Sydney – #WTAUS16
2016 fashion edition of our conference series
WT | Wearable Technologies Conferences are the best places to influence the hearts and minds of hundreds of entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts and investors from the entire international wearable technologies value chain.
The conferences feature up to two days full of program in a single track setting. Speakers will have the opportunity to get their message to the entire audience of the conference. In addition several side events, networking sessions and a big exhibition space co-located with the conference room will be completing the event experience. In 2015, WT | Wearable Technologies Conferences hosted more than 250 speakers on stage. This year, the audiences at the different conferences are expected to range from 350 up to 1,500 people.
The talks at WT | Wearable Technologies Conferences are short and to the point, usually 15 minutes, and the pace of the program is fast. The program is organized into theme-based tracks, so it’s easier for our audience to prioritize. Personal experiences, case examples, data-backed findings, the wow factor, and exclusive content are most appreciated.
Our program is curated by an independent content team and advised by industry specialists, entrepreneurs, investors and technology experts. We select and build the program based on the talks’ relevance to our program, and speakers’ competence.
Submit your proposal here and state the event you are applying for.
Terms of suggesting a proposal:
In 2015, about 80 million wearble devices will be shipped around the world, and in 2016 this figure will rise 44.4 percent to 111.1 million units. Smartwatches will drive much of this increase, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).
The post Apple Watch leads smartwatch market with 61 percent share, Android Wear gaining ground appeared first on Digital Trends.
In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. It's too much to keep track of, so here are the top 10 tech stories you may have missed this week. We've got everything from climbing Mt. Everest in VR to avoiding Star Wars spoilers.
The post Weekly Rewind: Apple’s secret lab, astronaut applications, smartwatch cheating appeared first on Digital Trends.
Smartwatches will finally overtake fitness trackers in the wearables market, one in five homes will have an Internet of Things (IoT) device installed, and Facebook M will be a real competitor to Siri and Google Now, according to Adobe.
The post Report: Facebook M will rival Siri, Google Now, Cortana as a major digital assistant in 2016 appeared first on Digital Trends.
New photos posted on Reddit Thursday revealed what appear to be the consumer versions of the HTC Vive headset and controllers. The leak comes just ahead of CES 2016, where HTC may unveil new details about the device.
The post Updated HTC Vive Headset and Controllers Leak Ahead of CES 2016 appeared first on Digital Trends.
Google has taken its amazing Jump VR 360-degree camera rig into the White House, to give us a glimpse of the Christmas decorations adorning the many rooms. Using YouTube and the Google Cardboard viewer, you can see the results.
The post Get a festive VR tour of the White House using Google Cardboard appeared first on Digital Trends.
7th WT Innovation World Cup Finalists announced
The club of the most innovative wearables worldwide has been selected by the international jury of the WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup. More than 450 techpreneurs from around the globe submitted their market-ready or almost market-ready wearable solutions in the categories Sports & Fitness, Healthcare & Wellness, Gaming & Lifestyle, Safety & Security, Smart Clothing, and Smart Jewelry. They will become the future stars in wearable technologies. The winners will be announced at the official award ceremony on January 26th at the 19th WT Wearable Technologies Conference in Munich – THE gathering of the wearable ecosystem.
“This year’s WT Innovation World Cup was inspiring with more than 450 impressive nominations from 60 countries. This proves once again that the WT Innovation World Cup is the leading innovation competition in wearables,” said Andrea Onetti, General Manager, Volume MEMS & Analog Division, STMicroelectronics. “Browsing through the innovative ideas and seeing how creative human minds can be is, for us at ST, a great way to see the future of wearable Smart Things.
The 28 nominated finalists will present their solutions at the WT Wearable Technologies Conference in Munich 26 January 2016, but only six of them will become a winner in their category and only one of them will be nominated WT Innovator of the Year.
The 28 WT finalists in the different categories are (in alphabetical order):
Sports & Fitness:
Healthcare & Wellness:
Gaming & Lifestyle:
Safety & Security:
Special Prize Smart Clothing:
Special Prize Smart Jewelry:
The WT Innovation World Cup finalists will be on stage and present their solutions on January 26th at the world´s biggest gathering for wearables: the 19th WT Wearable Technologies Conference in Munich. For more information about the conference visit: http://ift.tt/1NlJ94z
About the WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup
The WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup is the leading worldwide innovation competition in the field of Wearable Technologies. It was first launched in 2009, and over 3,500 contestants already took part. The WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup invites contestants from all over the world to submit innovative solutions in the areas of sports & fitness, healthcare & wellness, gaming & lifestyle, safety & security, smart jewelry and smart clothing. An international panel of industry experts will select the most innovative products according to criteria such as level of innovation, marketability, and usability. For further information please visit: http://ift.tt/1jEV7I3. Registration is free of charge.
The WT Innovation World Cup is sponsored by STMicroelectronics, MediaTek Labs, AiQ Smart Clothing, VARTA Microbattery, and Cicor. Further partners include WT Wearable Technologies, MEDICA, ISPO, Continua Health Alliance, as well as the regional partners Team Cote d`Azur, Cluster Digital Barcelona, Government of Canada, TAITRA, Paris Region Entreprises, CSEM, AlpICT, Business OULU, Takomo, IT2I, Medical Valley, Plug and Play Tech Center, ICT Cluster Bern, minc., Com4Innov, Innovative City, CSEM, and Disruptive Week Milan.
Innovation World Cup Contact:
Navispace AG
Justyna Konczalska
PIQ's got a strap that attaches their sensor to any ski boot to make connected skis, tracking stats such as airtime, speed, and trajectory, and comparing them with other skiers online.
The post Track your ski runs easily with PIQ’s new app and multisport sensor appeared first on Digital Trends.
Smartwatches don't really do much if they're not connected to your phone. Watch maker Breitling doesn't think this is the right way to do things, and has reversed the roles with the Exospace B55, its first connected watch, which turns the phone into the watch's slave.
The post Fantastically named Exospace B55 is Breitling’s first connected timepiece appeared first on Digital Trends.
Microsoft is bringing Windows 10 to your Windows smartphone, creating a unified, seamless, cross-platform experience across all your Windows devices. Here's a rundown of the new features we can expect, and what phones it'll arrive on first.
The post Windows 10 Mobile news and update schedule appeared first on Digital Trends.
Smartwatches don't have to simply show incoming notifications. With the right technology, they can do some amazing things. This is the Hug smartwatch, and thanks to some clever sensors, it can be used as a gesture control system.
The post This smartwatch lets you control everything from a game to a drone using wrist gestures appeared first on Digital Trends.
GoPro's smartphone app is great, but having the same control and preview functions on your wrist makes using the action cam effortless. We put the Apple Watch GoPro app to the test.
The post Now you can control your GoPro with Apple Watch appeared first on Digital Trends.
Following in Apple's and Motorola's footsteps, Huawei may bring more variants for its smartwatch to bring broader appeal. Rumored to be unveiled at CES in January, the new variants will bring more feminine bands and a rounder, more elegant case.
The post Huawei may bring feminine variants for its smartwatch appeared first on Digital Trends.
At first glance, the words "hydration clothing" bring to mind images of shirts with pockets for a built in camel pack. Instead of trying to replace the fluids you lose with exertion, this hydration gear focuses on keeping you from sweating in the first place.
The post This hydration shirt keeps you hydrated without water appeared first on Digital Trends.
His bid for the presidency may not be going swimmingly well, but if Jeb Bush is looking to exit politics, he may have an in as a tech consultant. Or at least, a tech reviewer for the Apple Watch.
The post Jeb Bush has strong views about the Apple Watch appeared first on Digital Trends.
The majority of wearable gadgets today are smartphone companion devices, designed to connect to a Bluetooth app. As these devices get smarter and evolve, are your smartphones updated and smart enough? WT | Wearable Technologies would like to guide you through the best smartphones for your wearable devices to save your time and pocket on unsuitable products.
A glance, we narrowed the search to companies that are long time standing; such as Jawbone, Fitbit, Moov Now, Garmin, Misfit, Apple Watch and Pebble. They all require IOS 8 and Android 4.3 at least to run their apps. Then here are our suggestions:
IOS
Iphone 6/ 6 plus
Iphone 6 looks similar to past iPhones, but in reality, it has changed a lot. It’s a better, faster, more engaging experience than its predecessors. Especially, when connected to an Apple watch. All data can be seen on the Watch from favourite apps, to emails, to activity tracking. This provides you an excellent IoT life.
Avaible from: £539
Android
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge +
The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge plus takes one of the 2015’s most innovative models and expands it. Swelling the edge+ up to 5-7 inches over the original 5.1. It offers new technology as well as a glory big screen to go perfect with a Jawbone UP4, which is described not to work well with small screen phone.
Available from: £549
Sony Xperia Z5
The Xperia Z5 brings Sony up-to-date in terms of hardware. Its innovative feature is water resistance. Sony Xperia Z5 provides you unlimited experiences with smartest devices: including the Android wearable tech on the market at the moment
Available from: £479.99
BlackBerry Priv
If you are a BlackBerry fan and an Android fan, BlackBerry Priv can satisfy you. It is a slider handset with a huge 5.4 inch display, offering the benefit of latest Android devices which works well with your fitness tracker or smartwatch. Additionally, it keeps the classic physical keyboard form.
Available from: £559
Motorola Motor G
Motor G is a brilliant choice for a good smartphone under a reasonable price. It is a smartphone which work efficiently with most of new models of wearable devices such as Misfit and Pebble. In addition, water resistance has been added along with a good battery life.
Available from: £159
Last but not least, the most important factor in purchasing a new device is making sure that it is suitable for you. This means it’s suitable for your budget, your purpose or your interest. We hope our suggestions can help you to choose the best Smartphone for your wearable device.
AT&T has announced the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch as the first official NumberSync device, where your existing phone number can be used on it, meaning you don't always have to take your phone with you.
The post The Gear S2 smartwatch will share your phone number using this new AT&T service appeared first on Digital Trends.
I climbed Everest, thanks to the incredible power of the HTC Vive, Nvidia, and the team of FX experts responsible for the movie of the same name. It was utterly terrifying, but proof VR is the most exciting tech innovation we've seen in years.
The post Climbing Mt. Everest in VR is so terrifying that my knees wobbled appeared first on Digital Trends.
Google announced nine new Android Wear watch faces from "iconic" fashion brands. They are currently available on Android for the low price of free, with iPhone owners getting treated to the watch faces in a few days.
The post Google launches nine new fancy-schmancy designer watch faces for Android Wear appeared first on Digital Trends.
Pebble announced firmware 3.8 of its app, which brings the timeline interface found in the newer Pebble smartwatches to the original Pebble and Pebble Steel. The company also announced Pebble Health, available as a free download.
The post Pebble finally introduces its timeline interface to the Pebble and Pebble Steel appeared first on Digital Trends.
Smartwatches are following in the footsteps of handsets, picking up exam room bans at schools and colleges around the world over cheating concerns. Prestigious Kyoto University has just become the first in Japan to ban the wrist-based computer from exams.
The post Rise of smartwatches prompts top Japanese university to ban ALL watches from exams appeared first on Digital Trends.
No, you can't wear your watch to exams. An increasing number of universities are treating smartwatches like smartphones and banning them during test-taking. But it's hard to tell what's "smart" these days, so the ban affects all watches.
The post Universities are imposing blanket bans on all watches during exams to prevent cheating appeared first on Digital Trends.
We already introduced a range of wearable devices for rehabilitation in one of our exhibitor overviews for the WT | Wearable Technologies Show 2015 MEDICA in November but of course there are more companies offering solutions to recover after an accident or stroke.
Moticon, WT | Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup winner 2013-14, will showcase their latest developments at the 10th anniversary of the WT |Wearable Technologies Conference 2016 EUROPE in Munich on January 26-27. The wireless sole captures foot dynamics, a software analyzes data and generates reports – a perfect toolkit for scientific motion analysis, physio and professional athletes and orthopedics. It’s the first system that allows completely mobile gait and motion analysis to monitor contact forces, gait lines, mean pressure distribution, symmetry, jumping performance, leg extension power and symmetry.
CoRehab offers a clinical endorsed platform for rehabilitation professionals and trainers that delivers a complete bundle of care for the patients. Riablo consist of 5 inertial motion sensors worn through elastic straps which transmit the movements to a tablet or PC via Bluetooth. The user can see what he is doing on the screen, thanks to a real-time and highly accurate biofeedback. The system can help orthopaedic, neurological, post traumatic patients. A session only lasts 15-25 minutes and should be seen as a complementary tool to traditional treatments.
GLOREHA supports upper limb rehabilitation. The lightweight glove performs all the combinations of joint flexion-extensions. If the patient has partial capabilities, he can actively complete his movements. The system comes with a 3D screen animation which involves and animates the patient.
270 vision’s BPMphysio delivers live, accurate assessment of the range and quality of joint movement for post trauma assessment and after-surgery monitoring. A single sensor streams movement data to software displaying the results live as an animated avatar which is recorded for immediate on-screen comparison to assess progress and recovery trends. Further the system can measure impingement zones and muscle strength; and gives live feedback on the fitness of a joint and neuromuscular coordination and shows precisely where in the joint motion a tightness or paint point might be occurring.
Cybernoid Technologies focuses on providing devices which help individuals suffering from spinal cord injury, polio affected, neuromuscular disorders in walking. Their product Cybolimb is developed for patients which have legs but cannot use them. Their robotic wearable non-invasive limb can be attached to the user providing power and support to allow them to walk, stand and sit.
Axiobionic’s Wearable Therapy® integrates surface electrical stimulation into wearable devices. The technology is made for patients suffering from long-standing injury, disease or disability – especially for patients who have not perfectly improved with common rehabilitation methods. The system makes muscles work on a daily basis; active muscle contractions have a beneficial effects that passive movement cannot deliver. Axibionics can be used for pain relief, muscle therapy, TripleFlex, Orthotics, Walkaid, MYoPro, Pediatric Rehab and help injured workers with EMS treatment to strengthen muscles.
WalkJoy and WalkingHealth can help people with Peripheral Neuropathy which have a number of balance, walking and foot-health problems. By restoring a more normal walking, issues like the chance of falling, the formation of sores and ulcers and ultimately amputations can be decreased. The devices are strapped below your knee and send signals to the healthy nerves when your foot strikes the ground. Those signals can replace the sensation you used to get from your feet so you can quickly gain confidence with every step. The captured gait parameters show irregularities in step patterns and can be used to improve balance and to reduce falls. FDA cleared.
The ReWalk Robotics Rehabilitation System is a lightweight, wearable exoskeleton with motors at the hip and knee joints. The wearer controls movement using subtle changes in the center of gravity, a graphical user interface shows a broad range of parameters and shows the progress in training. The system for examples helps to reduce some medications, improve mental health, sleep and pain and improves posture and balance.
KineteK produces and develops wearable robotic systems and exoskeletons for rehabilitation, assistance and human-power augmentation. They specialize in upper limb exoskeletons to improve mobility, enhanced force capability and recovery of motor function. ALEx is recommended for physical rehabilitation in upper limb pathologies, such as neurological, musculoskeletal, orthopedic disorders and dysfunctions and in particular: Stroke, Shoulder Rehabilitation. It can provide guided assistance in the execution of complex upper limb motions. The exoskeleton comes in a dual arm configuration in order to allow the treatment of both left and arm motor impairments, supporting as well bilateral schemes of rehabilitation training.
NEOFECT’s RAPAEL Smart Rehabilitation System is designed to help rehabilitation for patients with central nervous system disorders. Along with task training, the system applies sights and hearing at the same time to increase the brain activity of the patient. Bio-Feedback accurately assess and analyszes the state of the patient; games motivation, training level to measure progress,
Re-Step™ is a non-invasive, portable, easy-to-use, and pocket-sized rehab system. Founded on the latest advances of neuroscience, the training system improves the walking and balance performance of stroke and brain trauma patients or people with CP. The device can both be used at home (if supervised by a physical therapist) or at a rehab facility. All you have to do is to put on a pair of special shoes whose sole height and angles change in a specific give order and that way allow motor learning and problem solving in real time. The system measures the parameters of the user’s gait, and progress data and gives treatment recommendations.
If these rumors are true, Samsung could return to releasing four flagship phones per year.
The post Rumor: Samsung targets quartet release with the Galaxy S7 appeared first on Digital Trends.
We've truly entered the next phase in the digital revolution, as a team of scientists from the University of the West of England in Bristol have now developed the world's first urine-powered wearables.
The post The world’s first urine-powered wearable is here appeared first on Digital Trends.
Smart wireless headphones seem just around the corner, in fact just after new years with Streamz upcoming debut at CES 2016.
The post Streamz wireless headphones stream music from Spotify, Pandora, and more appeared first on Digital Trends.
Rather than trying to develop the 58th wearable that will monitor the health of young, healthy athletes, HomeHero is instead focused on solving problems for seniors, a demographic that will soon comprise 20 percent of the U.S. population.
The post Get your grandparents the best care possible with HomeHero appeared first on Digital Trends.
Swiss watchmaker Swatch is reportedly stockpiling smartwatch patents, despite the company's CEO trashing the current smartwatches on the market. With 173 patents filed, Swatch has the ability to launch its own smartwatch without any partnerships.
The post Swatch is secretly stockpiling smartwatch patents, could a device be on the way? appeared first on Digital Trends.
‘Tis the season! If you are looking for Christmas gift ideas for 2015 you have a brand new category to choose from: wearable tech. In case you are still looking for some cool ideas for family and friends, WT | Wearable Technologies would like to recommend you smart devices that suit all pockets.
Under 30$
Mi Band is an activity tracker with a 30-days battery life. There are several colours to choose from
Available from: 14.99$
Misfit flash is a colourful and sporty wristband to track activity and sleep.
Available from: 19.99$ (special price for holiday season; regular price:49.99$)
Under 50$
Fitbug Orb is a 24/7 fitness, sleep and activity tracker.
Available from: 49.95$
Jawbone UP MOVE is a product to help you get fit, lose weight and have fun while doing it. UP MOVE comes in a bunch of brilliant colours that you can freely mix and match.
Available from: 49.99$ (Special offer: get 4 UP MOVE with only 149.99$)
Under 100$
Pebble Classic is a device which can track your move as well as notify you with calls or messages.
Available from: 100$ (special price for holiday season; normal price :129$)
Fitbit Flex is an activity tracker wristband with a long battery life of 5 days.
Available from: 99.95$
MOOV NOW is a device to track and coach your workouts. It is perfect for running, swimming, cycling and body weight workouts.
Available from: 79.99$
Under 150$
Polar A300 is a combination of a fitness watch and activity tracker device. It can also track your sleep.
Available from: 139.95$
Huawei Talk Band is a powerful wearable device which allow activity tracker, sleep monitor and hand-free calling with a fashionable design
Available from: 145$
Under 300$
Withings Activite is a 24/7 activity tracker in a classic design.
Available from: 169.95$ (Withings is offering 20% off for any purchase)
Fossil Q Grant is a smart watch which is design based on the Grant’s classic case. It has an appealing look and smart function of notifying messages from favourite contacts and tracking activities.
Available from: 175$
We wish you a warm and fancy holiday with your loved ones!
PREMISS is a the world's smallest temperature sensor, and it never needs to plug into a power source because it pulls energy from radio waves. This could revolutionize battery life and other use issues in a wide range of consumer gadgets.
The post PREMISS is a tiny no-charge temperature sensor that pulls its power from the air appeared first on Digital Trends.
Microsoft has pushed out a software update for the Band 2, which adds several new features to the recently release fitness tracker. These include an activity reminder and music controls.
The post Microsoft’s Band 2 gets an update, reminds you if you’re being lazy appeared first on Digital Trends.
Have you put off getting a fitness tracker because you don’t want to invest too much money? Pivotal Living’s excellent $12 fitness band and $40 smart scale pack is good enough to turn you into a fitness freak.
The post Pivotal Living Band and Scale review appeared first on Digital Trends.
Looking for your first fitness tracker, or an upgrade to the one you're already wearing? There are plenty of the wrist-worn gadgets available, so here's our pick of the best ones available right now.
The post The best fitness trackers you’ll ever strap on your wrist appeared first on Digital Trends.
It was about time that we wrote about Star Wars…but don’t expect any spoilers, any videos from the new movie neither comments of what will happen next. We dug deeper into the topic to find wearables that look like or that they could be in a Star Wars movie!
Let’s start with giant tech Google. Did you know that once they developed a Bluetooth-enabled wearable that lets users search Google using just their voice? Well, now you know “young grasshopper” (wait that’s another theme)…The small device was designed to be attached to your lapel and be activated with a tap, was equipped with a mic and speaker, so the wearer could ask Google anything and hear it respond — all without having to pick up their phone. The project has since been shelved, but it speaks to the company’s drive to learn how people might use search in the future. The device was inspired by a gadget used on Star Trek by Captain Picard to communicate with The Enterprise.
Now something cool & crazy..Devon Star Wars Watch.The eccentric watch costs a whopping $28,500!! With that money we could even hire C3P0 to make an appearance at our birthday and rap with us! Let’s go back to the watch now that you are recovered from the initial shock. The Devon Star Wars Watch uses the company’s tread-based time-telling system, which uses numbers on rotating belts to indicate the time, powered by a complex machinery behind the scenes. How complex? Well, it comes with 350 individual parts, four time belts, four microstep motors, and 313 electrical contacts, all housed inside the stainless steel case with a diamond-like true black coating and scratch-resistant polycarbonate lens. It uses a rechargeable battery that can power for up to two weeks on a single charge. Pretty impressive right? There are several Star Wars elements integrated in the watch, like the fact that it’s black, pretty black, with gray accents, light-gray indicators, and red-and-green motor covers that resemble the switches on the Sith Lord’s chest console. The case flanks, on the other hand, are clipped right out of the wings of a TIE Fighter, with the oversized crown sporting the Imperial logo. It has main screws that look like turbine intakes, mimicking the spikes on the bottom of the grilles on Anakin’s helmet, as well as a leather strap that borrows design elements from Vader’s glove.
When Luke Skywalker(Spoiler Alert!!) loses his hand when battling Darth Vader at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, a medical bot outfits him a new bionic hand that moves as if it were real. This Star Wars tech is now a reality, thanks to new technology from Touch Bionics, the company behind the i-LIMB Pulse bionic hand. It works by reading myoelectric signals that are tiny electric pulses in your arm and then sends tom to the hand, moving it accordingly. The coolest part about it is that this bionic hand works with any computer and Bluetooth signals, allowing users the ability to tweak the algorithms for sensitivity and control five fingers independently for grabbing objects.
To finish, something that is not really wearable but cool, Heads up display…in your car! At the end of Star Wars, Luke doesn’t want to use the heads-up display (HUD) that’s in his X-Wing fighter, but it’s also now being incorporated into cars. BMW and GM actually have these head-up displays in their cars. The one that the new BMW 7-Series has allows you to see your speed and navigation, which emanate off of the nose of the car. Pretty soon, all cars will incorporate this technology. GM is actually working on a full HUD for the windshield that will show speed, navigation and more! The future looks good to us!
Pebble has added its 3.0 operating system onto the Classic and Steel, adding the Timeline beta and a bunch of new upgrades to older models. This comes two years after the original Pebble shipped to Kickstarter backers.
The post Pebble Timeline beta finally available for older models appeared first on Digital Trends.
TAG Heuer is the first luxury watchmaker to produce an Android Wear smartwatch. The Carrera Connected costs $1,500, and promises Swiss cool with Intel and Google smarts.
The post Hands on: TAG Heuer Carrera Connected appeared first on Digital Trends.
Say no to sleepless nights because your partner snores all night long. Snoring can be cause by many different factors and an inconvenient thing about it is that a person who is snoring has no control over it. In most cases there are not even aware of the noise they are making. Because a lot of people has this problem, we decided to write an article that can help you save your problems.
Silent Partner helps silence your snoring. It senses the amplitude and frequency of the snoring sound wave and broadcasts in real-time. Based on destructive interference, the two waves line up, essentially cancelling out each other’s sound. The design and size of this device makes this product really practical to use and easy to use. Developers are also planning to develop an app to let you know more about your snoring patterns.
VVFly Intelligent Snore Stopper makes sure to alert you when you start snoring. Every time you make a snoring sound, the vibrations get transmitted into your ear. This causes you to change your position while sleeping and most importantly it can make you stop snoring. The vibration itself is not strong enough to wake you up, however it has been tested to change your sleeping behavior without even realizing it.
A potentially dangerous disorder called Sleep Apnea is a condition where your airways close during sleep. Soft tissue at the back of your throat relaxes and does not allow air to pass through, which can interrupt your sleep hundreds of times per night. Patients with disorders are very familiar with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), a respiratory mask that is worn throughout the night. A bad thing about this device is that is very uncomfortable to wear and can cause bruising on your face.
Company Metamason has developed Respere, a light CPAP mask custom designed to fit each individual faces. The platform offered by the company offers a assistance for you to create your own CPAP mask. The idea is that you want to the mast to fit your nose and mouth like a glove. With your physicians help you can create an individual virtual scan of your face and 3D printed in soft medical grade silicone.
We like these products because they help you be more aware of your sleeping problems. With smart engineers and wearable devices, you can no longer complain about uncomfortable snoring habits.
Brain readers are leaving the lab and finding their way into gyms, where the advanced metrics they deliver can help MMA fighters determine when it’s safe to return to the ring.
The post How brain readers are helping MMA fighters bounce back appeared first on Digital Trends.
The Apple Watch is Apple's latest and greatest offering, and perhaps the most controversial piece of mobile hardware yet. Here's everything you need to know about the Apple Watch how and where to buy one.
The post At Best Buy the Apple Watch now starts at $250, but be quick if you want one appeared first on Digital Trends.
A team of MIT engineers have developed a smart bandage that is made of hydrogel and biopolymers. Embedded heat sensors and medication delivery pathways can deliver drugs to the wound when the body needs it most, and LEDS indicate when reserves are low.
The post Futuristic hydrogel bandages use sensors to deliver medicine to all the right places appeared first on Digital Trends.
The Apple Watch 2 and iPhone 6C could be on the cards for an event in March, according to new rumors. The event would be held a year after the original Apple Watch launch, where Apple also announced the 12-inch MacBook.
The post Apple Watch 2 and 4-inch iPhone 6C rumored for March unveiling appeared first on Digital Trends.
Fossil has put the Q Founder, its first Android Wear smartwatch, on sale. The watch has a traditional style to it, has an Intel processor, comprehensive fitness tracking, and other fun features.
The post The big, bold Fossil Q Founder smartwatch is yours for $295 through the Google Play store appeared first on Digital Trends.
The 10th anniversary for WT | Wearable Technologies is in a little over a month from now, January 26, 2016. After a decade of dedicated work, WT feels a bit of nostalgia; bringing forth memories that reflect on the evolution of wearable technologies. One of the wearable categories that we predicted to be a top consumer product is Smart Textiles. However due to durability limitations, smart clothing available today is for niche markets; such as extreme sports, fitness and entertainment.
In this article we are specific to smart textiles that contain electronics. There has been extreme progress in the chemical side of manufacturing textiles that can repel odors, stains, as well as protect against impact, and even change color and shape. These new findings have affected the global progress of smart textiles evolution; yet do not fall into the category of wearables -unless stimulated with the power of electrons.
In 2006, there were a few products with interactive soft circuits. At the time it included buttons for turning on and off flexible woven textiles that provided warmth to the body during snow activities. Sefar was one of the first companies to collaborate with WT to create a heated fleece jacket. Sefar’ smart textile is woven with conductive wire that can create warmth when electricity is activated. The jacket is water proof – as long the battery is protected – and light weight. Two qualifications that make smart textiles market ready.
O’neil, Quicksilver and Burton all entered the heated winter clothing market at this time. However their products were not able to survive on the market to this date. This could be due to high prices, ranging from €250 – €1,500.
Therm-IC is another company that creates heated winter wear: gloves, socks, jackets, and shoe insoles. Their socks were WT Gadget of the Month in December 2011. Yet even with years of experience in creating heated clothing, consumer evidence shows that the need to own this clothing is not universal. The reasoning is still unclear. Perhaps people are happy with their wool and cashmere sweaters underneath their waterproof shell. Another prediction is consumers are too rough with their clothing; especially in the context of extreme winter sports.
In 2009, AiQ Smart Clothing stepped onto the wearable scene. Within six years they created clothing that lights up, heats up, and monitors biometrics. At this moment, they seem to be marketing their biometric clothing more than their other products. This could be because consumers are interested in biometrics, and/or that the technology is more advanced than simple lights and heating components. Nonetheless they stand out from their competitors by using stainless steel yarn. This reduces the risk for a decrease in conductivity overtime, which can lead to garments breaking or shorting out.
Smart clothing that tracks activity, improves workouts and feels comfortable has only begun to emerge on the wearable market. Clothing Plus and Jabil have teamed up to create sports bras and other form factors that can monitor your heart rate and important vital signs. The challenges involve designing the technology to withstand impact, force, sweat, washing machines, and dryers. It does not seem to have a current price. No fear, for they will be showing off their recent work during the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference 2016 alongside the international WT | Network.
How @ClothingPlus is bringing smart clothes closer to your kit bag https://t.co/zoxIEUv11l by @cnet #Wearables #IoT http://pic.twitter.com/kyCrlEHd0P
— Jabil (@Jabil) December 7, 2015
Om Signal has crafted years of specializing in biometric clothing. They teamed up with Ralph Lauren about a year ago. Together they have released the designer workout outfit. Once paired with their app the wearer is given simple to read information about their effort level, calories burned, steps taken, sweat levels, and heart rate. This shirt is beautiful crafted, but seems undesirable for people that workout on a budget. Similarly another biometric monitoring shirt is called Hexoskin. This summer they supported the NASA mock mars stimulation (HI-SEAS). Beyond the Americas – they have begun selling shirts to police officers in Dubai. They spoke about the details of their biometric shirt at our Canadian Conference in 2015. Hexoskin is recommended to buyers for having one of the longest lasting batteries, at 14 hours. Yet the price is a bit scary – $400 for one system (a shirt and a clip-on electronics). This probably explains why their customers are government workers instead of the common athlete. LifeBEAM will share the opposite story. They began making wearbales for areospace crew. Now they have made a sleek and athletically fashionable cap. It is because of their experience that they are able to provide advanced technology to the public. They even sponsored the Atlanta Challenge, a boat race from Europe to America, by provding their metric recorind gear to participants. Another intelligent activity tracking and feedback textile system is a simple band called Leo. The creator, Gesture Logic, exhibited their product with WT in Canada and the USA conference in 2014. Leo is not a full body textile; it doesn’t have to be – thus lowering the cost. It is still able to measure the body’s lactic acid, hydration, muscle coordination, technique, balance and intensity. The downside is the Leo is not quite for sale; however they are accepting emails for pre-orders.
Use biofeedback to improve performance @leohelps @GestureLogic #wtcdn2015 http://pic.twitter.com/DA5syTvUBv — Software (@OttawaSoftware) September 10, 2015
Sensoria Smart Sock is one of the first activity tracking socks. It is similar to other fitness textiles in that it needs two combining components: a clip-on electronic hub and your smart phone. Sensoria is ideal for runners because it provides information about your weight distribution on your feet. Unfortunately, the price is no better than the products mention above, at roughly $400.
A successful German start-up, Wearable Life Science, has recently crowd source their Antelope Suit and joined the WT | Network. Their innovative technology is available in various form factors: long pants, compression shorts, t-shirts, calf guards, wings and tank tops. They have embedded their clothing with EMS (electronic muscle stimulation) pads. This is a safe and tested technology that stimulates muscles to contract and relax with the stimulation of electrons. In other words, they are basically pumping your muscles to be faster and stronger all while conducting your normal workout routine. Their textile EMS pads are seamless, breaking into the market with never before seen technology. Yet, the downside is you still need to place an electronic, plastic booster onto the clothing. This booster contains the battery and other electronics that need to be removed when washing. All together the information is sent wireless to an app to display the body’s vitals to better understand how you are reacting to the Antelope Suit.
When most people think textiles, they think fashion and not technology. This thought ranges from couture and experimental to practical and comfortable. Smart textiles are at the edge of the chasm in terms of being integrated into everyday clothing. Fitness is the prime consumer market for wearables in general. Even so, there are a handful of artist that are designing high fashion, and innovative tech solutions.
A few WT favorites are Wearable Experiments, Pauline van Dongen, Cute Circuit and Anouk Wipprecht. In May 2016, WT, Wearable Experiments and Whitehouse Institute of Design will be hosting the first WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in Australia. Wearable Experiments’ Durex Fundawear was also one of WT Gadgets of the Month in May 2013. They also designed an ideal blazer for business folks that travel to new and big cities. You place your destination into your Google Maps, and simply begin to walk. The jacket will vibrate on each sholder indicating to turn, slow down, or that you have arrived. The idea is ingenious. Too bad they have not relseased to mass production for selling the jacket to consumers. Wearable Experiment’s work has grown from fun and flirty clothing to haptic feedback fan wear for business, sports teams, to lounging yoga pants. Pauline van Dongen has a similarly socially driven philosophy. However, her most popular creation has embedded flexible solar panels.
Cute Circuit shared their newest couture fashion items to the world at New York Fashion Week. They have taken to normal out-on-the-town dress and embedded LED lights to make the wearer pop with energy. This makes Cute Circuit one of the first fashion tech designers to take their clothing to market. However, as the story goes, they are not cheap ranging over €1000. Anouk Wipprecht is most commonly known for implementing microcontrollers into fashion, anything from Arduino to Intel. Ms. Wipprecht designs could be considered “other worldly”. They range from custom LED designs for the Black Eye Peas at the Super Bowl, to socially interactive dresses. Her Spider Dress consists of moving arms on the shoulders of the dress that reach out when the wearer feels uncomfortable. Most recently, she debut her mood-logging dress that is 3D printed and embedded with lights, sensors, and the Intel Edison. The all white dress is one that makes bystanders stop and stare. The design is flawless and inspiring to any fashion designer that wishes to become a player in the wearable industry.
The majority of couture electronic clothing are not on the consumer market. In fact, most LED fashion items on the market are mainly available via e-commerce. ShiftWear was once an idea for putting screens on your shoes; that is now successfully supported by crowd sourcing. You can pre-order these HD screen kicks for under $300. It’s not a bad price when compared to the newest Nike or Adidas sneakers on the market.
We’re live and need YOUR support. Join the #sneaker revolution! https://t.co/gHURnsatur #apps #crowdfunding http://pic.twitter.com/wJRd01pS5r
— ShiftWear Sneakers (@ShiftWear) November 28, 2015
Electric Runway did a beautiful job at compiling all fashion LED designers into a spicy fashion show. Below is a video that shares a few key garments that you can buy.
Lastly, T.Jacket is a piece of assistive technology. T.ware was once a Gadget of the Month in 2013. T.Jacket is more like vest, but is available for $400 – $600. It’s designed to help people with social anxiety or loneness. The jacket has deep touch pressure sensors embedded in various places. The idea is that the electronics can stimulate a hug, to give the wearer a comforting feeling. T.Ware is happy to collaborate with designers, engineers, and developers to better enhance their products abilities.
All in all the cons to smart clothing are obvious. There needs to be more development with electronic components. This includes longer lasting batteries, more durable conductivity, and water/tear proofing. In an ideal technological world, the system would be flawless with no other components (i.e. smartphone) beside the garment itself. This requires more R&D. Beyond that, the first step for future designers is to consider the design when it comes to what the consumer is willing to buy. This is one reason why people are taking hold of the DIY mentality. Not only is sewing a long-lasting tradition, but integrating technology into home-made textiles is intriguing for young tactical learners. Switch Craft is a popular DIY recipe book for making e-textiles.
The pros include standing out at night life events; for example the rave-wear made by Neon Nancy. Even so, smart clothing is also important for athletes that wish to either be fit or stacked with muscles. Not to mention the integration of lights and GPS improve safety. The applicaitons for assistice technology is endless. Nonetheless there is a lot of room for new companies to enter into the market. Lastly, wearbles are the glue to IoT. Once smart fashion is available to the public, they will be able to control their surroundings in a way that has only been dreamed of.