Saturday, August 31, 2019
The Polar Ignite watch rekindled my fitness efforts and then doused them again
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The best Apple Watch deals for Labor Day 2019
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Friday, August 30, 2019
Best Buy Labor Day sale: Samsung Galaxy and Apple Watch deals
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Digital Trends Live: Possible iPhone vulnerability, Nike’s Siri-controlled laces
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REI Labor Day sale: Electric bikes, smartwatches, and tents get big discounts
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The G-Shock Mudmaster may be smaller and lighter, but it’s as extreme as ever
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Best smartwatch deals for August 2019: Samsung, Fitbit, and Apple Watch sales
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Apple Watch Series 5: Everything you need to know about Apple’s next smartwatch
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The Best Labor Day smartwatch deals: Fitbit, Samsung, and Apple Watch discounts
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Figur8’s sensors can track body movement with astonishing levels of accuracy
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iPhone 11 Pro? Here’s what to expect from Apple’s September event
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Save the date! Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch event is set for September 10
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Deaths from Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure Slowing the Progress in Fight Against Heart Disease
An Increases in deaths due to uncontrolled high blood pressure is slowing the progress in the fight against heart disease, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reports NBC News.
While there’s been an overall decrease from deaths from heart disease in the last 20 years, the rate of that decline has slowed since 2010, the study found.
“In addition to rising rates of deaths related to high blood pressure, rates of heart disease deaths linked to obesity and Type 2 diabetes — once declining — have leveled off,” the NBC News report said.
Read more Myant Unveils Washable Blood Pressure Monitoring Smart Shirt
For their research, study author Dr. Sadiya Khan, a cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, and her colleagues searched a public Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database for death certificates from 1999 to 2017
“The fact that we are not seeing that translate into improvement in death rates is concerning,” Khan said.
Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States – claiming more than 800,000 lives each year, according to the American Heart Association.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can contribute to a person’s death in a number of ways. “Hypertension that is really out of control could lead to a tear in a blood vessel,” said Dr. Deepak Bhatt, executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Read more Withings Launches Two New iPhone-Connected Blood Pressure Monitors
“It could also lead to swelling in the brain, heart attack, stroke, and contribute to heart failure and kidney failure,” Bhatt, who was not involved in the current study, said.
Factors such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes could also lead to heart disease deaths. These factors have become more widespread in the past two decades.
The American Heart Association recommends several ways to lower your blood pressure and keep it in a healthy range. Those include:
- Eating a well-balanced diet that’s low in salt.
- Limiting alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one for women.
- Exercising about 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
- Quitting smoking.
- Losing weight if your body mass index is over 25.
With the advent of wearable technology, it is easier than ever to monitor blood pressure. Companies like Withings, Omron and Aktiia make wearable devices that deliver accurate blood pressure readings.
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Garmin’s Fenix 6 Series harnesses solar power for long-lasting adventures
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Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Get this renewed Samsung Galaxy Watch for $130 less on Amazon on Labor Day
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Insta360 Go is an incredibly small wearable camera with big image stabilization - CNET
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Fitbit Versa 2 vs. Fitbit Versa: All the differences explained
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Fitbit Versa 2 adds Alexa and Spotify control, debuts Premium coaching program
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In the race to protect our kids, we’re throwing privacy out the window
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Apple Watch and Fitbit Versa smartwatches get price cuts for Labor Day
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Amazon cuts 18% off the Garmin Forerunner 645 price tag for Labor Day
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The slim Fitbit Alta HR is down to $79 on Amazon for Labor Day
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Your body powers the Sequent SuperCharger 2 smartwatch, no battery needed
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Fitbit, Singapore Health Promotion Board Collaborate Public Health Project
American fitness wearables maker Fitbit has partnered up with Singapore government’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) on a population-based public health project in support of the country’s Smart Nation initiative. The HPB implements policy and programs to improve the health of Singaporeans. This is Fitbit’s first major integration of a digital health platform and wearables into a national public health program globally.
Related Finland-Israel Partnership to Promote Digital Health Innovation
The initiative, named Live Healthy SG, was uniquely designed for Singapore by Fitbit and the HPB to harness technology, behavior insights and analytics to help Singaporeans get healthier through meaningful and sustained behavior change. Live Healthy SG will engage people of all ages and levels of health using Fitbit devices and its new Premium service, which is launching to consumers in select markets around the world this fall, reports Business Wire.
Singapore is known worldwide for its efficient healthcare system – comprised of high-quality health services, world-class infrastructure and skilled healthcare talent. But, like many nations, the country is facing the rise of chronic conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Fitbit plans to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning to encourage physical activity, healthy eating and better sleep quality. The insights gathered can also help to enrich HPB’s health promotion programs, the report said.
“The area of population health presents an exciting opportunity for innovation. Increasingly, the Health Promotion Board has leveraged emerging technologies as well as behavior insights in the design of our programs, such as the National Steps Challenge – a nationwide program to keep active, to encourage Singaporeans to adopt healthy living and to affect behavior change. HPB will continue to embark on such nationwide programs to encourage and support Singaporeans in keeping active, adopting healthy living and affecting behavior change. At the same time, we intend to work with industry innovators, such as Fitbit, on additional efforts to use technology to provide Singaporeans with personalized health advice and nudges, so that they can take control of their own health,” said Zee Yoong Kang, CEO, Health Promotion Board.
In the partnership, the HPB will leverage its outreach channels to support Fitbit in encouraging participation in its program. When participants sign on to the Fitbit program, there will also be a clear and seamless consent process to indicate if they agree to share their data during the program with the HPB. Such data will, in turn, provide insights and contribute to more health promotion programs that will benefit many Singaporeans.
Related NIH, Fitbit Launch First Digital Health Technology Initiative BYOD Project
Singaporeans will be able to pre-register for Live Healthy SG starting mid-September, and the program will officially go live in late October 2019. Participants who enroll in and commit to one year of Fitbit Premium service will receive a Fitbit Inspire HR at no cost.
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Monday, August 26, 2019
It’s time to check out the best Apple Watch deals for August 2019
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Friday, August 23, 2019
REI Labor Day sale drops deals on Garmin, Suunto, and Fitbit smartwatches
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EDF Report Finds Big Demand for Chemical Monitoring Technologies
From couches and carpets to the clothes we wear, chemicals are the material backbone of these products. However, some chemicals can be harmful to our health. Personal Chemical Exposure Monitors (PCEMs) are a new entrant in the rapidly growing “monitored-self” market, joining a suite of available products designed to help people monitor and understand their individual health—from home-delivered kits that screen for genetic conditions to heart rate-monitoring watches.
Read more Augmented Reality Mask to Help Pilots Navigate with Smoke-Filled Cockpit
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a United States-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group has conducted a study to assess the market demand for technologies capable of detecting an individual’s exposure to harmful chemicals, reports EDF.
In their study, the group:
- Surveyed 616 individuals about their willingness to pay for PCEMs and the device features that matter most to them through a choice experiment.
- Conducted 16 expert interviews with stakeholders across the PCEM supply chain—ranging from investors and technology developers to industrial hygienists and potential institutional customers—to better understand the market challenges and opportunities that exist for these products.
Key Findings
The willingness to pay (WTP) choice experiment found a clear market for PCEM devices among general consumers:
- The highest WTP value for a single surveyed hypothetical device was $459.
- Nearly 40 surveyed hypothetical devices had a WTP between $100 and $300—a price range reflective of the actual price of other personal monitoring devices on the market today.
The most demanding features among consumers were getting data on a large number of chemicals and receiving immediate results.
Experts affirmed the demand for PCEMs both among consumers and in the workplace monitoring sector, identified future opportunities for PCEMs, and proposed solutions for existing and anticipated challenges in the marketplace
“Done well, a device that provides information about the chemicals in our daily life will change consumer habits. If you can capture that change, you can monetize it,” said Marty Mulvihill of Safer Made, a venture capital firm.
This research show that demand for PCEMs exists today, and the researchers anticipate the demand to increase over time given the expanding market for health and wellness technologies and rising concerns about chemicals in the environment.
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Thursday, August 22, 2019
Next-gen wearables that analyze your sweat could help diagnose diseases
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Casio’s newest PRO TREK smartwatch finally adds heart rate monitoring
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Garmin’s fitness smartwatches are the first to offer Amazon Music
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The Suunto 5 sports watch looks durable, but the display doesn’t hold up
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Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Stay on pace with the Garmin Forerunner 235, now $100 less on Amazon
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Blocks modular smartwatch project gets dismantled, leaving backers in pieces
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3-2-1 – Just some days left to submit your solution for free to the 11th IOT/WT Innovation World Cup®!
#NOWORNEVER! Time flies, and the deadline to submit your solution to the world’s leading competition in the area of IoT & Wearable Tech is approaching fast. Join the 11th IoT/WT Innovation World Cup®, and compete to become the next top Innovator of the Year!
We at WT | Wearable Technologies, together with our partner the Innovation World Cup®, are looking for the best innovative Internet of Things and Wearable techpreneurs to take part in the following categories: Industrial | City | Healthcare | Home | Agriculture | Sports | Lifestyle & Transports.
The participation is FREE of charge. The submission deadline is on September 18th 2019.
Submit your solution now to benefit from prizes worth 500,000$, a 10,000€ prize in cash (best IoT solution). Winners and finalists will additionally get:
- Speaking slots in leading tech events such as of WT | Wearable Technologies Conferences, MEDICA, Mobile World Congress MWC, and many more.
- Significant advice from WT | Wearable Technologies and international tech experts to support your business development: finding the right components, go-to-market strategy, and commercial launch, to mention but a few.
- Free use of productions labs and testing facilities.
- Free marketing packages and extensive media coverage at a global level.
- Free DevKits powered by Innovation World Cup® Series’ partners STMicroelectronics, Würth Elektronik, EBV Elektronik and Microtronics.
- Placement on the Hall of Fame of the IoT/WT Innovation World Cup®.
Every year, the Innovation World Cup® selects about 60 techpreneurs and disruptive solutions from hundreds of submissions to the Innovation World Cup® Series. These finalists will have the opportunity to pitch at leading industry events and get the support needed to take their solutions to the next level.
Further leading corporate partners STMicroelectronics, W.L. Gore & Associates, LOXXESS, AiQ Smart Clothing, Würth Elektronik, Gemalto, Microtronics, EBV Elektronik, VARTA Microbattery and we are excited to see who has the disruptive potential to rise above the others!
iBreve, GaitUp, Bonbouton, COBI, Sigfox, Sensoria and other top techpreneurs made history after debuting at the Innovation World Cup®. Your company could be next!
Finalize your submission now completely for free.
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Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Keep active and get a refurbished Fitbit Charge 3 on Walmart for 25% less
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Humm forehead wearable may help you find your keys (but not your dignity) - CNET
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Improve your golf game with the Garmin Approach S20 for 15% less on Amazon
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Casio’s newest PRO TREK smartwatch finally adds heart rate monitoring
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Get fit with Amazon’s 33% discount on the Garmin Vivosport
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Work out in style with this Fitbit Blaze smartwatch, now 21% less on Walmart
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Run with the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music for $70 less on Amazon
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Is the Apple Card any better than a regular credit card? We asked an expert
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Ekso Bionics Unveils Next Generation Neurorehabilitation Suit EksoNR
Ekso Bionics, a company that develops some of the most advanced exoskeletons out there, unveiled EksoNR, the next generation robotic exoskeleton. Designed primarily for stroke recovery, the intuitive exoskeleton device recreates the natural movement of the legs and helps patients re-learn how to walk, sit, and do all the things they used to do.
Related ReStore Exosuit, the First Soft Robotic System for Stroke Therapy Gets FDA Clearance
The device now includes new features and software enhancements to help physical therapists and patients get even more out of each rehabilitation session.
A new touchscreen controller called EksoView allows therapists to intuitively adapt assistance to challenge patients using real-time feedback and perform outcome measures during use. Held in the palm of a therapists’ hand, EksoView provides visualization of various exercises beyond gait training, such as balancing, squatting from sit-to-stand positioning, lifting one leg, or standing in place, to actively engage patients and enhance the use of these beneficial features, Esko Bionics said in a press release.
The optimized SmartAssist software enables EksoNR to have a smoother and more natural gait path when transitioning between steps. SmartAssist also gives gait symmetry and posture feedback and allows therapists to track patient progress with the upgraded EksoPulse, a cloud-based analytics solution. EksoPulse now uses rehabilitation data to generate insightful metrics and graphs for therapists and administrators to monitor patient progress and outcomes.
“Ekso Bionics is committed to developing the latest exoskeleton advances for rehabilitation. We continue to innovate to ensure physical therapists have access to the latest tools to deliver better patient outcomes and superior care in neurorehabilitation,” said Jack Peurach, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ekso Bionics. “EksoNR is a full neurorehabilitation tool that is effective, intuitive, and differentiating. There is an increasing demand for adoption, as our technology sets rehabilitation centers apart.”
Related Designing Exoskeletons to Interact with Humans
EksoNR is cleared by the U.S. FDA for stroke and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. The device is also CE-marked and available in Europe.
Ekso Bionics will begin taking orders for the new EksoNR immediately. Existing customers will have the option to upgrade, the company said.
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Monday, August 19, 2019
Trim down and get big savings with Amazon’s 20% sale on the Fitbit Inspire HR
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It’s time to check out the best Apple Watch deals for August 2019
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Amazon swipes 32% off of Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro smartwatches
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Amazon drops the GPS and cellular Apple Watch Series 3 to its lowest price
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Snag the Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch for 34% less on Amazon
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AUGUST 2019
Aktiia was founded in Switzerland in May 2018 out of a passion to create the best tool for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. Aktiia’s founders, Mattia Bertschi (CEO) and Josep Solà (CTO), worked day in and day out for 15 years to research and understand the language of our heart signals and decode key markers to gain better insight into blood pressure. They built an incredible team of 15 employees and founded Aktiia to turn their years of pioneering work into a useful tool for people around the globe.
Aktiia’s technology combines common optical sensors and proprietary clinically tested algorithms to measure blood pressure at the wrist. The Aktiia team has developed this technology into an elegant and discreet bracelet that pairs with a smartphone app for 24/7 blood pressure measurements. Validated through extensive trials, its accuracy has received worldwide acknowledgement, and the team is hard at work iterating and improving on user experience before launching publicly. Once cleared to go to market, Aktiia will be proud to offer the most complete and user-friendly blood pressure companion to date. With one third of adults globally suffering from hypertension, this mission is more urgent than ever.
Want to learn more about Aktiia’s complete blood pressure monitor? Come visit them at the WT | Wearable Technologies Show at MEDICA on November 18-21.
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Bonbouton Accepted into 2019 MetLife Digital Accelerator Powered by Techstars
Bonbouton, a cutting-edge health and technology company, has been accepted into MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars. MetLife Digital Accelerator is an accelerator program that focuses on innovating in the insurance industry alongside startups who are building insurtech ideas, especially those with plans to reach new customers, create next-generation products, and digitize processes.
Read more Gore and Bonbouton Collaborate for Smart Fabrics and Digital Health Applications
“Being accepted into this program is a pivotal next step for Bonbouton,” says Linh Le, Founder and CEO of Bonbouton. “The purpose of our technology is to generate better health outcomes, and working with insurance companies, and MetLife in particular, will help us reach more people who live with diabetes at a greater scale.”
Bonbouton is a New York-based startup that makes smart insole that detects foot ulcers, a common cause of diabetes-related amputations. Foot ulcers affect over 25% of all people living with diabetes and is responsible for an estimated 80% of the 70,000 amputation surgeries performed each year in the United States, reports Bonbouton.
“Our team has relocated to MetLife’s Global Technology Campus based in Raleigh-Durham. Since the kick-off, we’ve been working alongside eight other amazing startups in the class, the Techstars and MetLife teams, and dozens of mentors, coaches, and thought partners,” Bonbouton said in an email to WT | Wearable-Technologies.
Following clinical studies, Bonbouton will be submitting the technology for FDA Class I Medical Device Clearance to partner with established diabetic shoe and insole companies to sell under major health insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Read more Graphene-Based Sensors Detect Diabetic Foot Ulcers Before They Cause Injury
“We’re thrilled that Bonbouton is part of the 2019 Class,” says Mee-Jung Jang, Managing Director at Techstars. “Bonbouton is uniquely positioned to benefit from Techstars’ network and mentorship, while gaining invaluable knowledge from MetLife on bringing their product to insurance companies.”
Over the next three months, Bonbouton hopes to:
1) Strengthen their relationship with MetLife to explore and validate how their product fits into the insurance ecosystem
2) Receive strong support and expertise to advance customer discovery, product development, and company culture
3) Tap into mentor networks to build a team of clinical and business advisors
As an accepted startup, Bonbouton along with the eight other companies will receive a $120K investment, access to 300 perks values at over $1M+, and connections to invaluable mentors and peers to help move the business the right way forward.
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Sunday, August 18, 2019
Fitbit Versa 2 will reportedly roll out September 15 with OLED display, Alexa
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Friday, August 16, 2019
Pick up Bose’s QuietComfort 25 headphones at their lowest price ever on Amazon
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Best smartwatch deals for August 2019: Samsung, Fitbit, and Apple Watch sales
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Get yourself a cellular Apple Watch Series 4 for as low as $449 on Amazon
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Wearable Motion Sensors Monitor Fetal Heartbeat, Could Save Unborn Babies
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey have developed a wearable device designed to help expectant parents keep track of their child’s fetal heartbeat continuously at home. The non-invasive and safe device is potentially more accurate than any fetal heartrate monitors currently available in the market.
Related First Ever Wearable 5-Channel ECG Chip to Monitor Fetal Heart Rate and Mobility
The device uses the same commercial sensors used in smartphones. When the device is oriented horizontally or vertically, it records vibrations sent through a mother’s abdomen when her baby’s heart beats or when the fetus squirms and kicks. Lauded by physicians, the device could potentially reduce an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths per year worldwide.
“Almost a third of stillbirths occur in the absence of complicating factors,” said Negar Tavassolian, an associate professor who led the work at Stevens. “Our device could let a pregnant woman know if her fetus is compromised and she needs to go to the doctor.”
Many stillbirths are preceded by variations in fetal movement and heartrate, so affordable, lightweight monitors that detect vibrations generated from a heartbeat could be worn continuously in the final weeks of pregnancy to ensure that distressed fetuses receive prompt medical attention, reports Stevens Institute of Technology.
A vibration monitor offers important advantages over existing tools based on ECG or Doppler ultrasound technology, which require specialized knowledge to use, and can be bulky and expensive.
Researchers tested the sensors on 10 pregnant women and found the device detected fetal heartrate with similar accuracy as fetal cardiotocograms — a standard wearable technology for fetal monitoring.
Related Innovative Wearable Tracks Fetal Movement Without Ultrasonic Technology
The current device uses commercially available sensors, but the long-term goal is to patent and market a custom-built device. Costing far less than equivalent ECG or ultrasound systems, such a device could capture a significant share of the global market for fetal monitors, which is expected to reach $3.6 billion by 2022.
The work is reported in the July 24 early access issue of IEEE Sensors Journal.
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Thursday, August 15, 2019
Track your progress with this renewed Fitbit Versa Lite for $110 at Walmart
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Get fit in style with Garmin’s Vivosmart 4, now only $100 on Amazon and Best Buy
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Get moving with Garmin’s Vivoactive 3 multisport smartwatch for $220 at Walmart
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Amazon slashes the price of the Fossil Q Gen 3 Venture smartwatch by 32%
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The Fitbit Blaze smart fitness watch is down to $155 on Amazon
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IFA 2019: Wearable Technology Will Be A Much Talked About Topic
IFA is the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances. Held each year in Germany, the event gives companies opportunity to showcase their products. Last year’s event was attended by over 250,000 people. A bigger crowd is expected at this year’s IFA which takes place from 6 September to 11 September, in Berlin. Like previous years, wearables will occupy a big part of the show.
Read more Best of IFA 2018: All the Major Launches, New Wearables, Smart Appliances and More
We’ll be there to bring you the latest news and highlights of the event. Here’s a preview of what to expect at the IFA 2019.
Garmin
Garmin has regularly introduced several wearables at the event So it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them presenting a wearable or two at this year’s show. After successful launch of Forerunner 45/45S, Forerunner 245/245 Music and Forerunner 945 and Fenix 5, the next one to arrive may be the Fenix 6. The smartwatch is expected to hit the market towards the end of August and it’ll reportedly come in several variants including 6, 6 Pro, 6s, 6s Pro, 6x Pro and 6x Pro Solar, reports Gadgets and Wearables.
Fossil
Fossil’s first 5th generation smartwatches – Carlyle HR and Julianna HR – are expected to be launched at the event. The watches come with a built-in speaker, longer battery life via smart battery modes, increased storage capacity and the Snapdragon 3100 processor.
Samsung
This year, Samsung launched Galaxy Watch Active 2, 6 months after the first one. The smartwatch features ECG, a touch-sensitive bezel, as well as an LTE variant. To coincide with the IFA event, fans can preorder the smartwatches starting 6th of September.
Read more Sleep Trackers Took the Center Stage at the IFA 2018 in Berlin
Huami
Huami has launched a boatload of devices in recent months. This includes the Amazfit Bip Lite, Amazfit Verge Lite, Amazfit Health Watch, Amazfit Smart Watch 2 and Amazfit GTR.
According to Gadgets and Wearables, the company is planning to unveil five new products at the IFA 2019. These new products will probably include most of the above, as they have only made their debut in China. Among these, the one that would really generate lots of interest would be an updated version of the Amazfit Bip.
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Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Amazon’s deal nets you the Fitbit Versa smartwatch for 15% less
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Grab the Garmin Instinct outdoor watch for $31 less on Amazon
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It has LTE and a voice assistant, but the DokiPal kid’s smartwatch is a disaster
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The Apple Watch Series 3 is back down to just $199 at Walmart today
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Misfit releases the Vapor X, its lightest, most comfortable smartwatch yet
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It’s 2025. How has 5G changed our lives? We asked experts to predict the future
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A lot of power in a tiny space: CoinPower ensures durability for wearables and hearables
Nowadays, no-one needs a key to open or start a modern car. That’s the task of miniature computers, which are designed by car manufacturers to perform an increasing number of functions. These smart keys can do quite a lot more. For example, they provide information about the oil level, the distance that can still be travelled, the filling level of the petrol tank, the status of the doors and windows and the control of the fully automated parking and manoeuvring. In order to be able to complete all of these tasks smoothly, rechargeable lithium ion batteries with a high energy density and capacity are required, which also need to be very robust and reliable at the same time.
The provision of energy in a tiny space is playing a growing role in an increasing number of aspects of modern mobility and health. As well as cars, this is also the case with hearables, which are worn on or in the ear. They not only facilitate hearing, but also offer a wide range of other functions, such as listening to music, hands-free telephony, voice amplification or simultaneous translation. As well as classic hearing aids, hearables include over-ear headphones and wireless telephony earbuds.
From hearables and step counters in shoes to fitness trackers with vital data measurements, these devices are always only as good as their energy supply. Standards are high, as they need to be reliable and durable. This is where the CoinPower button cells from VARTA Microbattery often come in use for wearables, with their small size, high energy density and extraordinary mechanical stability. Short charging times, a high degree of reliability and a robust structure round off their profile. The smallest models, the CP 7840 and CP 9440, are just four millimetres thick and have been developed with headphones, fitness wristbands and smart keys in mind. However, they are also being increasingly used in medical equipment.
The form and high energy density of the CoinPower series makes these microbatteries the ideal solution for wearables and medical devices. They have an energy density that is up to 30 percent higher than comparable batteries available on the market. Miniaturisation is making constant progress, as Philipp Miehlich, General Manager OEM at VARTA Microbattery GmbH, explains: “In this segment, we have developed unique competitive advantages and are benefiting from the shift in technology away from cylindrical battery cells to coin format batteries. We have been supporting this change in technology for wireless headphones with our leading technology, and are setting the standards in the industry in this area with our stream of new innovations.” The CoinPower series will be produced using fully automated processes in one of the most state of the art European production sites in Ellwangen.
A video just recently produced by VARTA Microbattery tells you all you need to know about the wide range of uses of the CoinPower series.
About VARTA AG
VARTA AG, as the parent company of the Group, is active in the Microbatteries and Power&Energy business segments through its subsidiaries VARTA Microbattery GmbH and VARTA Storage GmbH. Today, VARTA Microbattery GmbH is already an innovation leader in the field of microbatteries, one of the market leaders for hearing aid batteries and is also striving for market leadership for lithium-ion batteries in the wearables sector, especially for hearables. Power&Energy focuses on intelligent energy solutions for tailor-made battery storage systems for OEM customers as well as on the design, system integration and assembly of stationary lithium-ion energy storage systems. With five production and manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia as well as sales centers in Asia, Europe and the USA, the operating subsidiaries of the VARTA AG Group are currently active in over 75 countries worldwide.
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Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Amazon drops up to 35% off these Fossil smartwatches for men and women
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Walmart’s price cut on the Apple Watch Series 3 GPS+Cellular is gigantic
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Wear the elegant Garmin Vivomove HR Hybrid smartwatch for 15% less on Amazon
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The best pet trackers for your furry friends
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Carnegie Mellon Researchers Develop Flexible Wearable Patch That Sticks to the Skin Like a Band-Aid
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have developed smart wearable patch that can be worn like a band-aid. Their innovation, called ElectroDermis, represents new advances in electronic skin patches that are stretchy and conform to the body. The device can be used for a variety of medical, fitness, or lifestyle purposes.
“We envision a future where electronics can be temporarily attached to the body, but in functional and aesthetically pleasing way,” wrote the researchers.
Related KIST Researchers Develop Hydrogel-Based High-Performance Sensors for Wearables
The project is a combined effort from engineers at Carnegie Mellon’s Soft Machines Lab and Morphing Matter Lab.
For the developers of wearable devices, the challenge has been finding a way to make these devices flexible. But the research team led by Eric Markvicka and Guanyun Wang, wanted to make a more complicated device, which involves components for signal processing, wireless communication and power. The CMU researchers made the wiring from copper sheets cut in a wavy form to make them bend more easily.
“Specifically, we achieve high functionality by discretizing rigid print circuit boards into individual islands,” the researchers explained. “The islands are then assembled on a spandex-blend fabric to increase robustness and reusability.”
They also concocted a multilayered fabrication method by putting fabric over TPU film, copper trace, z-tape, electrical components, and skin adhesive. This gives the wearer full mobility and makes it possible for the piece to be reusable, as the adhesive layer can simply be replaced.
Related Carnegie Mellon Researchers Develop Ultra-Thin Electronic Tattoos that Can Power Wearables
ElectroDermis patches can be made in less than an hour and last on the body for hours or days.
The scientists say their new device could be applied to monitor vital signs, track fitness markers, measure food consumption or make a smart wound healing bandage.
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Monday, August 12, 2019
Imagining a new normal in energy
by Janet Preus
Every so often I put the “energy” topic on the calendar. I’m fascinated with the idea that textiles of various kinds will be a critical part of new developments, especially for wearables and other small-scale applications, as well as transportable products. Solar energy seemed the most encouraging, with new photovoltaic fabrics and uses showing up regularly. Energy harvesting technologies and piezoelectric fabrics that could gather and convert kinetic and wind power have shown promise.
But something has happened between “this is a great idea” and “viable business model.”
Don’t get me wrong; I am still a big believer in alternative energy and the contribution that textiles can play in the larger picture. I also report regularly on progress in technology developments, novel applications and business growth—in short, telling you the success stories. My issue at the moment is that there are not enough of them. But why not? I reported on solar collecting curtains years ago. We know that energy harvesting using the body’s everyday movement is not a crazy idea. It can be done. Wind power goes without saying.
So, given what we know how to do, technologically speaking, why aren’t more people doing it? The numbers I expected to see by this time aren’t there. I know this is complicated, expensive and, as it’s forging new territory, requires leaping regulatory hurdles. In fact the technologies are so new that standards are just now being developed. (See “Progress in e-textile standards” and “Global standards for e-textiles” on this site.)
It may be true that “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” but this is so complex that no single research facility, no one group of entrepreneurs, or even one industry alone can affect the size of the change that is possible. Still, textiles could take the lead in transforming the way we think about, generate, and use energy. If we really wanted this, what could happen? Not just in research labs, but as a meaningful, healthy, sustainable, long-term growth industry.
In our feature “Energy for smart materials and systems,” by Marie O’Mahony, she describes the research underway that could integrate power and textiles in a way we’ve never seen before. She also notes the importance of “multiple stakeholders working together.” That’s in her discussion of electric vehicles, but one could say the same for any of the smart textile products and systems imagined for our future, a point that we’ve made in other features recently.
At the least, I encourage you to take an interest, speak up and share your ideas. Look at how your own businesses can participate in and support the inevitable movement toward new energy sourcing and usage. Textiles of some kind will be an integral part of this paradigm shift that will bring us closer to a sustainable energy future.
Janet Preus is senior editor of Advanced Textiles Source. She can be reached at jlpreus@ifai.com.
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Amazon trims the price on the Garmin Forerunner 735XT by 30%
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Amazon is running a 20% sale on Fitbit’s latest fitness tracker, the Charge 3
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Amazon discounts this snazzy Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch by 29% less
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It’s time to check out the best Apple Watch deals for August 2019
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bONE Tech’s IceBRKR is the First Ever Ski Goggles with Bone Conduction Audio & Bluetooth 5.0 MESH
Italian lifestyle brand bONE Tech has introduced IceBRKR – the world’s first ski goggles to integrate bone conduction audio and Bluetooth 5.0 MESH Intercom technology. The goggles are designed to make the skiing or snowboarding experience safer and more entertaining. The Kickstarter Campaign, which was launched on August 8 raised $46,265, surpassing its funding goal of $30,000 USD in just a few days.
Related Don’t Let Injuries Take You Downhill, Be Safe and Have Fun with These Skiing Wearables This Winter
IceBRKR provides a comfortable fit with its patented bendable arms that pivot to assure gentle but constant contact between the transducer and the user’s ears. It delivers amazing sound for making calls or listening to music all while allowing users to hear what’s going on around them. The arms’ patented design is so flexible that users can also choose to place them directly over their helmet to give an incredible 360-degree sound experience (sound is delivered through the vibrations of the helmet shell). The audio perception is perfect, and in stereo without resorting to using headphones, earphones and external microphones, making the sound experience complete and comfortable, said the company in a press release.
“IceBRKR is the answer to staying as connected as you want to be on the slopes,” said CEO Marco Collini, founder of bONE Tech. “You can take calls, listen to music or podcasts, all without removing your gloves or mask or blocking out the sound around you.”
With its incorporated Bluetooth 5.0 MESH Intercom technology, IceBRKR recognizes compatible MESH devices that are paired together (from 2 to 18 devices) and easily connects with them at a radius of up to 1 mile. The pairing is intuitive, and once initiated, remains active lasting for 72 hours in stand-by and 24 in continuous use. When the system recognizes the devices, it will pair immediately.
Functions such as the control and the on/off button are located on the lower part of the goggles’ frame. Also located on the lower part of the frame are an App control key and the conference function activation key (with pairing modes).
Related Atomic Unveils Smart Connected Ski Boot
A light/sound feedback (blue/red LED) signals the connection and pairing active/dropped with other IceBRKR masks and/or devices. The incorporated bi-directional microphone is located near the vocal emission source. The buttons are “invisible” but naturally accessible without having to remove the glove or look at the frame.
IceBRKR’s impeccable design features a magnetic, swappable dual lens with proprietary geometry that mimics the anatomical curvature of the eye to maximize peripheral vision and minimize distortion, as well as polarized lenses with an iridium coating to minimize glare and heighten contrast.
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Casio slims down latest sporty Edifice connected watch, adds desirable new tech
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Fitbit Ace 2 review
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Apple Joins Eli Lilly to Study How iPhone and Apple Watch Can Detect Signs of Dementia
Apple has been continuing its efforts to establish itself in the healthcare platform by adding health monitoring features to its iPhone and smartwatch. Now, the company has teamed up with Eli Lilly to see if data from Apple devices can help identify early signs of dementia. The results of the feasibility study showed that sensors from consumer-grade devices like iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads and Beddit sleep monitors can spot mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.
Related German Researchers Develop Sensor-Packed Wristband to Improve Lives of Dementia Patients
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen how data and insights derived from wearables and mobile consumer devices have enabled people living with health conditions, along with their clinicians, to better monitor their health,” Nikki Marinsek, data scientist at Evidation Health and the study’s first author, said in a statement. “We know that insights from smart devices and digital applications can lead to improved health outcomes but we don’t yet know how those resources can be used to identify and accelerate diagnoses. The results of the trial set the groundwork for future research that may be able to help identify people with neurodegenerative conditions earlier than ever before.”
For the study, the team recruited 113 participants, of whom 31 were suffering from dementia and other cognitive impairments. The control group of 82 participants were free from any type of cognitive ailments. All participants were provided an iPhone, Apple Watch and Beddit sleep tracker and were asked to refrain from treating symptoms with medication during the test phase.
The researchers used sensors in the iPhone to track steps taken, while data was pulled from apps that incorporate typing functions. The handset was also used to conduct a daily survey. Apple Watch tracked movement, heart rate, workout sessions, app usage, breathe sessions, hours standing and other metrics, while Beddit was employed to measure a user’s circadian rhythm.
The study found that people with symptoms of cognitive decline typed more slowly, typed less regularly and sent fewer text messages than healthy participants. They also have a greater reliance on support apps and are less inclined to fill out surveys. Still, the researchers said there are limitations to the study, which didn’t draw any long-term conclusions because more analysis is needed.
Related Wearable Tech Can Safely Detect Atrial Fibrillation, Says Apple Heart Study
There’s also the risk of presenting results to patients because of the increased anxiety it can cause. Plus, the authors write, there’s not much people can do to stem the decline.
The study will be discussed on Thursday at a conference in Alaska.
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Sunday, August 11, 2019
The future has arrived. Want proof? Check out these amazing robotic exoskeletons
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The best Apple Watch cases
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Friday, August 9, 2019
Form Introduces Augmented Reality Swim Goggles that You Can Wear Underwater
Sports Tech company FORM Athletica launched its Form Swim Goggles with an augmented reality display, which enable athletes to see performance metrics they need in the moment. The goggles can be worn underwater.
The device is soft like a combination of Google Glass-style AR heads-up display and Fitbit-style tracking. It is meant specifically and exclusively for swimming.
Read more Cosinuss One Now Provides You New Possibilities with Update for Swimming
The smart display delivers metrics like split times, distance, and more—intelligently, as you swim. Developed in collaboration with top competitive swimmers and coaches, the FORM Swim Goggles are the missing piece in every swimmer’s swim bag, according to FORM.
The googles work on either eye, you just need to turn them over (and flip the display orientation).
“Head to a pool and the only thing you need to do is tell the goggles the width of the pool you’re jumping in to. There are pre-selected options for the most common sizes, 25 meters, 25 yards, 50 meters or 50 yards, or the option for a custom size. You pick if you’re planning to do laps or drills, and you’re ready to swim, in the care of the system and its algorithms, designed to detect your swimming style,” reports EndGadget.
The see-through smart display is built right into the goggles’ lens, delivering metrics without obstructing your vision.
The premium design features a hydrodynamic profile and high-grade materials, with 5 included nose bridge sizes for a watertight seal and an optimal fit.
About durability, the goggles are said to have FDA-certified silicone eye seals and the same permanent, chemical-resistant anti-fog used in diving masks. They’re also covered under a one-year limited warranty.
Read more DigiLens Announces AR Waveguide Displays for Smart Motorcycle Helmets
Along with the googles, the FORM Swim App is also available to download for iOS and Android. The app lets you customize the metrics displayed in the goggles, review your swims out of the pool, and share your workout stats with your coach. The app can be downloaded for free from the iOS App Store and Google Play.
The goggles can be ordered via www.formswim.com for $199, and shipping is free across the U.S. and Canada.
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Get the uber-chic Michael Kors Access Sofie smartwatch for $178 off from Amazon
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Huawei reveals HarmonyOS, an operating system that’s not for phones — yet
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Thursday, August 8, 2019
University of Houston Researchers Develop Super Thin Wearable That’s Barely Noticeable to the Wearer
With the growing popularity of medical wearables, demand is rising for thin wearables that can be used to collect and store important health information about the wearer. Devices currently available in the market are bulky to wear, offer slow response times and suffer a drop-in performance over time. Researchers at the University of Houston have now developed a wearable device that is so thin it’s barely noticeable to the user and lighter than a Band-Aid but can track and record important health information.
Read more Soft Wearable Health Monitor Continuously Measures ECG, Breathing, Heart Rate
The device allows the wearer to move naturally and is less noticeable than wearing a Band-Aid, said Cunjiang Yu, Bill D. Cook Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Houston and lead author for the paper, published as the cover story in Science Advances, reports University of Houston.
“Everything is very thin, just a few microns thick,” said Yu, who also is a principal investigator at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH. “You will not be able to feel it.”
The new device can be used as a prosthetic skin for a robotic hand or other robotic devices, with a robust human-machine interface that allows it to automatically collect information and relay it back to the wearer.
“What if when you shook hands with a robotic hand, it was able to instantly deduce physical condition?” Yu asked – as well as for situations such as chemical spills, which are risky for humans but require human decision-making based on physical inspection.
A metal oxide semiconductor on a polymer base, offers manufacturing advantages and can be processed at temperatures lower than 300 C.
Read more PolyU Researchers Develop Flexible High-Energy Textile Lithium Battery for Wearables
“We report an ultrathin, mechanically imperceptible, and stretchable (human-machine interface) HMI device, which is worn on human skin to capture multiple physical data and also on a robot to offer intelligent feedback, forming a closed-loop HMI,” the researchers wrote. “The multifunctional soft stretchy HMI device is based on a one-step formed, sol-gel-on-polymer-processed indium zinc oxide semiconductor nanomembrane electronics.”
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Under Armour Edition: Everything you need to know
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Withings Move review
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AlterEgo: Wearable That Lets You Give Voice Command by Reading Your Unspoken Thoughts
What if Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant could read your mind and act according to what you are thinking? That may soon be possible with a new gadget called AlterEgo, created by MIT Media Lab graduate student Arnav Kapur. The device could help a person with speech impediment or be used to dictate words for a computer to read out.
Read more Kenyan Invents Smart Gloves that Turn Sign Language Gestures into Audio Speech
“Our idea was: could we have a computing platform that’s more internal, that melds human and machine in some ways and that feels like an internal extension of our own cognition?”, said Kapur.
Kapur’s device resembles a jawbone hooked around the ear and attached to the user’s face between lip and chin. AlterEgo Uses a bone conduction system to hear and respond to the wearer’s internal voice via electrodes attached to the skin.
Although it doesn’t actually read the electrical signals from your brain, AlterEgo lets you silently ask questions, and then either have the answer fed back to you via bone-conduction technology. For a person with a speech impediment, it could also be used to dictate words for a computer to read out, reports Digital Trends.
Kapur envisions it as a new form of computer, which can be used in a way that is less demanding of your attention than tapping and swiping on a smartphone and more intimate than giving commands at Alexa. Though the device is still just a prototype, he imagines it being helpful in our everyday life.
Read more EyeControl AI powered Headset for Locked-In Syndrome Patients Available on NHS Supply Chain
“Throughout the history of personal computing, computers have always been external systems or entities that we interact with: desktops, smartphones, artificial intelligence tools, and even robots,” Kapur told Digital Trends. “Could we flip this paradigm? Could we augment and extend human abilities and weave the powers of computing and machine intelligence as an intrinsic human cognitive ability.”
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Global Smart Contact Lenses Market 2019-2026: Size, Share, Top Vendor, Trends and Demand
A new report by MRS Research Group on Smart Contact Lenses market studies the intense structure of the Smart Contact Lenses market. The report breaks down the business from a 360-degree point of view from the essential market information and moving to various critical aspects which empowers the user to gain details of the ecosystem of the Smart Contact Lenses market. This report provides a full prediction of global Smart Contact Lenses market based on CAGR which offered report in terms of % for the forecasted period. This will help the users to make definite decisions based on prediction chart, reports Industry Updates.
This report evaluates the growth drivers, restraining factors, and opportunities at length. The examination of the prominent trends, driving forces, and the challenges assist the market participants and stakeholders to understand the issues they will have to face while operating in the worldwide market for Smart Contact Lens in the long run.
The report values Global Smart Contact Lenses market at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.
The key players covered in this study – Sensimed AG, Google, Samsung, Sony, PEGL, Research Institute, KAIST, Ghent University, Belgium.
Read more Imec, UGent and SEED Develop Hydrogel-Based Smart Contact Lens
Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Smart Contact Lenses in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering:
- North America
- Europe
- China
- Japan
- Southeast Asia
- India
On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into
- Disposable Type
- Frequent Replacement Type
On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Smart Contact Lenses for each application, including
- Medical Field
- Military Field
- Social Entertainment
- Others
Additionally, the Smart Contact Lenses report provide insights on the existing laws, policies, along with guidelines which makes the document useful for managers, analysts, business consultants and different key individuals to study and understand market trends, drivers and market challenges.
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Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Best smartwatch deals for August 2019: Samsung, Fitbit, and Apple Watch sales
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Under Armour Edition: Everything you need to know
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Get the Fossil Gen 4 Venture HR women’s smartwatch for $96 less on Walmart
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Amazon drops huge discounts on Kate Spade, Fossil, and Michael Kors smartwatches
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How to watch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2019 event live this afternoon
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Snag a renewed 46mm Samsung Galaxy Watch on Amazon for an unbelievable 47% off
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Note 10 Plus? Here’s what to expect from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked on August 7
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Soft Wearable Health Monitor Continuously Measures ECG, Breathing, Heart Rate
Continuous, long-term monitoring of health is important for treatment process; it provides doctors with subtle information about the patient’s health. However, children, elderly, and people with various conditions often have difficulty wearing body-worn sensors. Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a wireless wearable device that can be worn on the body for long-term to measure a range of physiological signals.
Related Wireless, Soft, Flexible Sensors Show Promise in Monitoring Premature Babies
The soft and conformable monitor can measure electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, respiratory rate and motion activity data as much as 15 meters to a portable recording device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. The electronics are mounted on a stretchable substrate and connected to gold, skin-like electrodes through printed connectors that can stretch with the medical film in which they are embedded, reports Georgia Tech News Center.
“This health monitor has a key advantage for young children who are always moving, since the soft conformal device can accommodate that activity with a gentle integration onto the skin,” said Woon-Hong Yeo, an assistant professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “This is designed to meet the electronic health monitoring needs of people whose sensitive skin may be harmed by conventional monitors.”
Because the device conforms to the skin, it avoids signal issues that can be created by the motion of the typical metal-gel electrodes across the skin. The device can even obtain accurate signals from a person who is walking, running or climbing stairs.
“When you put a conventional electrode on the chest, movement from sitting up or walking creates motion artifacts that are challenging to separate from the signals you want to measure,” he said. “Because our device is soft and conformal, it moves with the skin and provides information that cannot be seen with the motion artifacts of conventional sensors.”
The monitor uses three gold electrodes embedded in the film that also contains the electronic processing equipment. The entire health monitor is just three inches in diameter, and a more advanced version under development will be half that size. The wireless monitor is now powered by a small rechargeable battery, but future versions may replace the battery with an external radio-frequency charging system.
“The monitor could be worn for multiple days, perhaps for as long as two weeks,” Yeo said. “The membrane is waterproof, so an adult could take a shower while wearing it. After use, the electronic components can be recycled.”
Related UC-Berkeley Researchers Develop Flexible Sensor to Map Blood-Oxygen Levels Across the Body
The researchers developed two versions of the monitor. One is based on medical tape and designed for short-term use in a hospital or other care facility, while the other uses a soft elastomer medical film approved for use in wound care. The latter can remain on the skin longer, the Georgia Tech report said.
“The devices are completely dry and do not require a gel to pick up signals from the skin,” Yeo explained. “There is nothing between the skin and the ultrathin sensor, so it is comfortable to wear.”
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MIT’s AlterEgo system gives wearers an A.I. assistant in their heads
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Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Amazon slices 35% off select Fossil Men’s Gen 4 Explorist HR smartwatches
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Ticwatch E Smartwatch gets an awesome $48 price cut on Amazon
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Want a robotic tail? Well, Japanese scientists built one for you anyway
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Walmart drops a massive price cut on the Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire smartwatch
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Note 10 Pro? Here’s what to expect from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked on August 7
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Monday, August 5, 2019
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs. Apple Watch Series 4: Specs comparison
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It’s time to check out the best Apple Watch deals for August 2019
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Amazon has the best deal on Apple Watch Series 4, now discounted $50 off
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Amazon deal offers the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier smartwatch for just $164
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs. Watch Active: Spec comparison
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