Wearable clothing news : December 2019

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Smartwatch water resistance: The technology demystified

The vast majority of smartwatches are built with some degree of water resistance so that benign contact with moisture will not be fatal to your timepiece. Here are the ratings you should look for.

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Best cheap Apple Watch deals for January 2020

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

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Monday, December 30, 2019

Honda Xcelerator to Debut Collaborations Focused on Augmenting Human Capabilities at CES 2020

Honda Xcelerator, a global open innovation program from Honda Innovations, will debut industrial innovation collaborations with startups focused on augmenting human capabilities to improve productivity at the CES 2020.

Honda Xcelerator also will showcase soon-to-be commercialized technologies based on successful collaborations with Drivemode and SoundHound Inc., says a press release.

“At Honda, we believe the human touch is still required to achieve high-quality and flexibility in manufacturing,” said Dennis Clark, managing director of Strategic Venture Partnerships at Honda Innovations. “By collaborating with innovative startups, we want to ensure our associates have a safe production environment while providing them with advanced tools that make our manufacturing processes even more efficient.”

At CES 2020, Honda Xcelerator will showcase the following industrial innovation collaborations:

Monolith AI’s library of machine learning algorithms will allow companies to create and share sophisticated AI solutions faster, linking different departments and applications, ultimately saving time and money in today’s hyper-efficient product development processes.

Noonee, a Germany company, will demonstrate Chairless Chair 2.0, a passive exoskeleton that enables employees with standing workplaces to work ergonomically, comfortably and productively. The lightweight wearable chair enables users to flexibly switch between active sitting, walking and standing – avoiding unhealthy posture and pressure on joints that can lead to injuries.

A person sitting on a wearable chair — Noone’s Chairless Chair 2.0 is a passive exoskeleton that enables employees with standing workplaces to work ergonomically, comfortably and productively (Image: Noonee)

Skelex has developed Skelex 360, an ergonomic device for the manufacturing environment to reduce risk of repetitive strain injuries. The wearable device creates a sensation of weightlessness in the arms when reaching overhead by providing adjustable lift force from 0.5 kg to 4 kg. The device works as an extension of the body, providing support to the arms without obstructing movement.

UVeye’s new artificial intelligence-powered technology promises to dramatically change how auto makers and dealerships inspect vehicles for quality issues. It can check chassis components, bodywork and tires for external and mechanical flaws and detect other quality issues. The scanning, detecting and alerting process completes within seconds and can be used throughout the entire lifecycle of a vehicle.

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ARK Crystal Wearable Pendant Improves Strength, Balance, and Endurance, Study Finds

A joint study conducted by ARK Crystal LLC, the maker of ARK crystal wearable pendant, Torus Tech LLC and the Energy Medicine Research Institute, found that wearing the ARK crystal pendant improves several athletic outcome measures.

Results showed that wearing the ARK crystal, also known as PGQMEM (Precision Geometric Quartz modulated electromagnetically) for 21 days significantly increases performance in every test conducted for strength, balance, and endurance. Furthermore, the active crystal produced improved changes in all tests compared to placebo controls, indicating the ability of the PGQMEM crystal to increase human athletic performance.

Research was conducted by Lisa Tully, PhD, owner of Energy Medicine Research Institute and Ryan Shilling, owner of Watts Up, a company that specializes in athletic training. Subjects were evaluated at 0, 21 and 42 day time points, after wearing the placebo and active crystal pendants for 3 weeks each. Several athletic tests were conducted to assess flexibility, balance, strength and endurance, ARK Crystal said in a press release.

Key Findings of the Study Were:

Increased Processing Speed: The group wearing PGQMEM showed 9.8% increase in processing speed. The placebo group showed no change.
Increased Psychomotor Speed: Both PGQMEM and placebo group showed significant increases in psychomotor speed. The participants in the PGQMEM group showed an increase of 15.2% in their psychomotor speed.
Psychoemotional State (PES): The participants in the PGQMEM group had a 19.6% increase in Psychoemotional State (PES) – a measurement of the capacity of the brain / body to handle stress.

A group of people meditating — Image: ARK Crystal

The results of this pilot study demonstrate that the PGQMEM produced a significant improvement in several of the assessed HRV and cognition measures. While placebo testing showed a slight increase over baseline, when the PGG placebo produced an effect, the PGQMEM outperformed the PGG placebo. A larger population of subjects is recommended to establish the effects on the addressed values. Finally, it is likely that the PGQMEM will produce greater or sustained effects when worn for longer periods, the press release said.

“Although the absolute changes seem small for some of these tests, they are in fact significant,” said William Brown, Biophysicist at Torus Tech LLC. “When one takes into account the importance of the results from the stretch and reach test, in which the mean value of the change from baseline was 0.9 inches, which is a substantial change in flexibility.”

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Sunday, December 29, 2019

Heart doctor sues for patent infringement over lifesaving Apple Watch feature

Dr. Joseph Wiesel, a cardiologist at the NYU School of Medicine, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Apple Watch over a lifesaving feature.

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In memoriam: All the best tech that died in the 2010s

Technology is always evolving and advancing, at least in theory, and that means old tech is often bumped out of the way to make room for new. Sometimes perfectly good gadgets or services that still work as intended are taken out back, unceremoniously shot, and buried in a shallow grave. Sometimes you can accept that […]

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Friday, December 27, 2019

Common AirPods problems, and how to fix them

Apple’s AirPods are among the best fully wireless earbuds we’ve seen, but they’re not perfect. If you’re having trouble, check out our guide to the most common problems and what you can do to fix them.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Christmas is over, and that can only mean one thing: There's just over a week to go before the world's leading manufacturers take to Las Vegas to showcase their latest hardware at CES 2020. Here's everything you need to know.

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15 best things to buy with the Amazon gift card you got for Christmas

Christmas is over and you have Amazon gift cards. The question is, do you spend them now or later? Here are 15 ways to treat yourself.

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Vuzix Receives Largest Single M400 Smartglasses Order from Ubimax

Vuzix announced that the company has received its largest single order for M400 Smartglasses to date. Ubimax, a leading provider of fully integrated industrial augmented reality (AR) solutions, has placed an order in excess of $550,000 for immediate delivery.

“Ubimax and Vuzix have a rich history going back 5+ years. The new M400 is pushing the boundaries of smart glasses performance for work instructions, vision picking and video streaming across the board. Ubimax is very satisfied with the new M400 from Vuzix and I believe our customers will be happy with the results it will deliver,” said Jan Junker, Chief Commercial Officer of Ubimax.

The Ubimax Frontline platform improves manual work processes across industries along the entire value chain on the basis of the latest wearable computing technologies. The solutions are designed to consciously empower the human worker in an increasingly digitized working environment. The Ubimax Frontline solutions have received numerous awards, including the Auggie Award for “Best Enterprise Solution”, the MHI Award for “Best IT Innovation” and the Automotive Logistics Award. ABI Research calls Ubimax the world’s leading company for industrial wearables and augmented reality solutions. The fast-growing company serves 400 customers worldwide, says a press release.

A factory worker wearing smartglasses — Ubimax Frontline sets out to revolutionize the daily work of the deskless workforce in the same way Microsoft Office has done for office workers (Image: Ubimax)

“We are very proud of our M400 Smart Glasses and its capabilities. We see this new order from Ubimax as a strong validation of the M400 and our efforts to build it. There were certain non-negotiable performance targets and specifications like IP-67 that were set from beginning of the M400 project. The Vuzix team nailed them all with a product that’s proudly designed and assembled in Rochester, New York. We look forward to growing this business with Ubimax even more in the future. This is just the beginning,” said Paul Travers, Vuzix President and Chief Executive Officer.

Based in Rochester, NY, Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart-Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The Company’s products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality. Vuzix holds 147 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field.

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Loxam Buys One Hundred Ironhand Units to Evaluate Potential for Rental in French Market

French equipment and tools rental company Loxam has conducted a joint project with Bioservo and Eiffage to evaluate the potential for rental of Ironhand® on the French market. The pilot, which finished in early December, has far exceeded the expectations and the demand for solutions to ensure the safety of workers has proven to be high.

“At Loxam, the key priority is to support customers in creating safe workplaces by providing a wide range of protective solutions,” says Stéphane Henon, General Manager at Loxam. “We want to be a leader in our industry by being our customer’s first choice rental partner. A product like Ironhand is highly requested on the French market and will be a great complement to our other products. We are now taking the next step with Bioservo and are excited to extend our cooperation and roll out Ironhand nationwide.”

France is a global leader within exoskeletons and has the highest adoption rate for implementing new technology. Due to legislation, employers are obliged to work proactively with health and provide solutions to ensure the safety of their employees. To prevent occupational diseases and accidents, organizations such as INRS and AFNOR support the companies with studies and research, standards and training as well as technical, legal, medical and documentary expertise, Bioservo said in a press release.

Bioservo and Loxam signed an exclusive rental agreement, confirming Loxam’s firm desire to promote the Ironhand system all over France. The system will be available for rental in the twelve largest cities – Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Toulon, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Lille, Rennes and Rouen. The estimated value of the products and services within the agreement is approximately 5 million SEK.

“We strive to work with companies that share our values and want to make a difference for workers by investing in the future. Loxam is that type of company and we look forward to continuing our collaboration. Most importantly, we are extremely happy and proud to be a part of creating safe workplaces in France,” said Petter Bäckgren, CEO Bioservo.

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Thursday, December 26, 2019

Want to lift 200 pounds without breaking a sweat? Strap into this exosuit

Sarcos Robotics has spent the past 20 years building the ultimate powered robot exosuit. Early next year, its Guardian XO wearable robot will ship to customers. Here's what to expect.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

It's December, and that can only mean one thing: There's less than a month to go until the world's leading manufacturers take to Las Vegas to showcase their latest hardware at CES 2020. Here's everything you need to know.

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The best lower cost GoPro alternatives that won’t leave you broke

Cold weather is here, and a good action camera is a perfect way to record your adventures. You don't need to shell out the big bucks for a GoPro: Check out these great GoPro alternatives that won’t leave you broke.

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10 Incredible technologies that didn’t exist a decade ago

Technology sure has come a long way in the past decade. But what would you expect from the 10-year stretch that included the years Blade Runner and Back to the Future Part II were set during?

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Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Best cheap Apple Watch deals for December 2019

10 Incredible technologies that didn’t exist a decade ago

CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Best cheap Apple Watch deals for December 2019

CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Monday, December 23, 2019

Now is your last chance to order from Amazon for delivery by Christmas

Hunting down the perfect last-minute Christmas gift? The countdown is on -- Amazon has announced today is the last day to order from tens of millions of items with guaranteed Two-Day Delivery before Christmas.

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The best Garmin watches of 2019: Which one is right for you?

The Apple Watch isn't the only game in town, especially if you're a runner or other athlete seeking a watch to track your activities. Garmin has proven a viable alternative for many outdoor sports. We share our favorite models here.

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Now is your last chance to order from Amazon for delivery by Christmas

The best Garmin watches of 2019: Which one is right for you?

Willow Raises $20 Million to Further Improve Its Wearable Breast Pump and Reach More Moms

Willow, the Mountain View, California-based femtech company that makes silent, all-in-one wearable breast pump system, raised an additional $20 million in funding. The investment was led by longtime investors NEA and Meritech Capital Partners as well as Lightstone Ventures and others. The company’s total capital raised to date is now $100 million.

Willow said it will use the additional fund to fuel advanced product development for next generation products and further its expansion into retail, insurance and international channels in order to reach more moms, according to a press release.

“The continued support from our existing investors reinforces Willow’s status as the leading wearable breast pump on the market. Not only did our breakthrough technology establish a new category of breast pumps, but we are constantly innovating to push the boundaries of what a breast pump can do,” said Vickie Mrva, President and CMO of Willow. “We’ll utilize this investment to further demonstrate our prowess in developing smart software and groundbreaking hardware with a keen eye for the specific needs of women, and making never-before seen advancements in femtech.”

A woman using a breast pump — Image: Willow

Willow’s breast pump is a small, oval-shaped device that fits into a bra untethered. It has the capacity to hold up to 4 ounces of milk per pumping session. Moms have the options to either pump and pour with the reusable container or pump and store with the spill-proof milk bags. The freedom and convenience, however, doesn’t come cheap, costing $500 for the revolutionary technology.

“Willow has continued to shine as a beacon leading modern femtech, and we’re proud to have the company in our portfolio of brands changing the game for women everywhere,” said Dr. Josh Makower, General Partner at NEA. “It’s so important for companies like Willow to continue innovating in fields that have been previously overlooked, and we congratulate the team on this new marker of success and support.”

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

How 2019 became the year of true wireless earbuds

Fully wireless earbuds have evolved from novelty wearables to must-have devices in record time. But 2019 is when it all came together. Here's why it's time to buy.

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Medtronic Buys Diabetes Management Startup Klue to Strengthen Personalized Closed Loop System

Irish Medtech giant Medtronic has acquired California-based Klue, a startup that uses gesture sensing and other behavioral health metrics to determine when a user is consuming food, providing real-time insights into eating habits.

Klue’s technology is expected to be incorporated into the Medtronic Personalized Closed Loop (PCL) insulin pump system, currently in development. The PCL system is designed to automate insulin delivery in a way that is real-time, personalized and adapts to the user, with a goal of dramatically simplifying diabetes management for the patient. In addition, the Klue technology can be leveraged to enhance the company’s market-leading analytics and insights in their smart CGM technology to help people using multiple daily injections (MDI) stay ahead of high and low glucose events, Medtronic said in a press release.

“Bringing Klue and their unique meal detection capabilities into our organization will accelerate our progress to help people with diabetes live with greater freedom and better health,” said Alejandro Galindo, president of the Advanced Insulin Management division, which is part of the Diabetes Group at Medtronic. “Based on our learnings from a first-generation hybrid closed loop system around the importance of simplifying diabetes management, we believe the Personalized Closed Loop system will be transformational for diabetes management, and the integration of the Klue technology helps clears the path to a true hands-free closed loop system.”

A laptop and a mobile phone — Image: Klue

By using gesture sensing via activity trackers combined with analytics technology, Klue has developed fine motor artificial intelligence software that can detect meals and provide insights into user eating behaviors. Because food consumption is intrinsically related to insulin requirements for people living with diabetes, the ability to automate meal identification along with the corresponding insulin delivery is an unmet need that could greatly simplify living with this disease.

In February 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave PCL Breakthrough Device designation. In addition to Klue, the recent acquisition of Nutrino Health and their expertise in nutrition data science will play a key role in the accelerated development of this breakthrough technology. Both acquisitions strengthen the company’s capabilities in automation and in the integration of artificial intelligence into diabetes management systems.

“Klue’s truly unique early meal detection technology can help transform diabetes care,” said Katelijn Vleugels, CEO & founder of Klue. “Joining Medtronic creates a tremendous opportunity to advance diabetes therapies and, together, we will accelerate our shared mission to help people with diabetes live their happiest and healthiest lives.”

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Sunday, December 22, 2019

Now is your last chance to order from Amazon for delivery by Christmas

The best Garmin watches of 2019: Which one is right for you?

Friday, December 20, 2019

Don’t hold your breath for more foldable phones at CES 2020

Between 5G and folding phones, 2020 is shaping up to be an exciting year for mobile technology and innovation -- but don't expect any of that at CES. Here's why

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Ten Years of Tech

With 2020 on the horizon, the last few weeks of 2019 present us with a unique opportunity to look back and reflect on not only the past year, but also the past decade. The span of time between 2010 to 2020 brought some of the most amazing technological advances the world has ever seen, so […]

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Comcast Partners with NuEyes to Help Customers with Visual Disabilities Watch TV

Comcast announced a partnership with California-based wearable technology startup NuEyes to offer its Xfinity Stream app to visually impaired customers through NuEyes’ virtual reality technology. Xfinity Stream is pre-installed on NuEyes e2 smartglasses, allowing users with visual disabilities to see TV shows, news, movies, live sports, and more, independently.

The NuEyes e2 is a wireless headset that can be worn for long periods of time. A camera on the front of the device can be used to visually amplify what is ahead.

“Being blind since birth, I know firsthand the power of technology to enhance independence,” said Tom Wlodkowski, Vice President of Accessibility at Comcast. “Our partnership with NuEyes is an extension of our commitment to designing great entertainment experiences for people of all abilities.”

A person wearing VR glasses — Image: Comcast

NuEyes was founded by Mark Greget, an U.S. veteran. He’s also the CEO of the company. NuEyes’ mission is to give millions of people across the U.S. who are visually impaired the independence they may have lost due to conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa, reports Business Wire.

“Collaborating with Comcast has been an absolute joy,” said Greget. “To be able to stream content directly to our consumers’ eyes in a way that has never been done before enables millions of visually impaired people to continue enjoying their TV experience and more.”

Over the past several years, Comcast launched the industry’s first talking TV guide, introduced a voice-activated remote control, launched X1 eye control for the TV and produced the first live entertainment show in U.S. broadcast history, The Wiz Live, to be accessible to people with a visual disability. Comcast also has a service center specifically dedicated to customers with disabilities where agents are specially trained in the company’s accessibility features and general support issues.

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FDA Authorizes Tandem’s Interoperable, Automated Insulin Dosing Controller

Tandem Diabetes Care, a San Diego, CA-based insulin delivery and diabetes technology company, announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the company’s t:slim X2™ insulin pump with Control-IQ™ technology, an interoperable automated glycemic controller device that automatically adjusts insulin delivery to a person with diabetes by connecting to an alternate controller-enabled insulin pump (ACE pump) and integrated continuous glucose monitor (iCGM).

“With this clearance, we will be launching the most advanced automated insulin dosing system commercially available in the world today,” said John Sheridan, president and CEO of Tandem Diabetes Care. “This is a testament to our commitment to improving the lives of people with diabetes by offering simple-to-use products that deliver superior performance.”

The FDA’s decision was based on a clinical trial of the Control-IQ Technology controller that included 168 participants with type 1 diabetes. The study demonstrated that the controller determines and commands safe and effective insulin delivery from a compatible ACE pump based on iCGM readings, with limited user intervention outside of mealtimes.

A mobile phone displaying app — Image: Tandem

The t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology uses CGM values, in conjunction with other variables such as insulin on board, to predict glucose levels 30 minutes ahead and adjust insulin delivery accordingly. Control-IQ technology also offers optional settings for sleep and exercise that will change the treatment values to better match the different physiologic needs during these activities, reports Business Wire.

With the interoperable automated glycemic controller designation, the FDA establishes a new device class which includes special controls outlining requirements for this and future submissions in this category, as well as describes the reliability, device interoperability, cybersecurity, and clinical relevance data required to demonstrate acceptable performance. The t:slim X2 insulin pump was also the first to receive an ACE infusion pump classification in February 2019, and the first insulin pump designated as compatible with iCGM devices in June 2018.

All in-warranty t:slim X2 pump users in the United States will have the option to add the new feature free of charge via remote software update.5 The update is expected to be available by the end of January 2020, and new pumps with Control-IQ technology will begin shipping to customers in the same timeframe.

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Thursday, December 19, 2019

Paris-based Chronolife Closes New Funding Round as it Launches Smart Nexkin T-Shirt

Chronolife, a Paris-based AI-powered health tech company, announced the commercial launch of Nexkin™, a CE-marked washable smart T-shirt that monitors six key physiological parameters to enable prevention, risk reduction, and remote monitoring. The company also announced the closing of new fundraising from Paris-based startup studio and investment fund iBionext, French insurance company Adrea and Swiss family office Celeste Management to boost its commercial and industrial phase. The amount secured was not publicly disclosed.

The Nexkin platform uses cutting-edge wearable electronics to integrate 10 biometric scanners into a comfortable, machine-washable T-shirt capable of continuously recording a user’s electrocardiogram, abdominal and thoracic breathing, body temperature, physical activity, and pulmonary impedance. Data from the shirt is transmitted via Bluetooth to the user’s smartphone, where data from multiple sensors can be integrated using Chronolife’s unique HOTS (Hierarchy Of event-based Time Surfaces) algorithms to deliver accurate and actionable health insights, which can subsequently be downloaded or transferred to secure servers for review by health professionals, reports Chronolife in a press release.

The T-shirt is comfortable enough for round-the-clock use; the battery lasts 24 hours and can be fully recharged in a few hours. Combining AI-powered real-time analytics and next-generation wearable sensors, the Nexkin T-shirt has potential uses in senior care, occupational health and safety, sports rehabilitation, military training, and performance management.

“The Nexkin T-shirt makes accurate, unobtrusive continuous health monitoring both affordable and convenient across a wide range of industries and functionalities, from pharmaceutical testing to senior care,” said Laurent Vandebrouck, CEO of Chronolife. “By combining wearable electronics with advanced AI-powered analytics, we’re delivering biometric monitoring capabilities that will revolutionize the way researchers and healthcare professionals will eventually interact with patients.”

The commercial launch of Nexkin will allow Chronolife’s clients and partners to explore ways to deploy and test the technology in clinical and other settings, including healthcare organizations, insurance providers and pharmaceutical companies.

Chronolife also received Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval this summer, certifying that the Nexkin shirt’s Bluetooth connectivity meets all U.S. regulatory requirements. Nexkin should receive medical certification in Europe beginning 2020 and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the U.S. by the end of 2020.

“AI and wearable technologies are dramatically changing the healthcare and research sectors, and Chronolife is at the very forefront of that movement,” said Bernard Gilly, executive chairman of iBionext. “This commercial launch is just the beginning: the potential applications for the Nexkin T-shirt are almost endless.”

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Fossil Gen 5 review: Style overcomes the flaws of Wear OS

Google’s Wear OS watches have a hard time distinguishing themselves. That's a disadvantage Fossil's Gen 5 struggles, and ultimately succeeds, in overcoming.

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The best lower cost GoPro alternatives that won’t leave you broke

CommonSpirit Partners with Notable to Improve Healthcare Interoperability

CommonSpirit Health, a Chicago-based nonprofit health giant, announced a partnership with Notable Health that will improve the patient and the provider experience by automating health information collection and making clinical record systems interoperable. The partnership will start with deployment at selected ambulatory primary care centers in California. And the end goal is to expand across the 21 states served by CommonSpirit.

CommonSpirit will leverage Notable’s platform, which uses robotic process automation (RPA) to understand data from electronic health records and deploys artificial intelligence (AI) models that anticipate and support providers’ needs so they spend less time on administrative tasks and can devote their time to providing compassionate care, reports Notable in a press release.

“The Notable platform provides us with an exciting opportunity to rethink and personalize the way health care is delivered,” said Rich Roth, senior vice president and chief strategic innovation officer of CommonSpirit Health. “When we engage patients with Notable’s digital experiences, the time they spend with their physician becomes more relevant.”

A doctor using a laptop — Image: CommonSpirit

Administrative costs are a major driver of increases in the cost of health care in the United States – with hospitals directing roughly 25 percent of their spending to this work. Advances in technology now make it possible for health systems to deploy innovative new platforms that ease the administrative burden on providers, allowing patients to have more engaging discussions about their health during the time with their physician.

Notable automates physician workflows through intelligent patient intake and leverages wearable voice-recognition documentation technology to save physicians time on medical charting. Prior to a medical appointment, Notable’s mobile-optimized intake application – which is personalized for each patient – assists with registration, verifies insurance eligibility, and prompts patients to enter their symptoms and update histories and medications directly from their smartphones.

“We share CommonSpirit’s commitment to providing the best experience possible for patients as well as physicians,” said Pranay Kapadia, CEO and co-founder of Notable Health. “With the abundance of administrative overhead in health care, it is more important than ever to help streamline processes for providers so they can direct their time and resources to patient care.”

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Wednesday, December 18, 2019

R.I.P. Google Glass Explorer Edition video - CNET

It's the end of the line for Google's first wearable face computer. However, there's another to carry on.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs. Watch Active: Spec comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 offers a raft of improvements over its predecessor, but it also costs more. We take a look at precisely what sets these smartwatches apart and highlight the pros and cons in this spec comparison.

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Current Health Raises $11.5 Million in Series A Funding Round, Led by MMC Ventures

Current Health, a Scottish company that offers FDA-cleared patient management platform powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), raised $11.5 million in Series A funding that was led by MMC Ventures. Legal & General, the FTSE 100 life insurer and asset manager, is Current Health’s first corporate investor and the largest investor in the round.

Current Health said the money will be used to scale its patient management platform and enhance care delivery worldwide, with the goal of preventing illness for one million patients around the world by 2021. Par Equity and Scottish Investment Bank, the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise, also participated in this round, reports Business Wire.

Current Health’s wearable device uses AI to remotely track and analyze multiple vital signs while worn by patients at home, allowing clinicians to intervene earlier.

“Healthcare is undergoing a paradigm shift from reactive, in-hospital treatment, to proactive, community-based care,” said Bruce Macfarlane, Managing Partner at MMC Ventures. “Today’s healthcare systems must deliver improved patient outcomes while reducing costs. Current Health’s revolutionary solution offers unprecedented insight into patients’ health. Reliable, continuous patient monitoring enables earlier intervention in the event of patient deterioration, better patient experiences and fewer unnecessary hospital readmissions. With its world-class team and platform, Current Health has the right fundamentals to execute on a vast opportunity and become a global category leader in this important market.”

Founders of Current Health — Co-founders of Current Health – Stewart Whiting, Chief Technology Officer (LEFT) and Christopher McCann, CEO (Image: Current Health)

In the last twelve months, Current Health has increased its revenue by more than 300%. The company also partnered with two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies to extend the power of the Current Health platform to thousands of patients during the same period.

“We’ve spent the last three years quietly and carefully building and testing our platform directly with healthcare providers,” said McCann. “Now, with our platform FDA-cleared and through partnerships with some of the biggest healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies in the world, we plan to scale our solution to better treat millions of lives over the next five years. By helping healthcare providers treat patients preventively and at the earliest point, we can play a key role in enabling sustainable, high-quality and universal healthcare delivery.”

As Current Health embarks on the next stage of its growth, it will open a U.S. headquarters in New York City. The company will continue to expand its team, particularly in the sales, clinical operations and marketing functions.

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Dialog Semiconductor, Flex Logix Partner Up for Embedded Field-Programmable Gate Array Technology

Dialog Semiconductor, a UK-based manufacturer of semiconductor-based system solutions formed a partnership with California-based Flex Logix Technologies. The partnership will allow Dialog to license Flex Logix’s EFLXÒ Embedded Field-Programmable Gate Array (eFPGA) technology for use in high volume semiconductor Integrated Circuits (ICs), and the EFLX Compiler to program these embedded FPGAs.

“Adding eFPGA functionality to our products will give our customers the flexibility to keep pace with rapidly changing market needs,” said Davin Lee, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Advanced Mixed Signal Business Group at Dialog Semiconductor. “By partnering with Flex Logix and leveraging its EFLX eFPGA, there is a massive opportunity to increase the configurability of future Dialog products within several of our target markets, such as IoT, computing, storage and mobile.”

EFLX is a low-power fully functional FPGA that is integrated into SoCs, microcontrollers and other standard or custom ICs, rather than serving as a standalone chip. EFLX cores can be used to upgrade I/O protocols, change encryption algorithms to improve security, enable elements of software-defined radio or accelerate data center algorithms. Additionally, EFLX can be leveraged by manufacturers or end-users to upgrade both new products and individual systems already installed in the field, reports Flex Logix in a press release.

Controlling traffic with sensors — Image: Flex Logix

The EFLX arrays are programmed using Verilog or VHDL; and the EFLX Compiler takes the output of a synthesis tool such as Synopsys Synplify and handles packing, placement, routing, timing and bitstream generation. When loaded into the array, the bitstream programs it to implement the desired RTL function.

“We are proud to partner with Dialog Semiconductor to deliver additional programmability and flexibility for their customers,” said Geoff Tate, CEO of Flex Logix. “This is just the beginning of a long-term relationship and innovative product roadmap for Dialog and Flex Logix.”

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Best smartwatch deals for December 2019: Samsung, Fitbit, and Apple Watch sales

Smartwatches make life easier by sending alerts right on your wrist. Many also provide fitness-tracking features, so now is a great time to pick one up for cheap. With Cyber Monday deals upon us, all of the top brands and models are getting steep price cuts.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Best cheap Apple Watch deals for December 2019

Common AirPods problems, and how to fix them

Apollo: The First Ever Wearable that Actively Helps Your body Beat Stress

Apollo Neuroscience has introduced Apollo, the first ever clinically validated wearable that actively helps your body adapt to stress, facilitating focus, sleep, energy, and more. While other wearables track your body, Apollo is the first ever to empower you to change it by delivering gentle waves of vibration clinically shown to rapidly restore your body’s natural equilibrium.

“We’re delivering the first wearable experience that actively improves your body’s resilience to stress, so you can have more energy, feel more relaxed, and get more sleep. Apollo’s mission is to democratize neuroscience discoveries to empower people to take control of their health,” said Kathryn Fantauzzi, chief executive officer and co-founder, Apollo Neuroscience.

Apollo was developed by physicians and neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh. The wearable device’s gentle waves of vibration signal safety to the body through your sense of touch and rapidly improve heart rate variability (HRV), a key metric of health and recovery. These safety signals help engage the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in improved heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, focus, calm, energy, and more, reports Business Wire.

“Chronic daily stress can have a profound, disruptive effect on our bodies and result in harmful symptoms including insomnia, anxiety-disorders, chronic pain, cognitive dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. David Rabin, co-inventor of the Apollo technology and chief innovation officer and co-founder at Apollo Neuroscience. “Apollo is the only technology that actually improves HRV and accelerates your body’s recovery from stress so you can feel energized, focused, and sleep better.”

A smart wristband and a smartphone — Image: Apollo Neuroscience

Apollo is compatible with iOS and Android devices. Users can choose from a variety of Apollo programs to target and achieve goals:

Energy – Gives you a boost of energy when you’re feeling tired and sluggish.
Focus – Filters out distraction and settles your nerves for clear, calm focus.
Mindfulness – Prepares you for meditation by facilitating connection between mind and body.
Relaxation – Rapidly relieves stress for deep relaxation.
Sleep – Quiets your mind and eases you into restful sleep.
Social – Elevates mood and energy for social situations, whether at work or play.
Recover – Accelerates your body’s recovery after a workout.

The wearable has been evaluated clinically in university-led trials, and has undergone successful pilots to prevent burnout in the workplace. From over 2000 early users, more than 90% reported enhanced productivity, focus and sleep when using Apollo.

Apollo is now available for preorder for an all-inclusive price of $199 at apolloneuro.com.

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Sarcos Robotics Unveils Alpha Version of its Guardian XO Full-Body Industrial Exoskeleton

Sarcos Robotics, an American developer of robotics and microelectromechanical systems, has unveiled the Alpha version of its Guardian XO full-body, powered industrial exoskeleton. The Guardian XO is the world’s first battery-powered wearable robot which can safely lift up to 200 pounds for extended work sessions.

“The Guardian XO is a great example of what can happen when private industry and government join forces with a small, innovative team to address a common challenge,” said Ben Wolff, chairman and CEO, Sarcos Robotics. “The Guardian XO Alpha units are the culmination of twenty years of effort by our team and represent a huge step forward as we prepare to ship our first commercial Guardian XO wearable robots to our customers in the latter part of 2020.”

Guardian XO combines human intelligence, instinct and judgment with the strength, endurance and precision of machines to address skilled labor shortages and occupational safety issues across many industries. Safe, intuitive and simple to use, the Guardian XO empowers teams to safely do more, enabling more people, whether young or old, big or small, to accomplish physically demanding tasks without stress or strain on their bodies, reports Business Wire.

A female worker wearing an exoskeleton — Image: Sarcos Robotics

The first Guardian XO Alpha units will ship to members of Sarcos’ Industrial Exoskeleton Technical Advisory Group (X-TAG) and the U.S. military beginning in January 2020. Commercial production units of the Guardian XO will begin shipping to customers in late 2020.

The Guardian XO has been under development for 20 years, with the initial vision and funding for the effort coming from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and additional funding over the years coming from the U.S. Department of Defense, leading Fortune 500 industrial companies and private investors.

“Full-body, powered exoskeletons have significant potential to transform the industrial workforce as we know it,” said Remy Glaisner, research director for intelligent operational systems and robotics, IDC. “From improving worker strength, efficiency and safety to reducing occupational injuries caused by repetitive heavy lifting, the Guardian XO is poised to be a game-changer for a wide variety of industries.”

Sarcos is now accepting orders for the Guardian XO and will deliver commercial production units in late 2020.

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Monday, December 16, 2019

CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Star Wars Amazfit smartwatch says train you must, because Vader’s watching

Amazfit, makers of reasonably priced smartwatches, have a Star Wars special edition smartwatch coming out in December, complete with special motivational messages on the strap.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Seattle-Based AR Startup Taqtile Raises $3 Million, Partners with Magic Leap

Seattle-based augmented reality (AR) startup Taqtile has raised $3 million in the company’s first equity round led by Broadmark Capital and its affiliated entities, along with additional investors.

Taqtile develops AR technology for industrial applications on headsets and mobile devices. The company’s provides AR, VR, and Mixed Reality (MR) solutions enable easy knowledge capture and collaborative data visualization to enable front-line worker productivity, efficiency, and safety.

The company also announced a new global partnership with Magic Leap to bring Taqtile’s leading knowledge capture, digitization and codification software to Magic Leap’s spatial computing platform. Taqtile’s Manifest software solution for workforce enablement for their enterprise customers is now available on Magic Leap’s spatial computing platform, the company said in a press release.

A man wearing Augmented Reality glass — Magic Leap’s Magic Leap 1 is a lightweight, wearable computer that brings the physical and digital worlds together as one (Image: Magic Leap)

“We here at Taqtile are thrilled and honored to be partnering with Magic Leap as they continue to focus and invest in the enterprise space,” said Dirck Schou, CEO at Taqtile. “Spatial computing is rapidly and profoundly changing the way industrial customers think about workforce enablement and knowledge capture — Magic Leap empowers enterprise customers with a device that offers unique capabilities and performance like no other. From the outset, Magic Leap has been partner-centric, and we expect that their Enterprise Suite Launch announcement will help to drive awareness that will lead to greater industry adoption of spatial computing. Manifest on Magic Leap is a great step forward for enterprise innovation and digital transformation, and we are excited to see where this journey goes next.”

Magic Leap’s announcement of their Enterprise Suite Launch will push the partnership forward in providing compelling applications and devices that are ushering in a new wave of digital transformation and productivity for front-line workers.

“We are very happy to be partnering with Taqtile to be able to offer their best-in-class solutions on the Magic Leap platform,” said Omar Khan, Magic Leap’s Chief Product Officer.

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GreenWaves Introduces Ultra-Low Power IoT Application Processor for Next Generation Devices

French fabless semiconductor startup GreenWaves announced its latest IoT application processor GAP9 – an ultra-low power embedded solution for AI processing in IoT devices. GAP9 combines architectural enhancements and an industry-leading Global Foundries 22nm FDX semiconductor process to deliver a peak cluster memory bandwidth of 41.6 GB/sec and up to 50 GOPS combined compute power at an overall power consumption of 50mW.

Using GAP9, consumers can embed machine learning and signal processing capabilities into battery operated or energy harvesting devices such as IoT sensors in smart building, consumer and industrial markets and consumer and medical wearable devices. Compared to the company’s similar products, GAP9 reduces energy consumption by 5 times while enabling inference on neural networks 10 times larger, reports Business Wire.

“GAP9 enables a new level of capabilities for embedding combinations of sophisticated machine learning and signal processing capabilities into consumer, medical and industrial product applications,” said Loic Lietar, CEO of GreenWaves Technologies. “The GAP family provides product designers with a powerful, flexible solution for bringing the next generation of intelligent devices to market.”

A monitor and a smartphone — Image: GreenWaves Technologies

Built on the same GAP architectural attributes as its predecessor GAP8, GAP9 adds support for floating-point arithmetic across all cores based on an innovative transprecision floating-point unit capable of handling floating-point numbers in 8, 16, and 32-bit precision with support for vectorization. GAP9 also extends GAP8’s support for fixed-point arithmetic with support for vectorized 4-bit and 2-bit operations.

Incorporating bi-directional multichannel, synchronized digital audio interfaces GAP9 is a perfect fit for sophisticated wearable audio products. It also incorporates both CSI2 and parallel camera interfaces allowing the use of low resolution, low power camera for scene analysis and then extract a region of interest from high-resolution, higher power camera for analysis of scene details.

The new processor also handles sophisticated neural networks such as MobileNet V1 with ease processing a 160 x 160 image with a channel scaling of 0.25 in just 12ms with a power consumption of 806μW/frame/second.

Additional security features in GAP9 protects device makers’ firmware and models while also protecting devices from tampering and a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) unit that allows devices to be uniquely and securely identified.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Sunday, December 15, 2019

CES 2020 schedule: The best events, talks, panels, and keynotes

With multiple events at nearly every hour that will number into the hundreds, here are the most important events, talks, panels, and keynotes and at CES 2020.

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CES 2020 schedule: The best events, talks, panels, and keynotes

Saturday, December 14, 2019

CES 2020 schedule: The best events, talks, panels, and keynotes

Friday, December 13, 2019

The best smartwatches for 2019

Tempted to buy a smartwatch? If so, then the growing number of great models available means you've got plenty to choose from. But which one should you pick?

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Common AirPods problems, and how to fix them

Apple’s AirPods are among the best fully wireless earbuds we’ve seen, but they’re not perfect. If you’re having trouble, take a look at our guide to the most common problems and what you can do to fix them.

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CES 2020: What to expect from the annual tech bonanza

Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab Developing Disruptive Innovations that Positively Impact Society

French software company Dassault Systèmes announced new milestones for its 3DEXPERIENCE Lab open innovation laboratory and accelerator program. Furthering its mission to nurture disruptive innovations that positively impact society, Dassault Systèmes has extended the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab’s reach by welcoming new startups, incubator partners and fab lab partners into its global ecosystem. The announcement was made at the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab Rendez-vous event December 3 at the Atelier des Lumières digital art center in Paris.

Fifteen new disruptive projects and startups from Belgium, China, France, India, South Africa and the U.S. have joined the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab accelerator program. They will develop transformative projects that contribute to one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to impact society, as well as benefit from mentoring and expertise, reports Business Wire.

“The 3DEXPERIENCE Lab is an example of the power of collective intelligence, open innovation, and digital cloud platforms to enable breakthrough innovations for the greater good that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals,” said Frédéric Vacher, Head of Innovation, Dassault Systèmes. “Dassault Systèmes is looking extensively to support these goals through early stage startup projects and communities, to further reinforce this mission and contribute from the bottom up to make a better world.”

An office building — Image: Dassault Systemes

The startups are the latest additions to an accelerator program that has reviewed more than 500 ideas, many of which have significantly advanced in their development.

Since establishing the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab in France in 2015, Dassault Systèmes has expanded it to the U.S. and India, and now counts more than 25 incubator, accelerator, educational, entrepreneurial, technology and fab lab partners worldwide. As an open collaborative accelerator, it has also teamed up with multinational companies to co-accelerate promising projects in specific industries. Its growing community of 1,200 mentors provides expertise in disciplines ranging from design and simulation to regulatory and marketing.

New partners in 2019 include startup incubators MIT Enterprise Forum CEE in Poland, Greentown Labs in the U.S., Centech in Canada, OuiCrea in China, and Tshimologong in South Africa; the business school HEC in France; and the Communautique FabLab in Canada.

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PTC and Magic Leap Partner Up to Combine Vuforia Engine with Magic Leap 1

Boston based software development company PTC has formed a strategic alliance with Magic Leap that will allow enterprise and industrial customers to combine the augmented reality (AR) capabilities of its market-leading Vuforia® Engine with Magic Leap 1 headset.

Vuforia Engine gives users advanced computer vision and cross-platform reach, and supports the broadest range of devices on the market. Beginning this month, PTC will offer Vuforia Engine to Magic Leap 1 customers, who will have access to the latest AR innovations of Vuforia Engine, including its differentiated artificial intelligence (AI) -based Model Target technology. The combination of this software with Magic Leap’s robust hardware and leading spatial computing technology will offer customers a value-rich solution for the enterprise, reports Business Wire.

“Industry leaders today need to have the flexibility to select the best hardware and software to fit their needs,” said Michael Campbell, EVP and GM, augmented reality products, PTC. “This collaboration enables our many industrial customers to pair our powerful AR software with equally powerful hardware.”

Doctors operating on a patient — Image credit: Magic Leap

Augmented Reality offers companies an innovative and effective way to connect people to digital content where and when they need it, thereby increasing efficiency, providing more-impactful training, and achieving greater overall cost savings.

“We’re excited to announce our collaboration with PTC,” said Omar Khan, chief product officer, Magic Leap. “The opportunity for AR across the enterprise is enormous, and we want all businesses to be able to leverage industry-leading technology that can enhance productivity throughout the digital workplace.”

Leading global companies use the Vuforia Engine platform to deliver unique, engaging and interactive mobile experiences that bring people closer to brands and products. Over half a million developers have chosen the Vuforia Engine, making it the most popular AR on the planet, says PTC.

Magic Leap 1 is a mixed reality headset, and is priced at $2,995.

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Thursday, December 12, 2019

Orangetheory teams with Apple Watch to integrate into HIIT workouts

You’ll soon be able to incorporate your Apple Watch into your Orangetheory interval training workout, thanks to a new custom-made device called the OTbeat Link.

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Mobvoi’s connected Ticwatch Pro 4G LTE takes on Apple and Samsung in the U.K.

The Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 4G LTE is one of the few cellular-connected WearOS smartwatches available, and it has now been released in the U.K. on the Vodafone network.

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Mobvoi’s connected Ticwatch Pro 4G LTE takes on Apple and Samsung in the U.K.

Growing Hearables Market Lead Worldwide Wearables Shipments, Surging 94.6% in 3Q2019

A total of 84.5 million units of wearable devices were shipped in the third quarter of 2019, a year-over-year increase of 94.6% and a new record for shipments in a single quarter, according to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker. Driving the growth in demand for wearables were new hearables, which alone accounted for almost half the market in 3Q19, followed by wristbands and smartwatches, reports Business Wire.

“Hearables have become the new go-to product for the wearables market,” pointed out Ramon T. Llamas, research director for IDC’s Wearables Team. “This began with multiple vendors removing the headphone jack from their smartphones, driving the move toward wireless headphones. It continued with hearables incorporating additional features that either augment or expand the audio experience. Next, hearables have taken on multiple form factors – ranging from truly wireless to over-the-ear headphones – appealing to a broad base of earwear user preferences. Finally, prices have come down significantly, with some reaching below $20.”

The top 5 companies in the IDC list are Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei and Fitbit.

Fitbit fitness trackers — Xiaomi shipped more than 10 million units of its popular Mi Band during 3Q19 (Image: Xiaomi)

Growing popularity of Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats headphones helped Apple take the top spot.

Xiaomi shipped more than 10 million units of its popular Mi Band during 3Q19. The company also significantly expanded its global reach by targeting countries in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.

Samsung’s new watches and hearables (both self-branded as well as JBL-branded) captured 9.8% of the market.

Despite political challenges, Huawei ranked fourth globally thanks to a strong performance in its home country of China. Within its borders, Huawei grew 188% year over year, making it one of the fastest growing companies in China.

Fitbit rounded out the top five and the company’s latest wearables and watches have been well received though it still struggled to grow during the quarter. The latest news regarding its acquisition by Google fills the brand’s future with uncertainty.

“The rise of smart assistants in the home and on the phone has led to an increased demand for wearables that have the ability to connect with these assistants,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “With multiple form factors and the inclusion of smart assistants, the wearables market is well on its way to becoming a mass market device category rather than one that primarily caters to health and fitness.”

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Researchers Develop Soft Medical Sensors by Bonding Rubber and Electrical Components

The increased use of digital technologies for improved health care is driving the need for soft sensors. Scientists have long been trying to develop such sensors, but none have made it to market because they cannot easily be integrated with electronic components, like the wires, computer chips and batteries needed to gather, process and send the data the sensor collects.

Now, researchers at Imperial College London have developed a way to create a tight bond between rubber and electrical components. They have developed a bond so strong that the stretchy rubber itself breaks before the bond between the two different materials does, reports Hayley Dunning at Imperial College London. The researchers say these soft sensors could be used for wireless, low-cost rehabilitation or health monitoring.

“We hope this method will allow us to make low-cost soft sensors that are reliable and portable, that can be used to monitor people’s health in their own homes,” said first author Michael Kasimatis, from the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial.

“Such sensors could be coupled with a mobile device, such as a smartphone, so that the data they generate can be easily processed and stored on the cloud, which is important for applications in digital healthcare.”

Bonding materials — The bond is so strong the rubber breaks before the bond does (Image credit: Imperial College London)

Previously, researchers attempted to bind rubber and plastic using adhesives or clamps, but either came apart under force, or damaged the soft material. The new method instead uses small pieces of metal-coated silicon, which create a chemical bond with the stretchy and squeezy rubber.

The researchers demonstrated how their bonding method can resist the strains of stretching and also tested it out in a few prototype sensors. For example, they used a squeezable ball to monitor progress in hand rehabilitation, and a stretchy band that goes around the chest and monitors breathing.

“Having successfully demonstrated how this new bonding approach could work and be applied in laboratory prototypes, we now want to take this technology out of the lab and make it available to everyone,” said Dr. Firat Güder, another researcher involved in the study.

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