This seemingly simple arm patch lets you know how much water to drink and when

It isn’t just our planet that’s mostly made up of water. Our bodies, too, have large quantities of water and require a regular intake of fluids to keep them functioning properly. We all know this for a fact, yet few of us take the advice to heart. Those with more active lifestyles are often more conscious of this and hydrate more regularly, but they might not always know the most optimal strategy for the time and amount of water or other fluids to drink. Without sophisticated equipment to monitor your body’s fluid output, you might not know how much to take in. That’s the kind of information that this sensor offers, and it involves nothing more than just slapping a patch on your arm before your run or exercise.

Designer: Nix

The common advice is to drink eight glasses or two liters of water a day, which is fine for most cases and individuals. When you live a more active lifestyle, though, especially if you work out often, when and how you hydrate involves more than that simple metric. Making it a bit more complicated is that different people have different hydration needs and rates of dehydration depending on their activity.

Rather than leaving that important health factor up to guesswork or generic figures, the Nix Hydration Biosensor uses science and technology to actually give you a better picture of your body’s hydration state. It’s almost similar to how our smartwatches constantly keep track of our heart rate, except that it uses a different biomarker and part of your body. This simple device sticks to your skin and tracks your fluid and electrolyte loss through the sweat you produce during activities.

There is already equipment that can measure that data, but these are often bulky machines that can only be used inside labs and involve connecting multiple sensors to your body. This Hydration Biosensor, in contrast, whittles it down to just a hexagon-shaped pod that clips onto a sweat patch that you stick to your arm. Because of the sensor’s lightweight construction and the absence of any wires, the Hydration Biosensor won’t get in the way of any kind of workout or activity you might engage in.

Similar to a smartwatch, the sensor sends its data to a companion device, usually a smartphone, which does the heavy work of analyzing that data to notify you when it’s time to drink up and how much. This might sound like micromanaging, but it’s the kind of efficiency that many athletes live by in order to get the best out of their workout as well as their recovery. At the very least, it will get people more aware of just how important hydration is to our well-being, especially when you start to notice how you get dehydrated more often than not.

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This discrete smart ring gives deeper insights to help you live a healthier life

It’s pretty amazing how far technology has come. The watches we strap on our wrists have enough sensors to not only measure our heartbeat but sometimes even detect irregular heart rhythms. Some of these are even available in something as small as a ring that you wear on your finger. To say that we are flooded with health-related data through wearables isn’t really an exaggeration, but the problem is that most people don’t really know what to do with this data beyond realizing the need to lose weight or move around more. Being able to make sense of this data is ultimately more important than just having access to it, which is why this fashionable smart ring marries hardware and software to give wearers a nudge in the right direction in living healthily.

Designers: Pranab Kumar, Apoorv Shankar & Yogansh Namdeo

Click Here to Buy Now: $273 $302 ($29 off). Hurry, for a limited time only. Raised over $590,000.

Almost all smartwatches and fitness trackers these days show data such as the wearer’s heart rate, steps taken, sleep duration, blood oxygen level, and many more. Some of these can already indicate when there’s something wrong with your body, but taken in isolation, they can’t really give you a deeper and more holistic view of your health. The Ultrahuman Ring, in contrast, not only measures some of those same metabolic biomarkers, such as heart rate variability, temperature, and sleep. It also interprets them into something that’s easier to understand and, more importantly, easier to act on.

Movement Index – The movement index has been formulated to help you understand your overall energy expenditure. The score is based on metabolic equivalent (METs) and depends on how much you move throughout the day rather than just your workout for a specific duration during the day.

Sleep Index – The sleep index is formulated to help you understand the different sleep stages such as Deep sleep, REM sleep, Light sleep and being Awake.

Recovery Score – Get an understanding of your body’s current state with the recovery score; this acts as an index for your body. It is based on a combination of biometrics such as HRV, Heart Rate, and Body Temperature throughout the day to help you understand various body signals better.

Movement index, for example, gives you a score based on your overall movement for the day, and not just during workouts at specific times. The Sleep Index takes into account not only sleep duration but also the different stages of sleep to determine if you need more Deep Sleep phases. Your Recovery Score, on the other hand, takes into account several biomarkers that indicate stress levels and suggests actions to get back into a state of equilibrium.

Heart Rate Tracking, Sleep Tracking and Movement Tracking.

Better yet, the Ultrahuman Ring delivers this critical health information through a metabolism tracker that won’t get in the way of your style. In fact, it can even make you look more fashionable with its elegant color options, including Cyber Grey, Bionic Gold, Aster Black, and Space Silver. The outer Titanium shell is coated with Tungsten carbide for ultimate durability, while the smooth interior shell uses medical-grade hypoallergenic epoxy resin for maximum comfort. The ring is also water resistant up to seven feet, so swimming or unexpected rain showers won’t be a problem.

Knowing how many steps you’ve taken or how fast your heart is beating isn’t really enough. Understanding the bigger picture is critical in knowing the correct actions to take to improve your health and save your life. Through a combination of smart software and beautiful hardware, the Ultrahuman Ring offers this deeper truth in the state of your body, and it looks stylish to boot! Say goodbye to bulky smartwatches and say hello to deeper health insights with this fashionable smart ring for only £225 for our Yanko Design readers.

Click Here to Buy Now: $273 $302 ($29 off). Hurry, for a limited time only. Raised over $590,000.

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OPPO OHealth H1 is a pebble-shaped device that keeps tabs on your family’s health

Although we should always be aware of our body’s condition, it wasn’t until recently that people became more acutely aware of the need to monitor our health on a regular basis. Regular checkups might not always be feasible, especially if they’re spaced too far apart or too pricey, and that’s one of the major reasons why people put it off until it’s too late. Smartwatches and some fitness trackers have now gained the ability to keep track of some of these health points, but that isn’t really practical when you want to monitor the health of every member of the family. That’s the kind of situation that OPPO designed its first-ever product under its OHealth brand, bringing together the equivalent of six pieces of medical equipment in one beautiful device.

Designer: OPPO

Nothing scares people more than medical and dental equipment, some of which may look more like torture instruments than health tools. The mere sight of these literally clinical objects sometimes causes stress in some people, which is another reason why some stay away from checkups. Bringing these home for personal use is not only impractical but also pointless since many of them require training to use and decipher.

In stark contrast, the OPPO OHealth H1 device looks clean, smooth, and totally harmless. Its design is reminiscent of a pebble, one of OPPO’s favorite natural objects, or a bar of soap. Either way, it’s imagery that inspires calmness and confidence, and it’s not something you might expect to come from a machine that can tell you if you’re in danger of a heart attack or worse.

Despite its unassuming looks, the OHealth H1 is actually packed with health features equivalent to six diagnostic tools. Some, like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen measurement, sleep monitoring, and body temperature detection, might sound commonplace, considering how some smartwatches already have these functions. OPPO’s device, however, offers better accuracy and performance since it isn’t space-constrained like wearables. In addition, the OHealth H1 is also able to perform functions not available on smartwatches, like proper ECG reading and, more interestingly, cardiopulmonary auscultation. The latter is the medical term used for what doctors listen for when they place a stethoscope on your chest or back.

The OHealth H1 may sound like a portable diagnostic clinic, but it is designed to be approachable and accessible to ordinary people. All you need to do is to either put your finger on a specific area on the bottom of the device or place the device on a person’s forehead, chest, or back. And you don’t have to be a doctor to make sense of all the data because OPPO’s companion mobile app and AI will make the interpretation for you.

The OPPO OHealth H1 will never be able to replace a professional healthcare worker, but it can at least give parents and family members hints on the state of their health, especially for those in charge of other members’ welfare. More importantly, the health monitor’s gentle and almost disarming design removes psychological barriers to keeping tabs on one’s health, which could be a matter of life or death for people who’d never see a doctor otherwise.

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Massaging Backpack

Carrying a heavy backpack can cause your back to get a little sore. But what if I told you that by carrying an even heavier backpack than normal, you could alleviate some of that pain? Because if you add a massager to backpack that’s exactly what happens. The Back Massaging Backpack has a pair of built-in vibrating massagers at the shoulders and lower back to relieve any muscle ache. Look at this guy, does he look like he’s in pain? Not counting the pain of having to model for a backpack and pretend to be interested in some map on his phone that he forgot to charge before leaving the house instead of posing on the beach with bikini models, of course.

The backpack has a whopping 5,000 mAh battery to not only power the massagers but to charge your phone or other devices. Since it’s a backpack it can also hold stuff in the the compartment, like every other backpack ever made and ever will be made. And it goes on your back. It’s like a pack for your back. Hence the name. You can get five hours of massage off one battery charge, which sounds like a lot at once, maybe at that point go see a doctor or something. Anyway cool pack.

Massaging Backpack

Walkolution treadmill desks revolutionize the way people work and workout at home

The new year is all about fresh start. If you’re like millions of people around the world that started the year with the goal of getting fit and healthy, you have probably done either of the two: start or stop already.

The first month of the year is usually when people are so hyped up with keeping their resolutions. By the second month, they stop or forget about their goals. You see, being fit is an integral part of a person’s life. Well, it should be but you can agree with me it can be a challenge especially these days when people are encouraged to stay home and there’s not enough space to move.

Designer: Walkolution

Walking is perhaps the easiest and most economical thing to do. You can start with it but what happens when working from home and staying at home are becoming the norm. One can’t just go around the neighborhood, at least, in some parts of the world due to fear of Covid.

A treadmill is an answer. There are plenty of portable and smaller models available in the market that you don’t have any reason not to buy. But for those multitaskers, you can consider this desk treadmill from Walkolution.

Walkolution Treadmill Walk and Work

The German company actually offers several different models of the walking treadmill that differ in size and design. They are similar in many ways as they allow you to start with your own movement revolution. All variants offer the same elements: treadmill and a desk for work.

Walkolution MTD900R KYBUN WANDERLUST

The most affordable model, the MT300 NEW WORK, is very compact and is a silent treadmill. It doesn’t have a desk but you can place it anywhere a standing desk. You can choose to get a handrail and standing aid.

Walkolution MT300 NEW WORK

The other two models, the MTD700R WANDERLUST and the MTD800R ÄRA, are also compact and come with a silent treadmill workspace with an integrated desk and a free-standing premium lift desk, respectively. Both offer ergonomic standing aid and hand-rail. The standing desk on each model is adjustable.

Walkolution MTD900R KYBUN ÄRA

Walkolution Treadmill

Many people say this is perfect for the home office but it’s also ideal for real corporate offices, fitness studios, home gym, and even in spas and other rehabilitation or medical centers. For extra comfort, you can change the treadmill covering. You can choose between the stable birch wood or the elastic wooden slats. To make the Walkolution a very worth solution, its design is modular which means you can modify or retrofit other versions.

Walkolution products are sold by a Germany-based company. Founded by Dr. Eric Söhngen and Frank Ackermann in 2017, the Walkolution brand quickly became a success. The treadmills made by the company are now sold in more than 40 countries and are used by private consumers and corporate customers.

Walkolution MTD900R KYBUN WANDERLUST

Each treadmill uses proprietary technology. It’s eco-friendly as every treadmill doesn’t need electricity to work. If you want to move, you will really need to get moving and walking.

Walkolution has built an eco-certified high-tech production site where all treadmill products and engineered and manufactured. Each product is crafted following high standards for top-notch German quality and excellent customer service.

A walking treadmill offers a lot of benefits. Many people know that sitting on a chair while being in front of the computer for hours is not that healthy. It can be now with Walkolution. You have no reason not to walk because the treadmill is there. You can place your laptop on the desk to work and walk away from that extra weight.

No electricity is required. It only needs your weight and pace for it to work and change the intensity level. It’s noise-free too because there is no motor that runs inside.

Walkolution Treadmill Design

The treadmill comes with a design that allows a leaning back position. This results to more comfortable walking. Working and staying healthy at the same time is possible. You just need to be determined to really do this thing. You ready now?

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The Top 10 Gadgets designed to boost your mental + physical well-being & stay your healthiest self during a pandemic!

Taking care of our health and well-being, when there’s a literal global pandemic shaking up the world, can be hard. I mean there are bigger issues than the plate of fries I had for dinner last night, or the fact that my sleep cycle is a mess. Right? Wrong! Paying close attention to, and focusing on our mental and physical well-being has never been more integral. And we don’t just mean hitting the gym, or going for your morning run, maintaining well-being goes beyond simple physical fitness. Keeping our stress levels in check, ensuring we get a good night’s sleep, knowing when to disconnect off social media, and give our eyes and mind a rest – these are all important habits in ensuring we stay our healthiest version. And, we’ve curated a collection of handy gadgets that promise to help you achieve all your mental and physical health goals! From a brain training headset that improves your mental health and performance to a fitness-tracking toe ring that may be the coolest wearable we’ve seen in a while – these innovative gadgets are perfect for health-conscious individuals out there who want to stay their fittest selves during this pandemic!

Designed by the students of the Hongik University, the Traverse is a conceptual drone powered by AI that’s designed to be a personal trainer for recreational runners. The autonomous drone comes with a quad-propeller layout, and also features multiple fish-eye cameras that help it navigate through spaces without requiring any external controls. A main gimbal-mounted camera focuses on you, the runner, and the camera focuses on you as you run, monitoring your speed, performance, technique, laps, and charts your overall progress. While running, Traverse takes photos and videos of runners to give them Form correction & visual running feedback by tracking their posture with deep learning.

Designed to be ‘gym equipment for your mind, Mendi lets you train your brain and even measure its progress along the way. This can help you be more mindful, beat stress, improve your mental and physical performance at work or while playing a sport, and even help overcome learning difficulties. Mendi sits on your head, like a slim innocuous headband, but underneath its sleek exterior, it holds a myriad of sensors that measure brain activity, blood flow, and oxygenation of your prefrontal cortex. Paired with an app that lets you go through brain exercises, Mendi tracks your brain’s activity while the app pushes you to use your mind more through a series of focus-building games. At the end of a 10-minute session, the app lets you know how much energy your brain expended, what progress you made, and where you’re currently at

The Halo Band will cost $99.99 and the service (which is required for Halo’s more advanced features) costs $3.99 per month. Health and wellness are one of the few industries still thriving in unprecedented times because physical and mental well-being is of utmost priority for everyone right now. Halo’s most exclusive feature is the fact that it creates a 3D model of your body and tracks the emotional tone in your voice for an even more personalized wellness journey. Technology with EQ (emotional quotient) capabilities are rare and mostly seen in experimental robots. Another thing that sets it apart from others in the market is that it doesn’t have a screen which indicates that Amazon wants to focus less on sports and more on lifestyle changes.

Built for Titan, a prominent watch and jewelry brand in the country, the rings come with a metallic finish and sit inside one of two sleek, matte black cases – for charging at home and for charging while traveling. Originally toe-rings in the Indian culture come made from silver, which absorbs positive energy from the ground you walk on. The Mettis, however, use sensors that help monitor your health. Whether you’re walking, running, exercising, or even swimming, the rings capture your body temperature and your heart rate, working just like smartwatches and fitness wearables do. The rings actively track your location, count your steps, monitor sleep patterns, as well as help you keep track of your period cycles… all while strongly echoing the cultural relevance of toe-worn jewelry in Indian customs and traditions.

lamp

This lamp was made so that you could associate it with more than just an illumination source, the designer wants you to look at this lamp as an appliance that can help you establish a healthy sleeping pattern along with its core function. There are recommended light levels for different pre-bedtime activities like watching TV, reading, meditating, etc. and you can adjust the lightness/darkness for them through this lamp so it helps you wind down easily and amplifies the impact of your bedtime routine. You can set a timer for when you want the light to go off and it will gradually decrease till shutdown time so the darkness is not abrupt – another small detail to get your circadian rhythm on track! The lamp is flexible so it can be used during the day as well like a desk lamp and the minimal design makes it a perfect fit for any interior style, especially a small space.

Rui Sun’s Emotional First Aid Kit comes with five products. The Indigo Third Eyeglasses are a pair of playful kaleidoscope glasses that let you look at things differently, bringing a sense of wonderment and a different perspective on life as you see it. The Purple Breathing Mask is an instant de-stressor. Equipped with the scent of violets, breathing through the mask brings the calming effects of breathing into a paper bag with the additional advantages of aromatherapy. The Blue stress buster is a megaphone that visualizes sound in blue ink. Screaming into it not only helps you release pent-up anger but also helps create art out of it. The Green Mediating Stethoscope comes in pairs, allowing two people who’ve just had an argument to listen to each other’s heartbeats. It puts the argument into perspective, reminding you of the emotional aftermath of such fights. Listening to a beating heart also helps you calm down. Lastly, the Yellow Confidence Booster is a super-light padded jacket that when worn, gives you the feeling of being in a secure safe shell, and also having a puffed chest (a sign of confidence). It helps people with low self-esteem to feel secure and more confident in solving dilemmas or addressing uncomfortable situations.

Industrial designer SangWoon Kim has reimagined the traditional waist support belt as a smart wearable to protect the lumbar spine better. Basically, it functions like any standard belt to compress the waist and isolate our breathing patterns. The striking difference is the ability to tighten the belt automatically, depending on the intensity of the workout and the user’s breathing pattern. Kim calls it the BIND.CO belt and this workout accessory come in handy for any exercise mode and intensity. The innovation will be godsent for beginners who are still learning about the exact tightening of the belt needed for their workout. Thanks to the embedded sensors, the smart belt tightens during exercise and loosens at the time of rest between activities.

Happy Ears earplugs debuted in 2015, going on to becoming a favorite of users as well as organizations and events like SXSW and Lollapalooza. The earplugs helped people to sleep peacefully, work quietly, attend concerts “responsibly” and simply help people avoid hearing loss in the long term from being in high-decibel environments. Happy Ears came with a sleek, oval design that could easily fit snugly in each ear, with a barely noticeable stem that didn’t obstruct your sleep or movement in any way. Now they’re back in their same, slim, reusable avatar, albeit with one small, significant upgrade… they’re made entirely out of recycled plastics that help reduce ocean pollution as well as noise pollution! The ‘Happy Ears Recycled’ aims at tackling the waste created by the 1 billion single-use earplugs that are worn and discarded as trash each year. Made from FDA-approved 100 % recycled ABS and TPE plastics, Happy Ears help take plastics out of our oceans and are designed to be worn multiple times for years, preventing any reentry of plastic into our natural ecosystems.

Devices like the Awair air quality tracker are here to make our homes a little more pure and safe. We may not know this but, indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outside as we are constantly exposed to factors like paint, furniture, carpet, air fresheners, toys, and more. The air quality can have a major influence on allergies, asthma, focus, sleep quality, skin health, and overall well-being apart from just physical health. The Awair 2nd-edition air quality monitor can track it all for you and even give you personalized recommendations to improve the air in your space. The smart device records the 5 most important factors that affect your health like fine dust, chemicals, CO2, humidity, and temperature to give you a report straight on your phone with changes we can make to up the quality.

The Loftie’s feature list is simple. It comes with a clock face (which dims at night so you’re not distracted), a nightlight that you can switch on or off with the push of a single button, and the ability to choose from a variety of soothing playlists to put you to sleep. If you rely on a noise machine to go to bed, Loftie comes with all the noise types, from white noise to pink noise (yes, that’s a thing), as well as soothing soundscapes like forest noises or a crackling fireplace. The audio lulls you into a calming slumber, and when it’s time to wake up, Loftie’s two-part alarm system wakes you without startling you out of your sleep. The first round of the alarm plays a soft melody to partially wake you, while round two aims at fully awakening your senses with a cheerful tune that sets the right tone for the rest of your day.

Medical innovations that are boosting and transforming modern healthcare!

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to us one overwhelming realization – how fragile life is. It has truly backed up something we heard all our lives, but never took quite literally, ‘Health is Wealth’. Though the vaccine is slowly finding its way in the world, the cases are still ongoing, and they’ve created tremendous pressure on the medical industry. However, designers all over the world are coming to the rescue! Medical innovations are booming. Designers have been coming up with new and improved, innovative, and life-saving medical designs that not only boost medical care but relieve some of the pressure from our tireless medical force. From a stethoscope that detects the early signs of arthrosis to an ambulance that tactfully avoids traffic, these designs tackle a variety of problems in the health and medical field. They’re a boon to modern healthcare and a reminder that we cannot take our health for granted any longer!

Literally, the size of a quarter, Adam Miklosi’s Dab is an unobtrusive Holter ECG/EKG that rests comfortably on your chest, constantly reading your heart’s movements. Designed to be minimal, non-invasive, and simple, the Dab tries to bridge the gap between medical appliances and wearables. Its tiny yet classy design sits on your chest via a gel patch, while the electrodes capture your heart activity. The Dab’s dry-electrodes allow it to be used and reused, while constantly measure one’s heart activity (requiring periodic charging via their wireless charging hub), and keep logs of accurate readings, quietly sitting on your chest while you absolutely forget that they’re even there in the first place!

This clever design safely transports spillable food for those with Parkinson’s disease. Designed by Jonas Krämer and Ayla Warncke, the Foodsling facilitates the transport of spillable foods for everyone but it was specially designed keeping in mind people who have to live with Parkinson’s disease. Due to the weakness of their musculoskeletal system, they often face mobility issues and need assistance with simple tasks like carrying their food bowls. The Foodsling is created for individual use so that it can be kept lightweight and small for the user’s ease. The designers are using soft silicone to make the final product and that will also incorporate transporting smaller vessels, the prototype already has an adjustable diameter. The Foodsling can be carried with one hand, enabling the user to hold a walking aid in the other hand. The designers carried out tests with people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and while the design works for most of them, each person’s intensity and experience with the disease is different so we must remember that this is not one size fits all but it will be one size that fits all bowls!

The Auvis is a digital stethoscope that is structured to detect early signs of arthrosis. The instrument has built-in sensors to catch sounds emitted by joints, making it easier to pick up degenerating cartilage inside them. The arthrosis that this digital stethoscope intends to detect is a non-inflammatory degenerative condition that’s mainly associated with aging. It occurs as a person grows older and the joint cartilage becomes rugged and begins to wear out. Since, the designer says, “cartilage degeneration, the starting point of arthrosis, can neither be seen on X-Ray nor MRT,” the Auvis presents itself as a viable med gadget. Degenerating cartilage tends to generate sounds that the sensors on the Auvis can pick up to let a physician interpret the feedback and give the diagnosis. Like an ordinary stethoscope, Auvis also comprises an examining tool and a neckpiece – the only difference being, these are wirelessly connected and offer an unrestricted opportunity to examine various joints on the body.

The California Institute of Technology is working on an electronic skin, a sensor-filled sticker, that can turn human sweat into energy enough to power basic devices like heart-rate sensors, glucose-level trackers, or even a low-energy Bluetooth radio. These stickers work by harvesting ‘lactate’ from the sweat we produce. The lactate is absorbed by the electronic skin’s fuel cells – which are made from carbon nanotubes that host a platinum/cobalt catalyst and an enzyme that uses oxygen in the air to break down the lactate into water and a substance called pyruvate. CalTech’s researchers say these stickers can generate a continuous stream of energy (as much as “several milliwatts per square centimeter”), making it enough to offset the need for a battery, which the technology hopes to eventually replace.

Hearings aids have always made the user feel conscious and many will try to hide the fact that they are wearing one. The device that is meant to empower them and help with their hearing is actually doing the opposite by making them feel like they have something to be embarrassed about. Alice Turner decided to design Amplify, a hearing device that was made to be seen, to feel confident about, and to help people experience life to its full potential! Amplify was created to give the hearing-impaired demographic an added value that made the hearing aid more than just a medical accessory. “In the ’60s, glasses were aids for a disability. Now, glasses have evolved into ‘eyewear’, a fashion statement, and an extension of your personality. This shift made me question why the main innovation in hearing aid design is developing technology to make them smaller and more hidden,” says the designer on her thought process behind starting the project. Using bone conduction technology, Amplify provides users with high-quality audio for a more comfortable and wholesome sound experience. This technology enables the device to decode sound waves and convert them into vibrations that can be received directly by the Cochlea so the eardrum is never involved. Amplify essentially becomes your eardrum!

How does an ambulance reach a victim in a road/highway accident when there are more than a dozen cars stuck in a traffic jam between the ambulance and the site of the accident? Up until now, the only solution was to drive in the opposite lane, weaving through oncoming traffic to get to the victim. A band of Korean designers created the Median AMB, a special ambulance that can directly reach the point of the accident without getting affected by the traffic congestion created by the accident. The Median AMB sits on the road divider/median and drives up and down the highway almost like a monorail. It features sliding doors on both sides, seating for a driver and an assistant, and an area for a stretcher that holds the victim. The Median AMB drives down the dividers, right to the victim’s location, picks them up, and brings them to a proper ambulance that can take the victim to the nearest hospital.

While the world’s scrambling to deal with the sudden explosion of the COVID-19 virus, it’s pretty refreshing to see that certain startups are pushing the boundaries when it comes to lending a helping hand in any way possible. Health startup Oura, the creator behind the 2018 Red Dot-winning Oura Ring, is teaming up with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to see if the physiological data picked up by the ring combined with responses to daily symptom surveys, can predict symptoms of the illness. “The study aims to build an algorithm to help UCSF identify patterns of onset, progression, and recovery, for COVID-19”, says the team at Oura. The ‘Oura TemPredict’ study will be split into two groups, where Oura will test data collected by front-line health professionals, and data gathered by the general public. The startup plans to supply more than 2,000 healthcare workers (who are in daily contact with patients who may be afflicted with COVID-19 at UCSF campuses) with Oura rings to monitor changes in their body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Daily Symptom Surveys will be made available to all Oura Ring users too, allowing participants to send their crucial data to UCSF’s team of researchers to help them identify patterns that could predict onset, progression, and recovery in any future cases of COVID-19.

Across the globe in 2018, 2.5 million babies died within their first month of life. Collectively, Africa and Southern Asia made up approximately 87.7% of these deaths. – UNICEF. To address this issue, designers Chris Barnes and others at Cambridge Consultants of Cambridge, UK have designed a wearable health monitor for newborns in areas where current solutions are not easily available. Called ‘Little I’, their innovation empowers parents in low resource countries to monitor the health of their newborns by providing a low-cost, durable device that gives them assurance of their newborn’s survival despite lack of medical knowledge. This service is implemented by NGOs first buying and transporting the device to the community and teaching the workers how to use it. And in parallel, the mother/caregiver would hear about the device within the community and then later be provided one by a health care professional after giving birth. After 28 days, the device is returned which is then cleaned and recharged to be used by another newborn.

These ICU pods are called CURA (Connected Units for Respiratory Ailments) which means “cure” in Latin (doesn’t that make you feel a little better?) and these will help take some load off the hospitals, especially in Italy. Ratti’s Studio, Carlo Ratti Associati, and MIT’s Senseable City Lab are creating mobile field hospitals with these CURA Intensive Care pods that serve as a biocontainment unit for two patients at a time. “The aim is that they can be quickly deployed in cities around the world, promptly responding to the shortage of ICU space in hospitals and the spread of the disease,” explained the CURA team as they build the first prototype unit at a hospital in Milan. These units can be set up as fast as tents with the benefit of having hospital-level hygiene which will help contain the infection and especially help those suffering from acute respiratory problems as they need intense care. This will also ensure that the health professionals remain safe while treating the infected who will have a better chance at recovery in the biocontainment units.

Omamori (お守り) are traditional good luck charms in Japanese culture that protect the wearer of the charm. The concept of Kenkō is a futuristic take on the traditional Omamori, it does not cure illnesses or ward off evil spirits but it helps you stay healthy by being in sync with the earth’s electromagnetic frequencies. The earth is constantly emitting 7,83 Hz (also known as the earth’s breath, who knew that?!) along its surface which is believed to allow living beings to regulate their physiological functions. Scientific studies show that the earth’s natural magnetic fields have a positive influence on our brains. With the rapid development of electronic communication technologies, our bodies are getting confused between the natural and artificial frequencies which are dwindling our inherent ability to be in sync with nature. This concept device is aimed at increasing focus, coordinated neural activities, improve sleep and circadian rhythms, stabilize blood pressure and stimulate osteoblasts. Kenkō will be created to produce a 7,83Hz signal, reproducing the natural frequency using technology which will help human bodies re-establish their intrinsic relationship with being healthy naturally. It will have an LED light strip that glows when you switch on the device. Electrosmog caused by Wi-Fi and smartphone frequencies can no longer disturb the sync between the natural rhythm and your brain with Kenkō’s 1.5m protection radius around you.

Sleeveballoon Promises to Treat Diabetes and Obesity

Researchers have discovered a new device that could be surgically inserted into the bodies of people who suffer from both diabetes and obesity. This new device produces excellent results in reducing body weight, eliminating fatty liver and control blood sugar levels. In short, Sleeveballoon seems to be the perfect device to treat obesity and diabetes at the same time. The results of the device’s effects were published in the EBioMedicine journal. The study involved comparing the effects of traditional bariatric surgery with Sleeveballoon on 30 rodents who were fed with a high-fat diet. 

Diabetes causes immense distress to patients and caregivers

Type II diabetes is one of the most stubborn medical conditions that result in enormous distress and medical expenses. Obesity is closely linked with acquiring diabetes, and doctors often advise their patients to lose their weight using various methods. For people who are unable to lose weight easily, bariatric surgery is an option. However, the surgery is complicated and can be quite invasive. Sleeveballoon mimics the effects of bariatric surgery but requires only a minimally invasive procedure. 

How does Sleeveballoon work?

  • Sleeveballoon is a sleeve which is connected to a balloon that covers the small intestine.
  • The balloon covers the initial parts of the small intestine and results in reduced appetite 
  • The patient is given general anesthesia while the balloon is inserted into the body.
  • It is a minimally invasive procedure that is not as risky as traditional bariatric surgery is. 
  • Sleeveballoon helps control hunger and appetite, resulting in a sense of fullness. 

The study’s results were made public by Geltrude Mingrone, who is a professor at the King’s College, London. Professor Mingrone revealed that very few people are offered bariatric surgery as an option, and even those who are offered the option reject it because of the risks and invasiveness of the procedure. Diet alone cannot control obesity or blood sugar levels in some people. These patients, according to the professor, can benefit from Sleeveballoon and look forward to a healthy and diabetes-free life. 

Is Sleeveballoon available now?

At the moment, the device is not available in the market. Researchers are working on bringing the device to the medical market so that a doctor near you can help you tackle both obesity and diabetes. If you are currently experiencing health issues, do not forget to seek the advice of your regular physician and follow the doctor’s advice. After all, a number of treatments are researched upon and until clinical research takes place successfully on humans, one needs to continue with the existing treatments. 

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Smart WiFi Essential Oil Diffuser


Hey Alexa, diffuse me some oil. This is one device that actually makes a LOT of sense to have connected to your smart home. With the Smart WiFi Essential Oil Aromatherapy Diffuser you can use the app to control the diffuser or use your Alexa or Google Home to control it with just your voice. There’s a lot of settings you can actually control here: the LED color on the light, mist intensity, timer settings, and scheduling.

The scheduling feature is the real attraction here; you can create regular schedules so your diffuser comes on whenever you want it. So you can have it running just before you arrive home from work every day- the ultimate stress reliever already set for you as soon as you walk in the door. Or have it come on when you wake each morning, to set the mood for a great day. Or if your schedule is irregular, just use the app or Alexa to have it going when you want. Plus you can set the LED light to ANY color. I’m feeling a light green right about now. No red. Definitely red.

This smart diffuser uses ultrasonic frequencies to vaporize water and oil molecules into the air (a better alternative than heat-style diffusers). The big 400ml water tank lets you get up to 12 hours of continuously misting aromatherapy. If that’s not enough, maybe you need another type of therapy, like one with an actual therapist or something. Just saying. But for the rest of us, this diffuser is not only highly functional, it also has a really nice style that looks really sleek and artistic.

Smart WiFi Essential Oil Diffuser

Phone Sanitizer and Charger


Your phone is filthy. We know you bring it into the bathroom with you. And you eat with it. And let your greasy fingered toddlers use it. It’s gross. But you can do something about it (something way more effective than the pants leg wipe you’re doing now). Sanitize it! With this PhoneSoap 3 UV Sanitizer and Charger you can kill all the bacteria and germs, while charging at the same time. Bonus.

The PhoneSoap 3 uses a pair of UV-C light bulbs to sanitize your phone. Just place your phone inside, then hook up your charging cord to either the USB or USB-C port on the back and you’re charging and cleaning all at once. You have to figure, if you’re going to charge your phone somewhere daily, you might as well add in some sanitizing at the same time. Flu season is coming after all. Thanks for the heads up Mom.

Anyway, the PhoneSoap 3 comes in your choice of over a dozen colors and is big enough to fit most phones, even bigger ones like the Galaxy S10+. Plus it’s not just for smartphones- you can sanitize ANYTHING you can fit inside the case- watches, keys, earbuds, jewelry, pacifiers, coins, etc. Just don’t try to charge up your keys.

Phone Sanitizer and Charger
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