Control Alexa Devices from Your Wrist with This Smartwatch

Posted on 08/10/2017 by Technabob Shop

If you want a lot more from your watch than just the time, this smartwatch is unlike any on the market. The Martian mVoice AE series boasts bold, stylistic features while maintaining an active lifestyle design. And it’s on sale now for 55% off the regular price.

This watch presents a timeless appearance with an uncluttered 24-hour analog clock display, but it’s packed with smart features like push notifications, turn-by-turn navigation, and even Amazon Alexa compatibility. That’s right, you’ll be able to control your home devices from the convenience of your wrist. The watch even has a shutter control that you can use to snap photos, including selfies.

Don’t just check your watch for the time. Do more with the Martian mVoice Smartwatches with Amazon Alexa. Get yours for just $129.99(USD) in the Technabob Shop – more than 1/2 off the MSRP.

These Durable Bluetooth Headphones Are Half Off

Posted on 31/03/2017 by Technabob Shop

Get rid of those pesky wires! ARMOR-X GO-X3 Bluetooth Headphones will provide hours of comfortable listening time, and they’re currently available for half off their regular price.

The GO-X3’s will become your go-to headphones on your daily commute, on a hike, on a bike, or any other exciting adventure. These headphones deliver up to seven hours of playtime on a single charge and allow you to answer calls wirelessly, so you’ll always be connected. A voice prompt will even let you know the phone number of the incoming caller. Plus, the premium silicone gel surface keep the earbuds sweat-proof, no matter how much exercising you do.

Give your ears a treat with ARMOR-X GO-X3 Bluetooth Headphones, now on sale for only $29.99 (USD) in the Technabob Shop.

Better parenting, now a wristband away

Posted on 13/04/2016 by Sarang Sheth

kiddo_band_1

Parenting is pretty hard, and parents can be a little overbearing at times (Not that one shouldn’t. Each to their own methods). For parents who worry their child may stray away, enter Kiddo, a nifty wearable that allows you to know when your child gets too far from you, or from their friends/guardians. Kiddo is a band with a smart sensor on it. The sensor works off low amounts of energy, by communicating with other devices of its kind, instead of being a computer on your wrist. When you buy the Kiddo, you get two bands. One for you, and one for your child. Program the bands so that they know who the guardian is, and who the ward is, and you’re good to go. Kiddo will vibrate on the child’s hand to tell them they’re getting too far from the parent. Kiddo will also warn the parent of the same, by vibrating.

Kiddo comes in a design that is simple, effective, and iconic. The bracelet fits both the parent as well as child, and comes in four vibrant colors. The internal component can slip in and out of the bracelet, and it houses a Bluetooth module, which it runs on (Low Energy Bluetooth). This little bad boy can power on for days at an end, but will need charging every once in a while, which can be done via the USB charging dock provided in the kit too. Kiddo as a solution is not only well packaged; even under its impressive design, the product is only as good as the system it’s designed around, which in this case is well detailed, and addresses a problem every parent has in the back of their mind.

Designers: Razy2 Design Group & Many Colors.

kiddo_band_2

kiddo_band_3

kiddo_band_4

kiddo_band_5

kiddo_band_6

kiddo_band_7

kiddo_band_8

kiddo_band_9

Wrists are So Last Summer

Posted on 04/02/2016 by Troy Turner

arc_01

Created for everyone from athletes to the elderly, Arc is an innovative twist on the fitness band that fits around the users neck to monitor vitals both internally and externally. It allows both users and medical professionals to track temperature and EKG as well as outside temp, UV exposure and air quality. Built in headphones offer the additional functionality of Bluetooth music streaming. The neck-worn device is ergonomically designed to rest comfortably without inhibiting movement. Additionally, it’s subtle and sleek form won’t compromise style or garner unwanted attention or stigma.

Designer: Robert de Saint Phalle

arc_02

arc_03

arc_04

arc_05

EsoGlove Robotic Wearable Restores Hand Movements

Posted on 13/01/2016 by Alexandru Chiuariu

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore has developed a robotic glove that can help with hand rehabilitation after nerve-damaging injuries or strokes.

Injuries, nerve-related conditions and strokes can cause people to lose motor skills, and hands are most frequently affected. The NUS research team comprised of Asst Prof Yeow, his clinical collaborator Dr Lim Jeong Hoon from the NUS Department of Medicine, as well as PhD candidate Mr Yap Hong Kai and undergraduate student Mr Benjamin Ang Wee Keong, who are both from the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering, has developed a robotic glove they named EsoGlove in an attempt to restore hand movements in these patients.

“For patients to restore their hand functions, they need to go through rehabilitation programmes that involve repetitive tasks such as gripping and releasing objects,” explained Assistant Professor Raye Yeow from the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering, a specialist in soft wearable robotics and a key member of the research team. “These exercises are often labour intensive and are confined to clinical settings. EsoGlove is designed to enable patients to carry out rehabilitation exercises in various settings – in the hospital wards, rehabilitation centres and even at home. Equipped with technology that can detect and interpret muscle signals, EsoGlove can also assist patients in daily activities, for instance by guiding the fingers to perform tasks such as holding a cup.”

The robotic glove represents a step forward from the conventional hand rehabilitation devices, which have rigid electromechanical components, since its sensors are able to pick up muscle signals and the it is able to follow the natural movements of the human hand, thus diminishing both injury risks and discomfort. On top of that, EsoGlove is also very portable thanks to its very compact design.

“EsoGlove is unique as it is made entirely of soft components and does not require complicated mechanical setups. The main body of the glove is made of fabric, with soft actuators embedded. It also has adjustable Velcro straps to cater to different hand sizes,” Asst Prof Yeow said.

“With this unique approach, we can develop therapeutic tools using safe and wearable robotic technology. Patients can take the initiative in their own rehabilitative process, rather than being passive recipients of therapists’ intervention,” added Dr Lim, a Senior Consultant at the National University Hospital’s Division of Neurology.

Mr Yap, who is also from the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, explained how exactly the EsoGlove is supposed to work: “As the soft actuators in the EsoGlove are made from non-ferromagnetic materials, they are suitable for use in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. We hope that the robotic glove can contribute towards investigating the brain’s activity in relation to motor performance during hand rehabilitation, and unravel the functional effects of soft rehabilitation robotics on brain stimulation.”.

EsoGlove is patent-pending device, and once that is obtained, the team will start a spin-off company to sell the product.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the robotic glove that helps stroke patients regain motor skills, or the Goldfinger smart glove that is powered by finger movements.

iTENS Is World’s 1st Wireless, App Enabled TENS Therapy Device

Posted on 29/12/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

iTENS Wireless App Enabled Therapy Device 01

Wearable tech and pain relief aren’t typically found in the same sentence, let alone in the same device, but iTENS, a medical gadget that will be launched at CES 2016, brings these two concepts together for the first time ever.

iTENS, an Akron, OH-based healthcare and technology startup that made a goal out of reducing, or even eliminating pain altogether. The company’s eponymous device has recently been cleared by FDA, and after a short visit at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show, should become available in a commercial form, to the relief of the ones suffering from chronic pain.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), has been one of the healthcare providers’ main solutions for treating or at least alleviating pain for a few decades now. The devices used for this type of therapy emit tiny electrical signals through the skin that prevent pain signals from getting to the brain. In doing so, the device also stimulate the release of endorphins, which represent the body’s natural painkillers.

“The iTENS device was created for people who are in need of a portable, convenient method of pain management that doesn’t involve taking prescription medication,” explained iTENS CEO Joshua Lefkovitz. “We designed the iTENS to be thin, flexible, discreet, and easy to operate with the push of a button from the iTENS app.”

As Lefkovitz pointed out, the device represents a portable method of dealing with pain, and that is one of the highlights of iTENS. It is the first true wireless TENS therapy device that comes with a companion app for iPhones and Android devices. To grasp the revolution brought forward by this company, try to imagine that TENS devices normally include a separate unit and wires, whereas iTENS only involves an electrotherapy device that communicates via Bluetooth with smartphones running the companion app.

It should be noted that, at the most, smartphones have been used in tandem with medical gadgets either for gathering statistical data or for providing biofeedback. The iTENS takes an entirely different approach, as it actually delivers therapeutic treatment stimuli that lead to instant and durable pain relief.

iTENS has been classified as a medical-grade device that doesn’t require a prescription, so once it will be commercially available, people in pain will be able to purchase it right away. The included Li-Ion battery enables people to use the device for up to 24 hours on a single charge, with the only consumables remaining the peel’n’stick gel pads. Even those are reusable, but should users need to replace them, they will find these at affordable prices.

To learn more about the iTENS wireless, app-enabled medical gadget, head over to the manufacturer’s website, or if you happen to be in Las Vegas next week, check out the booth #74926 at the “Living in Digital Times” section of the CES 2016 tradeshow, which is set to take place between January 4-9.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Goldfinger smart glove that is powered by finger movements, or the software that analyzes face videos to determine pain levels.

Goldfinger Smart Glove Is Powered by Finger Movements

Posted on 20/12/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Wearables seem to have a very bright future ahead, but powering most of them remains a problem. The Goldfinger smart glove seems to have solved this, though, by getting all the power it needs from the movements of your fingers.

Joysticks and mice may still seem awesome to some, but it’s about time humanity moved to more modern human-machines interfaces. That’s pretty much where smart gloves come into play, as they would improve tremendously the way we interact with machines. Just think a bit about how Chief John Anderton, Tom Cruise’s character in Minority Report, interacted with the data he had at hand (pun intended). This seems to be the most frequently mentioned example of how smart gloves could help us do our jobs better, and considering how impressive the scenes from the movie were, it’s quite easy to see why. That’s not to say that smart gloves couldn’t find their way into entertainment, but it’s productivity that we need to improve first and then ways to have fun. Researchers at Politecnico di Torino and MIT led by Giorgio De Pasquale of the Italian University have recently presented a piece of wearable tech with a lot of potential: the Goldfinger self-powering glove that relies on gestures to control machines.

One of the most interesting aspects about the Goldfinger smart gloves is that the electronic and mechanical components are integrated into the fabric itself. Getting rid of heavy attachments seems to be the way to go with wearables in the future, as this also what Google and Levi’s plan to do with their smart pants. By integrating the conductive wires, optical port, piezoelectric transducers and rectification circuit and batteries right into the fabric, the developers of this smart glove have made it more comfortable to wear, at least in comparison to similar devices. At the same time, the developers have simplified data entry and control using the Goldfinger.

Goldfinger relies on flexible piezoelectric transducers to generate power from finger movements. This way, there is no need for external power sources or cables, as the wearable is also able to communicate wirelessly with computers. Since the sensors, switches and wiring are integrated into the fabric, people can use it as a real glove, without getting distracted by its smart components.

As its developers explain, Goldfinger could have many applications ranging from industrial environments to medical and VR fields. Robotic surgery and simulations could also be revolutionized by such wearables. I just hope that if Goldfinger makes the jump from a research prototype to a commercially viable product, the developers will drop the ski glove design, as it’s not really something nice to look at, not to mention that it could prove distracting. Of course, the functionality is far more important than the design in the case of this particular product, but the least the creators of Goldfinger could do is to adapt the design to the industry it will be used in.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about knitted touchscreen gloves, or the MusicGlove hand rehabilitation device.

[via GizMag]

HP Joins Hands with Titan to Make the Ultimate Cross-Platform Smartwatch

Posted on 27/11/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

The news that HP will start a collaboration with India’s Titan comes only a week after the American tech giant signed a deal with Swiss watchmaker Movado

Exactly one year ago, HP announced that it would launch the MB Chronowing, a luxury smartwatch built in partnership with Michael Bastian. This week, the company said that it would join hands with Titan, the world’s fifth largest watchmaker and the joint venture of Tata Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, in order to expand its Engineered by HP program and make new wearables that are “productive and responsive, but not intrusive”

“Engineered by HP is reinventing the experience consumers have with everyday accessories by making existing objects smarter through innovative materials, design and technology, to keep people connected to the way they live today,” explained Sridhar Solur, General Manager, Wearables and Smart Platforms at HP Inc.

“As a brand we are known for our design, manufacturing capabilities, innovation and quality. Moreover, our endeavor has been to always provide our consumers with something new. Our entry into the smartwatch market is another step in this direction,” added S. Ravi Kant, CEO Watches and Accessories Division, Titan Company Limited. “Engineered by HP and Titan make a formidable duo with each lending the other a new dimension, resulting in smart timepieces designed with today’s discerning consumer in mind.”

If it wasn’t already obvious from Kant’s quote, Titan will be in charge with designing and manufacturing the wearables, while HP will take care of the hardware, software, and everything in-between (aka the user interface). In the past month or so, both Tag Heuer and Fossil made the news with their efforts of building remarkable wearables, and the fact that HP announced two partnerships within one week should make these noobs ponder if they have what it takes to impress the world.

Assuming that the smartwatch developed by HP and Titan would work seamlessly with both Android and iOS, users would no longer have to choose their wearable depending on the smartphone they’re using, and vice versa. Even worse, there still are some manufacturers out there that don’t only lock their wearables to work on a single platform, but on a handful of devices running that platform, devices that they themselves make. Some companies should really take a lesson from Microsoft, who not only made its software accessible on other platforms, but it even developed a wearable that works with Windows Phone and the competitions mobile operating systems (Android, and iOS, respectively).

It might take a while till the brainchild of this collaboration sees the light of the day, but until then you can go to Amazon to make an idea about how the Titan timepieces look and how much do they cost. A cross-platform smartwatch would obviously cost more, but at least people would have a starting point.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the HP Elite x2 upgradeable convertible, or the HP Star Wars Special Edition notebook.

[via pocketnow]

Fossil Group Acquires Misfit to Improve Its Wearables

Posted on 15/11/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

A bit over a year ago, Fossil shook hands with Intel and started a collaboration on wearables that ultimately wrecked its earnings. To right that wrong, the American watchmaker bought a wearables manufacturer that should strengthen its position in this industry.

Misfit, the maker of some of the most stylish wearables on the market, must have done something right, if it drew the attention of such a popular watchmaker as Fossil. Besides that, Misfit already has an audience of its own, and by buying this company, Fossil Group manages to expand its addressable market. This way, the watchmaker will be able to satisfy both the needs of people looking for traditional timepieces, and of the ones looking for smartwatches and smartbands that help stay in touch with the

“We have a significant opportunity to add technology and connectivity across our platform of watches and accessories,” explained Kosta Kartsotis, CEO of Fossil Group. “With the acquisition of Misfit, Fossil Group will be uniquely positioned to lead the convergence of style and technology and to become the fashion gateway to the high-growth wearable technology and connected device markets.”

Misfit brings with itself a scalable cloud and app platform, which really is something that the watchmaker desperately needed, so that the world gains confidence once again in its wearables. Another problem that has been addressed properly by Misfit is the battery life of wearables, something that other manufacturers are still struggling to solve.

Another thing that Fossil Group will manage to do after this acquisition is accelerate its connected accessory roadmap. Misfit’s business model will also add new distribution channels and enterprise partnerships to Fossil’s already great portfolio. Not at last, the world-class software and hardware engineering team that helped Misfit get where it was will now have a new home under Fossil’s roof.

“We fundamentally believe consumers care about both technical functionality and fashionable design. In fact, one without the other is simply not enough. With the acquisition of Misfit, Fossil Group will be positioned to win with the connected consumer,” added Greg McKelvey, chief strategy and digital officer of Fossil Group. “Our world-class design and global distribution, combined with Misfit’s technology platform, creates a significantly advantaged, multi?brand and global wearable technology business poised to drive the convergence of fashion and technology.”

“We are thrilled to join forces with Fossil Group to usher in the next era of wearables where elegance, beauty and long-lasting wearability are paramount,” concluded Sonny Vu, founder and CEO of Misfit, who will serve as President and Chief Technology Officer of connected devices for Fossil Group. “Together, we will introduce products that blend Misfit’s seamless, intuitive technology and user experience with the design, style and branding that is the hallmark of Fossil Group.”

The deal went down for $260 million, which really isn’t a spectacular amount, considering the transactions that usually take place in the tech world.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about Intel and Fossil’s collaboration on wearables, or the Acer Liquid Leap+ smartband that tracks fitness without breaking the bank.

BLOCKS Modular Smartwatch Hits Kickstarter

Posted on 13/10/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

After two years into development and a promise that it would be launched this year, the Blocks modular smartwatches finally gets a chance to become a reality.

BLOCKS Wearables, the UK-based company behind this modular smartwatch, announced back in March 2014 that it would launch their product this year. This April, when most people had forgotten about that, Pebble showcased its Smartstraps and thus hinted at its plans of making a modular smartwatch. Since that hasn’t happened, yet, we’re going going back to BLOCKS Wearables, who launched today their crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the world’s first modular smartwatch.

“The development of the Core has been done. Initial designs for Modules are done, components are selected. The Modules are made at prototype stage but the electronics for the Modules for the final product needs to be produced and tested,” explained BLOCKS co-founder Ali Tahmaseb, pointing out that the modular smartwatch is currently in the engineering prototype phase, with a final design ready for testing scheduled for December.

“On the software side, the Android optimizations are mainly done. We have partnered up with a software company with very talented engineers previously in the Google Android team, that are working on even more optimizations and interactions. We have done an initial version of our launcher and menus but are still working on the User Interface.”

The Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign reached its funding goal of $250,000 within a few hours since the project’s launch, so there’s no doubt that BLOCKS will be mass produced. Anyone who has pledged $285 or more (the pledge for early birds was smaller, but those spots are long gone) will receive their modular smartwatch in May 2016. The Core, to which you can later add modules, can be had for $195. Given that the developers have already hit the goal, all that they have to do in the remaining days until the campaign’s end is to add stretch goals. Considering how many modules can be created for a smartwatch, they shouldn’t have problems getting ideas for that.

The first Kickstarter funding phase focuses on five initial modules for additional battery capacity, GPS navitation, heart rate monitor, NFC sensor, and an “adventure module” that transmits to the smartwatch such info as the current altitude, pressure and temperature, details of utter importance for hikers. I’m sure that there will be plenty others coming soon after, making this the only smartwatch you will ever need, as its developers claim, too.

Tahmaseb is quite confident that the company will be able to deliver the modular smartwatches in May 2016: “We have selected components and designs that are reliable, previously tested in other devices, and easy to manufacture. Our ODM has extensive experience in bringing very high quality consumer electronics to market. Our main innovation is in the industrial design, connectors, and communications which have been done by our team. Therefore, it is a good estimate.”

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the BLOCKS modular smartwatch being released in 2015, or the Pebble Smartstraps that paint the future of wearable tech.

via TechCrunch

GIZMODO.cz

Syndicated rss news

Tag Archives: Wearable Tech