Hexoskin Raises Nearly $1 Million for Connected Fabrics to Chase FDA Approval

It’s been a good year for the connected fabrics business: OMSignal shipped shirts with Ralph Lauren, Clothing+ got scooped up by Jabil (which developed a reference platform), and now Hexoskin has closed a funding round of just under $1 million so it can chase FDA approval for a new line of clothing.

Hexoskin’s parent company, Carre Technologies, says the upcoming line will be aimed at medical monitoring and diagnostic applications. This is different than most other players in the market; OMsignal focuses on sports and Jabil hopes to chase general fitness and everyday wear applications. Hexoskin’s focus also implies some sort of upcoming alliance with a medical partner, as FDA approval is not needed for measurement applications — only diagnostic and treatment.

The company has been sneaking word of product announcements at next month’s CES trade show. This funding round anticipates that announcement.

The $1.3 million Canadian round (roughly USD 960,000) was from Anges Québec and the Anges Québec Capital; Carre Technologies is based in Montreal.

Apple Watch, Lumo Lift May be Hot Ticket Wearables this Holiday

With Black Friday afoot and the holiday shopping season poised to start - though for many it's already begun - industry analysts are speculating about the winners and losers of the season. Argus Insights' new report on the wearable tech market shows a couple items should be very popular, including one product that's a bit out of the blue.

Upcoming Crossrail trains will get customers online when they're on the line

The trains for the UK's new Crossrail rail link have been unveiled. They will be over one-and-a-half times as long as London's longest Tube train and will accommodate 1,500 passengers. Features will include regenerative braking, intelligent lighting and temperature systems, and free Wi-Fi and 4G access.

.. Continue Reading Upcoming Crossrail trains will get customers online when they're on the line

Section: Urban Transport

Tags:

• Crossrail
• Trains

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Misfit Acquired by Fossil Group for $260 Million

Misfit, the pioneering maker of sleek activity trackers that couldn’t break through once bigger brands entered the market, has been sold to one of those bigger brands, the Wall Street Journal reports  Fossil Group has agreed to acquire Misfit for $260 million.

The company, founded by Sonny Vu and which counted former Apple CEO John Scully on its board, was best know for its Shine tracker, a slim aluminum disk with minimal displays and six-month battery life. It was the first tracker to be sold in the Apple Store, and Vu was a frequent speaker on the conference circuit on the subject of branding and packaging of wearables. Misfit pioneered mass sales to corporate HR departments interested in encouraging wellness, and recently upgraded its products to include home control features.

Vu will become president and chief technology officer of connected devices for Fossil Group, and Misfit’s employees will all be given job offers with Fossil, the company said. Misfit had raised $63 million in three rounds of funding during its four years as an independent company.

Yamaha's OR2T leaning four-wheeler R&D prototype hits the track

While its MWT-9 three-wheeled concept was making headlines at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show last week, Yamaha discreetly released a video of another similar prototype in development. The OR2T has four wheels and suspension technology evolving from the 2007 Tesseract concept model.

.. Continue Reading Yamaha's OR2T leaning four-wheeler R&D prototype hits the track

Section: Motorcycles

Tags:

• Tilting-Vehicle
• Yamaha
• Tesseract

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Pulse puts sonic control on or above its surface

From familiar-looking keyboards to portable projection-based tables, there are a good many touch-enabled flat controllers available that can help turn strokes, taps and bumps of the surface into music. There are also a few spatial types like the Motus that can transform mid-air moves into funky digital sounds. Pulse combines the two, allowing players to create tunes by caressing its touch-sensitive surface or going gestural in the space above it.

.. Continue Reading Pulse puts sonic control on or above its surface

Section: Music

Tags:

• Kickstarter
• Digital music
• Controller

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Solar-powered permanent hotel planned for Sweden's Icehotel site

Each winter for the past 26 years, guests have enjoyed a chilly reception at a newly-sculpted Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Swedish Lapland, before it melts away and a different structure is built in its place. This routine could soon change though, as plans were recently unveiled to add a permanent solar-powered hotel to the site that will be open year-round.

.. Continue Reading Solar-powered permanent hotel planned for Sweden's Icehotel site

Section: Architecture

Tags:

• Hotel
• Icehotel

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Healthcare Sector to Dominate the Wearable Market

As wearables continue to move from niche markets into the mainstream, a number of industries are integrating the technology to introduce new services. A new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) on wearable technology reveals the global market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 40.8 percent from 2012 to 2018.

Scientists create a pumping artificial heart – using foam

Perhaps you sleep on a memory foam mattress. Well, in the future, a similar material could be used to create artificial body parts. Researchers at Cornell University recently used their new "elastomer foam" to build a functioning fluid pump that looks and works like a human heart.

.. Continue Reading Scientists create a pumping artificial heart – using foam

Section: Medical

Tags:

• Heart
• Cornell University
• Memory foam
• Prosthetics

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The Best Wearable Devices For Basketball

Hello basketball fan. It’s October! It is exactly 18 days to NBA (National Basketball Association) season! Are you excited?
The 2015-2016 is the 70th season of NBA. Every preseason basketball specialists and basketball fans attempt to predict the NBA champions. Some year’s it seems to turns out as unpredictable and surprising. Nonetheless, mystery makes NBA become amazing and interesting for years. May the best team win!
Remembering last summer, it was wearable technology which led the German national team to win the World Cup. Do you think that wearable technology could also be a decisive thing to NBA? At WT, we would support NBA seasons with interesting products below.

“ShotTracker is a huge innovation for the sport of basketball. Repetition, accountability and confidence make great shooters, and ShotTracker delivers all three”- Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriers
Shot Tracker is a wearable device that automatically tracks shot attempts, makes and misses. A shot tracker includes 3 separated parts: a wrist sensor, a net sensor and the shot tracker app. When players shoot, the wrist sensor sends a signal that a shot was attempted. Then, the net sensor sends a signal indicating if the shot was made or missed. Both signals are sent to the mobile device where the Shot Tracker app keeps tracks of shooting stats. A shot tracker works with a wristband or a sleeve depending on players’ choice. Both wristband and sleeve are light and comfortable to wear. A plus for product that its battery last for 3 months after a full charge.
Specialists from Shot Tracker assumes that you can’t improve what you don’t measure. Therefore, Shot Tracker is available to help improve score ability of players.

Hoop tracker is another interesting product for improving shooting skill. Hooptracker is a training watch which view players’ shooting performance, track progress over time, analyse strength and weakness. Hooptracker comprises a Smartwatch and a short detector. Before shooting session, players wear the Smartwatch on the non-shooting hand and place the shot detector on the rim with the mounting pole. The last thing players have to do is to choose a shooting program and start. When players finish this session, they need to upload their data. The Hoop tracker watch receives data wirelessly from a paddle on the rim that registers successful shots and an accelerometer that senses the vibration of misses.

SOLIDshot focus on players’s form. They believe better form, better game. Therefore, SOLIDshot analyses each shot of players from the moment the ball leaving their fingertips. If players break form, SOLIDshot gives simple instructions to adjust the very next shot. The good point is that SOLIDshot is high tech made simple. You wear it on your arm, shoot and receive instant feedback. All process is performed on body. Thus, there is no Smartphone needed. Besides, players need SOLIDshot app to analyse data. By recording the best shot as a target, SOLIDshot allows players to improve the consistent of their own best shot.

Besides shooting skill, running speed and jumping ability are also important in scoring in basketball. With a Nike+ basketball shoes, which work together with an IOS app to track “how high, how hard and how quick” players do. Each shoe gets a Nike+ Pressure Sensor built into it that allows to collect data about users’ movement and send it wirelessly to their mobile gadget. Nike+ basketball shoes focus on your footwork while on the hardcourt.

These basketball wearable devices are not only for professional players but for you also. Why don’t you warm up with them a little bit before NBA starts? WT believes these wearables will definitely bring you more fun, while you experience NBA’s match and your own match.

Samsung Great S2 Round Smartwatch Goes on Sale Friday

We’ve written before about the round Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch. The company announced today that the watch will go on sale October 2, but it may be a little hard to find. Although you’ll be able to get it at Samsung’s own site and Amazon, if you want to get hands on at launch, you’ll have to make the a pilgrimage to your local Best Buy or to Macy’s main store in Herald Square, New York City.

The Gear S2 is remarkable for several reasons. First of all, it runs the open-source Tizen operating system, not Android Wear and certainly not iOS. The watch has a round face, unusual (although increasingly common) for smartwatches. And, unlike previous Samsung connected watches, the Gear S2 will connect to most phones running Android, not just Samsung’s own phones.

The watch will cost $300 or $350 depending on trim and finish. A version that uses a SIM, connects directly to 3G networks and doesn’t require phone tethering will launch this fall, Samsung said. Pricing for that version was not announced.

Wearable Technology Is Fusion Of Industries

We are very happy to welcome Oxstren, as one of our exhibitors at our WT | Wearable Technologies Show 2015 ASIA in Hong Kong on October 12^th. We talked to Pratik Saraogi, CEO of this innovative company which developed Smart Gym gloves – used for tracking your exercise.

1.  Why did you choose this particular form factor – a glove for your product

I’m not a big fan of jewellery or accessories, especially when I’m working out. All the existing smart wrist bands are intrusive from a comfort point of view. Besides no fitness trackers existed for gym or indoor workouts when we started building this and the estimated calorie burn and step counting is the least of the worries of a gym goer.

The first things any user going to the gym would look for is probably protein and gym gloves. Being a big fitness enthusiast and an early adaptor of fitness bands, I felt it’d only be logical that technology found its way into something as natural as a gym glove, something a user would wear regardless while working out. We wanted to make it as seamless and non- intrusive as possible, while still providing innovative, comprehensive functionalities, which made the difference.

2. What is the most important thing you have learned while being involved in the topic of wearables?

Wearable technology is fusion of industries. We’ve needed an amalgamation of skills and talent right from textiles, hardware, design, bio-medicals, mobile apps, embedded systems, fitness, and so much more. The complexity of the entire journey so far has been humbling, learning what goes into creating a product first hand – which has only brought us closer as a team. This industry is so nascent that finding directly relevant experienced talent is next to impossible. We’ve been lucky however, to have built a strong core team early on – which wasn’t just well qualified but also passionate enough about the idea.

3. How can your company help bring the world of fitness and the world of technology together? 

Nature has blessed us with amazing bodies. A majority of us want to exercise, yet only 3% of the global adult population is documented gym members and more than 50% of the gym members are not regular. Technology has started playing such a pivotal role in influencing our generation, right from having kids play Wii more than real sports, or most of us more active with friends on social media. Then why can’t we use some technology to get more users to go to the gym and more importantly go back for the next session. With changes happening all around us, the gym industry has relied on the simple underlying principle of our willpower to push and motivate ourselves to achieve our goals. If all our innovation, advanced tracking, auto logging, crucial alerts, analytic could come together jointly to help the user motivate and push oneself, to make their sessions more fun, safe and rewarding, I would say we’ve done our jobs and increased & improved the world of fitness by integrating it with tech.

4. What is your favourite wearable tech product (besides your own) and why?

I love when sports, tech and fitness are fused together. Not a big fan of any of the glorified pedometers (sorry!). I like more real data coming through. I tried some of the smart T-shirts that give real time heart rate and more, and they’d be my favourite if only their fitting wasn’t tight enough to actually use them. If I had to select I’d say Garmin watches since they don’t do a lot, but are good at what they do. As a user when I wear something, it has to comfortable & stylist first and then smart.

We like the fact that more and more companies are trying out different form factors to make it interesting for the consumer to use. WT team is always supporting innovative ideas and companies that are willing to try different things. If you want to know more about this interesting product please visit their website: http://oxstren.com/

Yamaha announces fresh batch of the R1M plus special YZF-R1 anniversary model

A second window of opportunity has opened for those who didn’t manage to secure an R1M last March when the track-ready superbike sold out in a matter of weeks. Yamaha has announced a second production run of R1Ms alongside a 60^th anniversary limited edition of the base model.

.. Continue Reading Yamaha announces fresh batch of the R1M plus special YZF-R1 anniversary model

Section: Motorcycles

Tags:

• Motorcycle
• Yamaha

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New technique bodes well for lung transplant success rate

Our bodies have developed a particularly unforgiving immune response when a threat is posed to our lungs. This is great for warding off infections and illness, though is something of a double-edged sword regarding transplants, with the recipient's body often perceiving the incoming organ as a threat and seeking to destroy it. But a new approach promises to boost the success rate of such procedures, by both repairing unhealthy donor lungs that wouldn't otherwise make the grade and reducing the chances of rejection once it is implanted.

.. Continue Reading New technique bodes well for lung transplant success rate

Section: Medical

Tags:

• University of Manchester
• University of Lund
• Transplant
• The Immune System
• Lung

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Vacheron Constantin creates world's most complicated watch

Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin is claiming the title of the most complicated mechanical watch ever made with its Reference 57260. Boasting 57 complications (the previous record holder had 33) and a wide array of functions, the Reference 57260 contains over 2,800 components, each one hand-decorated by one Master Watchmaker using traditional techniques.

.. Continue Reading Vacheron Constantin creates world's most complicated watch

Section: Wearable Electronics

Tags:

• Geneva
• Watch

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New invisibility cloak hides tiny three-dimensional objects of any shape

Scientists at UC Berkeley have developed a foldable, incredibly thin invisibility cloak that can wrap around microscopic objects of any shape and make them undetectable in the visible spectrum. In its current form, the technology could be useful in optical computing or in shrouding secret microelectronic components from prying eyes, but according to the researchers involved, it could also be scaled up in size with relative ease.

.. Continue Reading New invisibility cloak hides tiny three-dimensional objects of any shape

Section: Science

Tags:

• Cloaking
• Metamaterials
• UC Berkeley
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Invisibility

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TomTom Launches Spark GPS Fitness Watch (Updated)

TomTom is pretty well known among mapping geeks as one of the companies that powers car GPS systems and Apple Maps. The company has also had an unheralded line of sports watches dedicated to running, golf, and general training, and has now introduced a line devoted to what it calls the “any-day” athlete.

The Spark GPS Fitness Watch line comprises five models: a basic unit, a unit that holds 3GB of music, a music unit with Bluetooth headphones, a “cardio” unit, and a “cardio” unit with headphones. All of them include modes for several sports, GPS, and (by the end of the year) smartphone notifications. The “cardio” versions include a heart rate monitor. Engadget has a hands-on from the IFA trade show.

The Cardio version without Bluetooth headset will be available on October 1 for $249, the company said. The others will be available on October 15 at prices that were not disclosed.

GPS, Bluetooth, and heart monitors are tough on battery life. If you run all of them, expect only about 5 hours of battery, the company said. Activity tracking alone will let the battery run for 3 weeks; just as a watch, expect 6 weeks. Using GPS only, though, allows an 11-hour charge, which is notable and may speak to TomTom’s experience with GPS. For most trackers, GPS is the biggest power pig; here, the biggest drain is apparently Bluetooth.

The Spark watches charge via a USB cable; a desk dock is an optional accessory.

TomTom also sells a Multi-Sport Training Watch, which covers much of the same ground. The company says the Spark uses a newer and smaller heart-rate monitor, is more waterproof and less likely to be accidentally triggered, and has a redesigned interface.

[Updated to add product information from TomTom.]

Lenovo Magic View Offers a New Way to Look at a Smartwatch

It would be easy to think that the smartwatch concept in general was getting a bit played out, that tech makers had gone just about as far as they could go with a wristband and an accompanying watch face that connects to a smartphone. But Lenovo may have just found a little something new in the form of the "Magic View" system.

Wake up to the perfect temperature: Misfit now works with Nest.

We’re excited to share that Misfit Shine, Flash, and Beddit all now work with the Nest Learning Thermostat ™ via the Misfit app for iOS to wake you up to your preferred temperature.  Download the latest version of the Misfit app for iOS now in the App Store.

The Misfit Shine and Misfit Flash Fitness and Sleep Monitors and the Misfit Beddit Sleep Monitor are great ways track your sleep quality and duration.  The Nest Thermostat remembers what temperatures you like, creates a custom schedule for your home, and turns itself down when you’re away.

Combine Misfit and Nest to wake up easier.  Here’s how it works:

• Download the latest version of the Misfit app in the iTunes app store.

• Link Misfit with Nest in the Apps Gallery.

• Then set your alarm by swiping left of today’s sleep data to see the “Tonight” screen.

• Set a temperature to wake up to—your Nest Thermostat will adjust automatically.

Sleep better and smarter with Misfit and Nest.

Guitar-Jo brings banjo sound to electric guitar

One of the most memorable moments in the 1972 film Deliverance is the banjo/guitar duel of Billy Redden and Ronny Cox. Musicians looking to add some of that plucky magic to their own compositions could nip out and buy a banjo and lock themselves away while learning to play. They may choose to follow the lead of Bow Thayer and create a new hybrid instrument. Or they could seek some digital emulation wizardry. After being unsatisfied with the latter, guitarist Jon Langberg came up with another way. The Guitar-Jo accessory gives an electric six-string an identity crisis by making it sound like a banjo.

.. Continue Reading Guitar-Jo brings banjo sound to electric guitar

Section: Music

Tags:

• Kickstarter
• Guitar
• Guitar Effects

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Check out the Exhibitors for WT | Toronto Conference

WT | Wearable Technologies has cultivated an assortment of innovative, inspiring, and interesting companies to showcase their products at the WT | Toronto Conference. The 12 exhibitors are listed below with a short description of what their company is all about.

Cloud DX has created the all useful Pulsewave. This health monitor is a multi-function virtual medical device and cloud diagnostics software. It measures heart rate, blood pressure and heart anomalies. The software is user friendly just as is their wearable monitors. Stay healthy and aware of your body with Cloud DX.  For more info be sure to find their booth in Toronto, or read this recent interview.

Robert Kaul @robkaul@CloudDX founder, President & CEO presentation today on Medical Grade #Wearables#WTUS15 in SF pic.twitter.com/I2gjsui1oI

— CloudDX (@CloudDx) 11. Juli 2015

For those people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, Vielight Inc. has dedicated their research to improving your life. Specifically, Vielight Inc. creates wearable light therapy – aka photobiomodulation. This technology is special because it stimulates cellular function in neurons. Vielight is based out of Canada, they are sure to prove how medical wearables are important for driving wearables into everyday lives.

AiQ, Smart Clothing, works to make your life easier, safer and smarter. They are professionals at merging electronics into fashionable, functional, and comfortable clothing. AiQ’s creations can be used for any purpose; sport, leisure, home, outdoor, etc. AiQ is based in Taiwan, and are the ideal partner for wearable technology solutions.

Ollinfit is a wristable turned personal trainer for dedicated athletes. It knows if you are preforming a weight lifting technique improperly, then it gives real-time feedback via audio or vibrations. Ollinfit works to improve your workout so that you stay fit and safe.

Now a days, the need for meditation and relaxation is limitless. Muse is here to help. They are the first tool in the world that can give you accurate, real-time feedback on what is happening in your brain while you meditate. Muse is easy; the goal is achieve peace. This is one product that will be important to try out at the WT Canada Conference.

MagniWare is a fusion of hardware, software, and advances material science capable of accurately collecting and analyzing physiological data. Based in Toronto, they will represent the handful of Canadian companies creating wearables.

Are you into VR gaming? Pinch VR has created a smartphone case that can easily transform into a VR desktop! They had a successful Indiegogo campaign that ended at the beginning of this year. Their second screen headset also comes with a finger mouse for gesture control within the VR world.

See Horse is like nothing you’ve ever seen before; it’s a wearable for horses! You can hook SeeHorse to your reins, and monitor your horse’s health. The best part about See Horse is its energy harvesting abilities; you’ll never have to charge or replace the batteries!

Wearables toys that teach kids to code are what Linktiz creates. Their goal is to inspire young girls to enter into the tech world. WT | Wearable Technologies just interviewed the creator of this fun interactive wristable. Check it out for more info about Linktiz!

MediaTek Labs is the best resource for wearables and IoT. Their team is building an ecosystem that fosters your talents and your efforts to innovate. If you have a wearable idea, but you are unsure how to produce it – MediaTek Labs is the company for you. Be sure to find you’re their booth at the conference.

Are you at the WT Conference in SF today? Stop by our booth to see the LinkIt ONE and the #wearables you can create! pic.twitter.com/qsZd9NzxSy

— MediaTekLabs (@MediaTekLabs) 9. Juli 2015

Global EMC Inc. and TÜV SÜD have partnered up to ensure all wearable products are tested and certified for safety and health wellness before they are sent to market. They will both be exhibiting at in Toronto. The difference is Global EMC test batteries, and product durability, while TÜV SÜD is internationally known as a leader in technical services. TÜV SÜD focuses mainly on consulting, testing, certifying, and training across the entire ecosystem.

Digitisation for industrial SMEs will be a focus at the 2nd #SmartFactory Innovation Forum http://t.co/F0kJDPLUvC pic.twitter.com/OLxMR9HIQA — TÜV SÜD (@TUVSUD) 13. August 2015

WT hopes you find these exhibitors as awesome as we do! On September 10 you can speak face-to-face with representative of these companies, and try out their products. Hope to see you then!

Nymi Completes First Commercial Transaction Using Heartbeat ID

We’ve written before about Nymi, which makes a wristband that uses your unique heart pattern to authenticate your identity. For the first time, Nymi has been used to make a credit card payment. The payment was made on July 10 as part of a pilot project with TD Bank and MasterCard in Toronto, Ottawa, and Regina (that’s in Saskatchewan — north of North Dakota and Montana).

In an age where contactless payment systems like Apple Pay or Google Pay are becoming increasingly common, it may not sound like much of a big deal, but it really is. The Apple and Google systems, tokenized as they are, still rely on passwords. Nymi’s system is more secure, as it uses biometrics: what you are rather than what you know. You can tell someone your password, or someone can guess it or crack it. Your heart rhythms? Not so much.

The pilot’s wristband uses Nymi’s HeartID technology for personal authentication, and NXP’s secure chip solution to hold the card data and transmit it to the payment terminal.

“Nymi’s goal is to fundamentally change the way authentication is treated and to move industries towards a more secure and convenient identity model,” Nymi’s CEO, Karl Martin, said in a statement. “By working with partners like TD and MasterCard, we are effectively demonstrating that continuous authentication can be a more secure and convenient way to make retail payments.”

A Look at Optical Sensors in Smart Wearables Technology

Optical sensors have long played an integral part in the innovation and evolution of technology. Everything from compact disc players to computers have been able to embrace the power of optical sensors and their uses. In today’s world of smart technology and smart wearables, optical sensors have again found themselves as having a very important role to play. The following is a look at some of the products and smart technologies that have utilized optical sensors and their technologies.

MioGlobal Heart Rate Monitor

The first example here of optical sensors incorporated with smart wearables these days is the MioGlobal Heart Rate Monitor. MioGlobal here has worked with Phillips Electronics in developing a wrist wearable that is embedded with optical sensors to keep track of heart rate. The great thing about this product is that there is no chest strap needed as with a lot of heart rate monitors in this market these days.

The MioGlobal Heart Rate Monitor is able to give precise EKG readings and do it with the utmost of accuracy. The heart rate monitor here has a companion app that is able to be accessed with both iOS and Android mobile devices. It will also work with BlueTooth devices as well. Users need to have iPhone 4S at a minimum and Android 4.3. There are 11 different heart monitoring models here and they range in price from $69 to $199 and can be found online at www.mioglobal.com and various other retail outlets.

Masimo Corporation

Masimo Corporation is a company that produces optical sensors for smart wearables. The company was actually formed in 1989 and since then have been able to produce sensors for a whole range of products. Some of the smart technologies that they have helped produce are health monitors, brain function monitors, and a wide array of others.

They actually got their name and start making monitors and sensors for home alarms and for blood oxygen monitors in the healthcare industry. Masimo these days have seen themselves contributing a lot of smart wearables for high endurance athletes. This company is highly respected in their field and have been for the past 25 years.

TBPC Healthcare

Another company that utilizes optical sensors in the smart wearables technology business is TBPC Healthcare or Taiwan Biophotonic Company. The major product that the company here is marketing is the world’s first industrial reflective non-invasive glucose meter. This company is a new one that was formed just last year. TBPC is also known for their wrist worn pulse detector and oxygen measuring smart device.

The glucose meter is one that is a camera like device where the users looks in it and the sensors embedded in the device are able to measure things such as blood sugar levels. This device is being well accepted due to the fact that no finger pricking is needed to measure glucose levels. These new products from Taiwan Biophotonic Company are in the finishing stages and their executives are making the rounds at all of the major healthcare and smart technology conferences and shows. This product could see its debut by the end of the year or sometime in 2016.

Angel Sensor

The product that is being touted here by Angel Sensors is a wearable band that has all kinds of health measuring abilities. Three sensors are embedded into the band which are able to track vitals such as heart rate, activity, temperature, and there is also the feature in the works that will be able to measure blood oxygen levels.

This band is designed to be worn 24/7 and is able to keep real time stats. The band here by Angel has BlueTooth connectivity and the companion app is able to work with both iOS and Android devices. The device here is modestly priced at $159 and is certainly a good deal with all of the technology that is involved here. These bands come in all different sizes and can be purchased from the company website at angelsensor.com.

Microsoft Band

Microsoft has long been a top name in the technology world so it should be no shock that they have entered the healthcare and smart wearables industry. Microsoft Health is the new part of the Microsoft company that is charged with the development of the Microsoft Band. It is a simple wearable that has optical sensors embedded that is able to read various health vitals. Everything from steps taken, heart rate, and sleep quality can be measured with the Microsoft Band.

Golf players will love this product as it has golf shot measuring and with its built in GPS can give you hole locations on the greens. The Microsoft Health app can work with both iOS and Android devices. GPS run mapping and real time coaching are other features here along with messaging and email alerts. The Microsoft Band certainly looks to be making a name for itself in the smart wearables industry and market. All of this innovative technology can be purchased for $199 and is endorsed by all kinds of health companies and golf companies.

RHYTHM+ by Scosche

The RHYTHM+ by Scosche is another one of those fitness trackers that have optical sensors that are used for tracking all kinds of health vitals and information. PerformTek is the patented optical sensor technology that is used here to be able to track all the information that it is able to store. The RHYTHM+ is designed for heart rate monitoring and is able to do that without the need of a chest strap.

There is a long list of activity apps that are able to be used with the device here. All of the major health measuring stats such as steps taken right on up to heart rate are able to be measured and recorded with the RHYTHM+. It is BlueTooth connectable and is also able to work with ANT+ display devices. Real time stats will be able to let anyone to be able to conduct a high quality workout at any time. The price here for the RHYTHM+ is also very enticing as it retails for only $79.99. www.scosche.com is where a person can go to inquire about this new and innovative heart rate monitoring technology.

Atlas Wearables

Workout tracking is a big thing in the smart wearables field these days. The Wristband here by Atlas Wearables certainly does that and more here. With the use of optical sensors, a person is able to track how many strokes they take swimming in the pool and how many reps they completed while doing push ups or bench presses. The 3D capable optical sensors and the innovative scientists and developers here have developed a product that is certainly one of the tops in its market.

The companion app here is able to work with both iOS and Android devices and is able to give you real time information, workout tracking information, and coaching. Coach mode can be used to get that extra push or freestyle mode for a person to work on their own time and pace. The Atlas Wristband is waterproof to 50 meters and has a micro USB charger. Make every rep count with the Atlas Wristband. This product is in a preorder mode and can be purchased at the company website for $249.

FitBit

Of all of the heart rate monitors and workout tracking devices that are out on the market these days, without a doubt it is FitBit and their Charge HR that is most widely known. Commercials touting this product can be found all over television and on the internet. Optical sensors are able to let this smart wearable to be able to do all the things that a consumer would want from heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking, and activity tracking.

Wireless BlueTooth syncing allows for hands free working out and not to have worry about bulky wires. The companion app will work with any and all iOS and Android devices. FitBit is widely recognized as a leader in the smart wearables and health industry and fitness buffs have taken to the product with vigor. The FitBit Charge HR can be found all different kinds of retail outlets online and at the brick and mortar stores. For $149, the FitBit Charge HR is certainly a good buy and would be an excellent workout training tool and accessory.

Garmin ForeRunner 225

Garmin has been known for their contributions to smart training technology for several decades now. Here is the Garmin ForeRunner 225. This is another one of those smart wearables that is embedded with an optical sensor that has all kinds of activity tracking capabilities. Pace and distance and heart rate are the main vitals that the ForeRunner 225 is able to keep track of in real time. The companion app here is called Garmin Connect and with the app a person will be able to keep track of calories burned and other performance stats.

There is a coach and the app will be able to work with any iOS or Android device. The ForeRunner 225 is the first GPS enabled wrist smart device made by Garmin. The coach is able to set the pace to your workouts so you can train optimally at all times. The ForeRunner 225 comes with a rechargeable lithium ion battery and has a long battery life in regular watch mode and will last up to 10 hours in the workout tracking mode. The ForeRunner 225 also comes with customizable screens. The Garmin ForeRunner 225 retails for $299 and can be found at various retailers all throughout the world and online.

Basis Peak

The next smart wearable that uses optical sensors that will be looked at is the Basis Peak. This smartwatch and fitness wearable has a very simple and streamlined look but it is packed full of fierce technology and function. Text, emails, and notifications are just one of the things that this device can do. With its patented BodyIQ technology, the Basis Peak is able to keep track of heart rate, steps and strides, and is also a smart sleep tracker.

Again, this is a product that is able to do the heart monitoring aspects without the need of a chest strap which a lot of products in this market are doing these days. The Basis Peak has a Gorilla Glass 3 touch screen front and has a battery life up to four days. For $199, the Basis Peak is a reasonable price for the things that it is able to do. It also has a patented SportVent interchangeable strap that has various sporty colors. The Basis Peak is light and sleek and it is certainly a fashion piece.

University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK

St. Andrews, Scotland in the United Kingdom is known for a lot of firsts. It is the birthplace of golf and it is also the home of the oldest university in all of Scotland. The University of St. Andrews is also a place where groundbreaking research is taking place when it comes to the use of optical sensors in the healthcare industry.

The big research that is undergoing at this prestigious college currently is the use of optical sensors to control artificial limbs. Professors Ifor Samuel and Dr. Ashu Bansal have developed disposable optical sensors that can perform health tracking functions. The research team have also worked on muscle contracting sensors that will in turn help with the innovation of controlling artificial limbs. Light is scattered by the sensors which in turn help control muscle movement. Studies such as these will be very important in the future and could possibly help quadriplegics and paralyzed persons to possibly be able to walk again and those with missing limbs to be able to function properly again.

The future of optical sensor technology, especially in the healthcare field, is one that is boundless and certainly exciting. Fitness tracking and health monitoring are certainly two fields that are seeing the implementation of optical sensors at a high rate these days.

As seen with the university studies, optical sensors could also play a huge part in the recovery of people as well. Optical sensors will go a long way in being able to have people to live healthy and productive lives which means that the future for sensors and the future health of the world certainly looks very good.

Silver-laced bottles prolong shelf life of milk

Consumers may soon be able to go for longer between milk-buying trips. That's because Brazilian company Agrindus hopes to start marketing plastic milk bottles that use embedded silver nanoparticles to kill bacteria. Grade A pasteurized fresh whole milk packaged in those bottles can reportedly last for up to 15 days, as opposed to the usual seven.

.. Continue Reading Silver-laced bottles prolong shelf life of milk

Section: Science

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• Bacteria
• Food
• Nanoparticles

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Livall light-up bike helmet doubles as a walkie talkie

Adding lights to a bike helmet is one way to improve visibility at night, but Chinese company Livall has gone a step further – its LED-loaded helmet also serves as a walkie-talkie and sends out an SOS alert when you fall down.

.. Continue Reading Livall light-up bike helmet doubles as a walkie talkie

Section: Bicycles

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Video Recap 16th WT | Wearable Technologies Conference 2015 USA in San Francisco

Here it is, the official video recap of the 16th WT | Wearable Technologies Conference 2015 USA in San Francisco on July 9-10. Thanks to all our speakers, sponsors, exhibitiors and attendees for making it a great event filled with imagination, innovation, and important insight into the future developement of the wearable tech industry.

If you still can’t get enough of WT | Wearable Technologies – we are still touring the globe in 2015. You can meet us in Toronto on September 10th, in Hong Kong on October 12th, at MEDICA in Dusseldorf on November 16-19, and our European flagship in Munich on January 26-27, 2016. The next WT | Wearable Technologies Conference 2016 USA in San Francisco will take place on July 12-13, 2016.

We look forward to seeing you soon at our upcoming event(s).

Morgan AR Plus 4 blends classic lines with modern power

Long after the rest of the world has moved on, Morgan is still staunchly standing by the old-fashioned way of doing things. The boutique manufacturer's cars combine modern powertrains with wood and aluminum chassis' and its latest creation is no different. The limited edition AR Plus 4 combines classic Morgan values with a motorsport inspired Cosworth motor to celebrate 65 years since the launch of the original Plus 4.

.. Continue Reading Morgan AR Plus 4 blends classic lines with modern power

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• Morgan

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Toyota fuel cell bus tested in Tokyo

Toyota and Hino Motors have begun testing a jointly-developed fuel cell bus in Tokyo, Japan. The brief test is designed to will help Toyota evaluate and improve the technology ahead of a possible market launch.

.. Continue Reading Toyota fuel cell bus tested in Tokyo

Section: Urban Transport

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• Hydrogen
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• Bus
• Hydrogen-powered
• Environmentally-friendly
• Public Transport
• Fuel Cell

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Super Skinny Batteries

People were blown away with 3D printing and the possibly it unleashed for prototyping. Now, we can print metals onto flexible circuits to create printed batteries! Printing batteries is similar in concept to 3D printing, but possibly more powerful in application. Flexible, skinny batteries are the innovation necessary to implement wearables into the Internet of Things.

Enfucell OY spoke at our 14^th WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in Munich, Germany this past February. They introduced SoftBattery; a disposable, thin and flexible printed power source. It can be used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic wearable bio-patches, wireless medical and logistic sensors, or functional smart packaging. The SoftBattery comes in three different sizes with three different voltages. The process is environmentally friendly. Now you can supercharge your future!

Varta MicroBattery provides the WT ecosystem with the battery for renewable energy. They were a speaking exhibitor at our 16^th WT | Wearable Technologies conference in San Francisco; they also sponsor our Innovation World Cup.  Besides manufacturing batteries, Varta engineers products for the IoT; batteries, cells, power packs, H2 cells, and hearing aids. Their super skinny, light weight lithium prismatic battery is ideal for wearable products.

#CoinPower – VARTA’s Lithium rechargeable cells – best in the market for #Bluetooth #Wearables http://t.co/Bltc75ZXti pic.twitter.com/rmzTgQm6PA

— VARTA (@VARTAbatteryUSA) 25. Juni 2015

EnFilm, thin film batteries produced by ST life augmented, a re-chargeable solid-state battery. This battery differs from others because it has a life time of 10 years. It features a LiCoO2 cathode and a LiPON ceramic electrolyte and lithium anode. EnFilm is certified, and safe to use within the Energy of Things. ST life augmented is also WT | Innovation World Cup partner. We are now accepting submissions to the 2015/16 competition; click here for more info.

Imprint Energy is a start-up company founded in 2010. They have developed ZincPoly™, a rechargeable battery from Berkeley, California. ZincPoly™ enables production of ultrathin, flexible, high energy density rechargeable batteries for a low price. The development of this battery allows for wearable designers to enhance the possibilities and decreased hazardous battery material. Imprint Energy sells ZincPoly™ as a customized product.

Jenax developed a bendable, twistable, foldable, and wearable battery! The application possibilities are limitless with J.Flex. You can acquire the battery in any size. The material can withstand extreme environmental conditions. The flexible battery is safe; therefore it can be used within wearable technology. You can contact them for customization. Below is a video demonstrating how the versatile and durable the flexible battery is.

Graphene 3D Labs released a 3D printed battery in October 2014. This printed battery can reach the same voltage as AA batteries. Since it is 3D printed, you can print the battery in a single print with any shape you need. However, because it is 3D printed it is not as flexible as other innovative batteries. Yet, it is fast production of prototyping devices.

Arizona State University, USA has experimented with ingenious ways to create stretchable ion batteries. They are inspired by the art of kirigami, paper folding. With this skill one can fold, bend and stretch a battery with no negative effects. This prototype is ready for mass production. The students that worked on this project are Hongyu Yu, Zeming Song, and Xu Wang.

Similarly, the same research has been conducted at Binghamton University in New York. They have proven that one can print the appropriate organic material onto paper and then fold the paper, like origami, to create a durable battery. Since this material is organic it is biodegradable. Paper is also absorbent, so you do not need any other materials to hold the chemicals in place. An air-breathing cathode is sprayed on nickel to one side of the paper, and the anode is screen printed carbon paint. Making the cheapest battery; at a cost of nearly 5 cents.

There is no hiding that batteries are necessary for storing energy for wearable devices. How this energy is derived is one problem. The other is how to package the energy into an efficient, practical power source. Inventing skinny and flexible batteries for wearable products will endorse consumers to trust themselves to not break the product. The majorities of people are not accustomed to gentle movement when wearing technology in their clothing; just think about how many phones are dropped into toilets. Providing them with ubiquitous, smart technology will simplify their daily routine. It all starts with the battery.

Energy Harvesting Technology Can Be The Wave Of The Future

Today’s technology world is certainly one that is evolving and is also bringing some of the most innovative products that have ever come to the market. One of those new technologies is energy harvesting. Energy harvesting is the process of taking energy from external sources such as the sun, thermal means, or even kinetic ways and storing that energy to have it transferred to any mobile device. This market is one that is breaking new ground and has consumers and engineers alike looking very much to the future. The following is a look at some of the energy harvesting technologies that are out there and the companies who are bringing these products to the consumer public.

Ampy

First off is a look at a Chicago, Illinois based energy harvesting company called Ampy. The main energy harvesting product that they have is one called Ampy Move. Ampy Move is touted as the world’s smallest wearable motion changer. Basically what a person does is wear the Ampy Move on the arm and with your movement it generates energy which can then be transferred to any mobile device. Not only that but you can just slip the Ampy Move into your pocket and it still is able to harness energy.

As long as your smartphone has a USB 2.0 or 3.0 connector, it can be charged by the Ampy Move. The Ampy Move is the size of about a deck cards and weighs about the same as a smartphone. The Ampy Move can power a smartphone up to 1 hour at regular use and 5 hours on standby. Smartwatches can get power up to 24 hours. The Ampy Move is in a pre-order status and can be found at their website at getampy.com. Retail price has been set at $99.

http://www.getampy.com/

SolePower

SolePower uses the promotional tagline of ‘powering the future, one step at a time’. Basically what we have here is an energy harvesting device that attaches to the shoe and harvests energy for your mobile device. A special SolePower EnSole is inserted into a shoe and are water resistant and made to work in any kind of environment.

Every time a heel strikes the sole generates the power and sends it to the PowerPac connection which is outside of the shoe. There is a fabric holster that houses the PowerPac and it is this device that the USB charging can take place to the mobile device. This is another product that is in a pre-order status and the suggested retail price currently is at $199.99 and can be found at their company website at solepowertech.com.

http://solepowertech.com/

Apple’s Fuel Cell Patent

These days are certainly good ones at Apple. With record breaking sales of the iPhone 6 and now the Apple Watch on the market, the company now is the wealthiest cash money company in the world at nearly $200 billion with nearly $800 billion in total assets. The company is also working on energy harvesting technology with a new patent they have been awarded back in March titled ‘Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device’.

This fuel cell system is one that will take materials such as hydrogen and other fuel source types and converting it into energy that can then be used to power mobile devices, laptops, and other iOS devices. This is a system that critics believe could give battery life to devices for days. With the way that Apple operates and their reputation for innovation, it could be very soon when a fuel cell energy harvesting product could be on the market.

http://venturebeat.com/2015/03/17/apple-patents-fuel-cell-power-source-for-phones-laptops/

microGen

microGen Systems, Inc. is a company that develops solutions for wireless and mobile electronic devices. They develop micro-sensors and micro-power products. Two products geared toward the energy harvesting market that they have developed are the single frequency Bolt micro-power generator and the VIBE generator which stands for Vibration Induced Broadband Excitation. VIBE is able to generate energy through vibrations.

These energy harvesting solutions are ones that are low frequency and the company is now working on integrated self powered functions for devices as well. microGen has been around since 2007 and has a headquarters based in Rochester, New York. They also do work in association with Cornell University as well.

http://www.microgensystems.co/default.asp

Ricoh

Ricoh is a company that has been in the technology business for a long time and they have a well deserved reputation. Several weeks ago the company announced that they have created an energy harvesting product that is called ‘Energy-Generating Rubber’. What this rubber does is converts pressure and vibration into electric energy and it is able to do that with a very high rate of efficiency. Piezoelectric ceramics is the main product and ingredient that makes the rubber do its job.

The ceramic based material is one that is very flexible and is a sheet material. The rubber will be developed for utility purposes as that is what ceramics are used for. The Energy-Generating Rubber can be used in small places and large ones and its flexibility makes it so versatile. Ricoh has also said that they plan on contributing to the future of information technology with their new rubber product so it could certainly be very soon when Energy-Generating Rubber becomes something of the norm.

http://ricoh.com/release/2015/0518_1.html

K3OPS

K3OPS is looking to revolutionize the world of electronic batteries with their RF energy harvesting batteries. The batteries are developed and designed to take ambient radiation and convert it into direct current power that can be utilized. K3OPS likes to pride itself in this clean energy solution because it eliminates any kind of electrochemical device that is currently used to convert chemical energy into usable electric energy. It has long been known that today’s batteries have caustic and harmful chemicals in them and they can prove to be dangerous to the environment.

These clean energy batteries also does not have to rely on natural resources such as nickel, zinc, or lithium which are products that have commonly been used in batteries. K3OPS also has a smartphone case like the one by Nikola Labs that converts signals into energy in order for a longer lasting battery. This company and their products have yet to come to the general consumer public and the founders are now displaying at some of the major international trade shows to get more exposure to K3OPS.

http://www.k3ops.com/de/

WattUp

Company Energous Corporation has developed WattUp, a technology that will change your portable electronic devices wireleslly. WattUp works with a wide variety of electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, wearables and much more.It is based on a Radio Frequency (RF) system that delivers wire-free charging energy at a distance of up to 5m from a transmitter to a receiver device. The company claims that WattUp transmitter can handle 12 receiver devices at any given time.

http://www.energous.com/

Nikola Labs

Nikola Labs is a company that is in the process of conducting a KickStarter campaign to fund a product that will convert an RF signal, BlueTooth signal, and WiFi signal into DC energy through an energy harvesting circuit. The product can be seen on their website but where they are still in a money raising and crowd funding status, not much else is really known about the company. Nikola Labs officials have released an official press release in which they save that currently they have been able to raise $1.25 million towards their product through KickStarter.

Ohio State University is also on board with helping develop and research this new energy harvesting technology. Nikola Labs has a vast array of investors and the company also received a $100,000 grant from the state of Ohio itself through their Technology Validation and Startup Fund. The main product is smartphone cases that again harvesting energy for battery life through the BlueTooth and WiFi signals from the phone. nikolalabs.co is where you can go to get more information about Nikola Labs and learn about how to contribute to their KickStarter campaign.

http://www.nikolalabs.co/

StretchSense

Humanoid type robots were things of fantasy decades ago but these days they are reality and have a lot of important functions. Society is starting to become more and more reliant on robots. StretchSense and their technology is one that is designed for this specialized market. The main product here is stretchable and flexible soft sensors that are developed in order to record stretch, bend, shear, and pressure.

These sensors work with these robotic exoskeletons and essentially are able to make these robots act and feel just like humans do. StretchSense engineers are hard at work at looking at other uses for their technology such as smart garments for sports to measure different vitals and incorporating them into driver seats so a person can get real time information about proper posture when driving a car. The sensors could also allow for a person to communicate with their vehicles as well. StretchSense products can be found at their company website at stretchsense.com and retail anywhere from $400 to $850.

http://stretchsense.com/

NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors is in the energy harvesting market with their technology and innovation of Solid State RF energy. The solution that the company uses here is one that is supposed to replace bigger and larger energy generating sources with smaller ones that will be more effective and deliver a cleaner energy source and product. Their low energy and low frequency sensors are engineered to power things such as microwaves and stoves and even for car ignitions.

Light emitting plasma is also another thing that can be powered by the Solid State RF energy harvesting and generator technology from NXP Semiconductors. These sources are able to generate up to 1600 W of power which is a fair amount. NXP Semiconductors will certainly be a company that will play a huge role in the future of energy harvesting technology and the solutions and applications that they will display are certainly bound to be groundbreaking.

http://www.nxp.com/applications/rf-energy/

Linear Technology

Finally we have Linear Technology. This company offers and sells a whole range of different energy harvesting products. Some of the technologies and energy harvesting products they have are solar, thermoelectric, and piezoelectric powered which help with the powering of all kinds of batteries. The technologies from Linear can help recharge and power batteries from AA right on up to low voltage batteries.

The company here is certainly one that offers just about everything there is to offer in the energy harvesting industry today. www.linear.com is the company website and it is here where potential customers can look at their inventory table and order online any of the solutions that they have for sale. Linear Technology has started to gain a very good reputation in the energy harvesting world and they certainly look to be a huge player in the near future in this special clean energy area.

http://www.linear.com/parametric/Energy_Harvesting

Energy harvesting technology certainly looks to be a strong wave of the future. Everything from power generators that are fueled by kinetic energy and vibrations to plastic that can absorb energy and transfer it for use, the future is certainly bright for energy harvesting technology. Things that were part of the imagination decades ago have now become reality and that reality is one that is brighter and more optimistic than ever.

There is the possibility that the future could bring us a world of self charging batteries which means products will have eternal battery power which certainly would be better for the environment. When that day comes and energy harvesting becomes more of a household figure, it will be these companies here that will be acknowledged as being the forefathers of this most innovative technology.