Month: November 2014

Categories
Smart Home

Showering with Eva helps you save water

The topic of water in today’s world is an incredibly important one, yet doesn’t receive the kind of attention it deserves. Many parts of the world are experiencing the most debilitating water crises in recent history, slowly increasing the demand for water as time goes on. Perhaps most people don’t talk about it because they don’t feel like much can be done. For this reason, the creators giving you the chance to play your part with the Eva Smart Shower.

Eva connects to most standard shower heads and facilitates your showering experience, cutting down on water waste. An onboard temperature sensor cuts water flow when it’s reached your desired temperature, starting up again when you enter, and a motion sensor throttles water according to your distance from the shower head itself. A companion app interacts with the Eva, allowing you to set your desired temperature, manage shower length goals, and tracks overall water usage so that you can adjust your habits.

Becoming just a bit more eco-friendly requires information to make decisions and Eva provides. It’s a promising use of technology that should become widespread, even if its own manufacturing might negatively affect its positive effects. Eva is $149 and the Indiegogo campaign has a $50,000 goal.

Categories
Tech Accessories

Mous Musicase docks earbuds in an iPhone case

We all spend tons of time try to detangle our earbuds. What may feel like half a lifetime of wasted time is being tackled by Mous Musicase. The plastic mobile phone case has a built in system that allows earbud wires to be unrolled when ready for use, and then retracted when it’s time to put them away. The wires stay consistently attached to the phone until the user disconnects them.

Currently, this product is only compatible with iPhone 5, but if the campaign does well, iPhone 6 will be included. It looks like the case is only compatible with one type of earbuds, which may be difficult for backers who go through a lot of earbuds with little brand loyalty. Backers who don’t have iPhone 5 and are looking for a potential way to keep their earbud wires from tangling might want to check out the MagClip campaign. This campaign seeks to raise £10,000 (~$15,700) by December 8, 2014. For £17 (~$27), backers get one product with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Sensors/IoT

A tiny motion sensor, CoinGuard alerts you to mysterious movements

We all have those things that we want to keep protected from the sticky fingers and greedy curious hands of burglars, children, or even just friends and family. Aside from setting up bullet-proof cases with laser trip alarms, how can these items be protected? CoinGuard is a simple and small security system that can be laid atop any item and serve as a watchdog. If the CoinGuard is moved, it triggers the motion sensor and sends a notifcation to the user’s phone, letting them know that their item is being tampered with.

CoinGuard does this through a nearby hub that syncs up to sensors and connects to the Internet through ethernet. The system allows for some peace of mind if items are being tampered with, but this comes with one key drawback. The CoinGuard has no way of reporting who is touching the protected items, and lacks the visual recognition to deter someone who doesn’t know what CoinGuard is. So if one is away from home and their valuables are being taken, the best they can do is try and call someone to respond in time when an alert has been sent. Pilot Labs is raising $100,000 through Kickstarter, and will set backers back $45 in December.

Categories
Automotive Connected Objects

DRIVE drives smartphone interaction with your hands on the wheel

It may be the case that more recent models of cars have integrated smartphone connectivity, but usually they’ve done it in uninspired ways that don’t take in account the unique issues driving brings to the table. It isn’t like the only thing to do is stick a touchscreen and a dock in the middle of everything and call the job done. There are very particular design challenges that stem from the fact that we’re in two ton metal boxes with wheels. Because of this, safety is of upmost concern even if it doesn’t quite seem like it is.

Luckily for RISE Devices, their new DRIVE shows that they have safety on the mind. Along with deftly handling phone calls with its three mics, DRIVE reads out notifications and messages and allows the user to respond utilizing their own voice when it’s convenient. Two infrared beams shoot out of the device and a flick with both hands interrupts them, giving you an easy and unobtrusive way to activate DRIVE. Because of how it works, there aren’t buttons not any janky voice recognition or commands to get in the way. Its companion app facilitates the use of most messaging services and platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows, and since it connects via Bluetooth LE, other uses like music control are possible.

This device is both elegant and simple, but for that you’ll have to pay. As much as it gets done, it could use a few more bells and whistles as it has lots of potential. The product has an estimated delivery date of July 2015 and is currently going for $149, shooting up to more than $199 after the campaign’s end. For DRVINE, $88,000 is the goal to launch it into production.

Categories
Smartwatches/Bands

What the hex? Comb720 neatly organizes your smartwatch notifications

All these new fancy smartwatches have forgotten one little thing: their ease of use! Sure, us techies will be able to grasp all the different taps and gestures to get the most out of our new devices but watches are not just technology. Watches are much more widespread than that, and if companies want to capture the average watch user, they’ll need to do more to simplify the interactions with our wearable technology. The Comb720 is trying to do that by being a smartwatch that utilizes seven tessellated, hexagonal tiles that include e-mail, fitness, and messages.

This 7th grade inventor, Davis Barrow, hopes that since these tiles never move, users will quickly become accustomed to where they are, therefore more quickly able to obtain information compared to most other competing smartwatches. The Comb720 comes in a leather-banded, bronze-bodies version, while the active version sports a carbon fiber construction and a durable paracord band, both compatible with iOS and Android. The Comb720 currently costs $250 with a delivery date of February 2015. Its campaign goal is $5,000.

Categories
Connected Objects Health and Wellness

Memo Box reminds those who forget to take their meds

Taking medicine consistently and on time can seem pretty easy, but even after a few days most people will start changing times or forgetting altogether. For the elderly and those close to them, most medicine has to be taken for the rest of their lives so the risk of forgetting is compounded. The seven day pill box is the classic tool to manage this all but its design has remained firmly rooted in the past.

TinyLogics has designed Memo Box to be the 21st century version of the seven day pill box. This connected medicine box not only reminds users to take their medication, but will also alert others in your circle to whether or not they have and does so all without a ridiculous amount of tech. The Memo Box is simple in that it only uses a sensor tracking when it is opened as the basis to remind users of missed doses and prevent double dosage. Such little technology doesn’t get in the way of its smarts, though. Intelligent reminders leave users alone when they’re on schedule, while the Memo Box itself learns from a user’s habits and shifts dosing schedules according to its record of openings. It’ll even cry for help when left behind by sending users a message! A Memo Box is currently sporting a special backer price of £28 (~$45) with an estimated delivery date of May 2015. The campaign has a funding goal of £30,000 (~$47,000).

The Memo Box is versatile in that in can hold pills, other smaller medicine boxes, and even inhalers if you get the premium version. It’s attractive in its simplicity and stretch goals tease other colors like navy and pink. A similar product is the Amiko which is wearable and includes much more tech at a predictably higher price point. Any tech at all can confound someone unfamiliar with it so as much as Memo Box does does to innovate in this space, accessibility will remain key and will ultimately be the deciding factor. With their simplicity, they’re heading in the right direction.

Categories
Tech Accessories Wearables

EveryKey looks like Jawbone UP, logs you in or out

We’re constantly faced with the reality that our personal or intellectual property can be stolen at any time. That’s why we walk around with tons of keys in our pockets and passwords in our heads to avoid just that. EveryKey works to consolidate all of that into one neat package that you can wear on your wrist. The silicon band uses Bluetooth LE technology to unlock both your physical and digital locks for you. Bikes, apartments, cars and other controlled access devices open up when in range of EveryKey. Similarly, passwords stored on the band allow you to login to your computer, phone or tablet. This smartband uses military-grade encryption so that you’re always protected from hackers. It’s water-resistant and charges via a micro USB port to USB cable. The battery lasts for up to 30 days.

Of course, with any all-encompassing device there’s convenience and risk that it’ll fall into the wrong hands. The folks at EveryKey have addressed this concern by allowing for deactivation of the device online if lost. All locks and passwords are still able to be open with regular keys and codes, adding more convenience if EveryKey is left behind at home or lost. The campaign says that the creators really focused on fashion when creating this product. While it comes in lots of different colors, it’s not the most vogue of devices, but not the clunkiest either. For those who are familiar with the FitBit, EveryKey bears a striking resemblance.

We’ve seen devices with some of these same capabilities like the Skylock which allows for wireless entry into your bike. While this product is limited in its range, only compatible with bikes, it comes with the added perk of letting the user know if their property is being tampered with. Perhaps such a feature would be a great addition to the EveryKey in later models. Still, this product is well thought out and a great addition to the smart security market. Backers can enjoy their own for $50 by March 2015, not a bad price at all. EveryKey is looking to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

ReelJuice is a charger that knows how to unwind

There’s little worse than that sinking feeling that comes with realizing you forgot to charge your mobile device when out and about. If one is actually in the habit of carrying a charger, finding a convenient place and time to stop and wait for recharging can be a real hassle. With ReelJuice, no searching or waiting is required. Mobile devices can be recharged up to three times using ReelJuice5 or six times using Realjuice10. It functions independently using two Li-ion lithium batteries. The gadget includes two USB ports, one of which is a micro charger.

It’s unclear if the second one is a micro or standard size. The 48 inch attached, retractable cord reel means no tangling or getting lost during those especially busy on-the-go days. And when one finally gets home, it can be easily plugged into the wall and recharged so it’s ready next outing. While this isn’t going to power a laptop, it seems like it will work well for smartphones or tablets. This campaign seeks to raise $78,000 by December 15, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $59, with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Tablet Accessories

Tablet Branch can position your Surface above the surface

One of the most relaxing things to do on a snowy and frigid winter evening is to sit curled up on a couch in front of a toasty fire, with maybe a mug of hot chocolate or cider on the side. Tablet Branch will even hold the user’s choice of electronic gadget so sipping does not get unnecessarily interrupted.  When using it at home, it can be used on either side of the bed, couch or easy chair since the stand stand telescopes from 11″ to 20″ in height, and twists and rotates 360 degrees. Its lightweight, but solid metal design is compatible with any tablet, iPad or eReader from 7” to 11” in size and weighing up to 2.65lbs.

The specifics on which tablets and iPads or eReaders are the most compatible are not noted, but it appears that at least the most popular brands will be compatible.  This campaign seeks to raise $33,000 CAD (~$29,200 USD) by December 12, 2014. For $100 CAD (~$88 USD) backers get one product with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Connected Objects Wearables

Magnet provides a touch of reassurance to remote lovers

While we can’t be with our loved ones all the time, we can still say hi to them through e-mail, text or phone calls. We can see them with the help of Skype, Google Hangout or FaceTime. However, we can’t touch them when separated. Magnet offers the next best thing. Worn as either a wristband or necklace, Magnet lets you communicate with your partner through touch. Each person wears their Magnet and connects to the accompanying app. Using Bluetooth LE technology, you can touch your Magnet in a certain pattern, say three short taps. That same pattern is then transmitted to its partner, lighting up and vibrating in the same sequence.

With Magnet, you can send little coded messages to whomever you’d like and it’s just like you’re touching them. This product comes in four different colors with the choice of different kinds of necklaces or wristbands to go with it. While Magnet seems like one of those sentimental items that some of us may scoff at, it’s actually a very sweet idea, capturing the beauty of an intimate relationship from far away. For $138, any couple can get a pair of Magnets for estimated delivery in July 2015, provided the creators reach their $60,000 goal on Kickstarter.