Month: January 2015

Categories
Safety Sensors/IoT

Instantly inform loved ones of accidents with Ridersmate safety device

As enjoyable as off-road cycling, horseback riding, or hopping on a motorcycle can be, one wrong twist or turn can mean the difference between narrowly avoiding an unfortunate accident or being on the wrong end of one. Sometimes, these accidents can happen in remote places, so it’s extremely important to get in contact with those who can help. The problem is that it may not be so easy to do so while possibly incapacitated.

Like a small traveling companion, the Ridersmate is always by a rider’s side. One end of the lightweight, portable device attaches to a rider and the other half attaches to the ride, whatever it may be. In the unlucky event that the two halves are disconnected, the dongle sends text messages to three pre-programmed contacts with information of exactly where and at what speed the accident occurred, along with a Google Maps link to the location itself. All this information allows emergency contacts to make informed decisions vital to making sure help arrives on time. The £199 (~$310) Ridersmate is looking for £19,900 (~$31,000) in funding. The product is expected to ship March 2015.

The Ridersmate is bright and features anti-crush construction to survive any type of mishap. In addition, its eight hour battery is USB rechargeable and can possibly last much longer due to how it doesn’t need to constantly check GPS. Something like the Urbanshell would go well with the Ridersmate to make sure others aren’t the cause of an accident.

Categories
Television

JB Flat Screen TV Stand gets your TV off the wall and moving around

For those who have an aversion to having their TV hanging around on the wall or using a bulky  and often size-limiting TV entertainment center, JB Flat Screen TV Stand offers an alternative. The telescopic stand can be adjusted from 43 inches up to 81 inches, and supports a TV that is anywhere from 27 – 65 inches. Its basic and simple black design also includes a small floor shelf for storing a few DVDs and perhaps some game accessories.

As for the creator’s claim of being the first telescopic stand, a quick search reveals that Displays2go and Chief PF are just a couple examples of others that are out there that may even be better. Backers interested in home entertainment products might want to check out the Ovoid HomePod, and Vibro Vest campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $19,500 by February 8, 2015. For $200, backers get one product with an expected delivery of April 2015.

Categories
Fashion

Smooth and Shape tames heinous manes with no heat necessary

Any curly girl knows that straight hair is more or less a fantasy without the help of a professional stylist. Hair straighteners and hot rollers can help tame the frizz, but many warn that the use of too much heat can damage the hair or even cause it to fall out.

Smooth and Shape is a new way to straighten hair using little to no heat. The system consists of boards and clips, both made of plastic. To use, section out wet hair and smooth hair over the board. Take one clip and attach at the top by the root of the hair and the second clip attaches to the bottom of the board. This way, it’s possible to adjust the tension. Then, it looks like the hair can either dry naturally or be helped along by a blow dryer.

The campaign features a video comparing the results of braiding the hair to using the Smooth and Shape. The creator, an African American woman, shows both results and demonstrates how her product produces more consistent results for an afro-type style that won’t shrink over time.

The videos showing the Smooth and Shape at work don’t really do much to convince that the product straightens hair very effectively. As its name would suggets, it seems to more smooth rather than full on straighten hair and does so a bit awkwardly. Still, this product isn’t a bad one for those with unruly manes. Backers can donate $30 for a starter kid of five boards and 10 clips with estimated delivery in May 2015. Smooth and Shape is hoping to raise $45,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Imaging Interviews Wearables

The Backerjack Interview: Narrative’s Oskar Kalmaru on the evolving wearable camera

Raising over half a million dollars as Memoto, the Narrative Clip has been a pioneer in the field of wearable cameras. Originally marketing a life-logging device, the company has seen its cameras embraced for more diverse scenarios. Backerjack caught up with Narrative CMO and co-founder Oskar Kalmaru to discuss what the company has learned from the first Clip. Kalmaru also discussed some of the cool features of the Clip 2, which will include better image quality, better connectivity and 3D-printable mounts, but take a pass on Kickstarter.

Backerjack: It’s been about a year since the Narrative Clip shipped. What have you been hearing from your customers?

Kalmaru: It’s a really nice feeling to be able to go from being a Kickstarter project where everything is just pre-everything – pre-users, pre-product —  to having an actual product out with actual users actually using it and seeing that it does work. It does help people to live in the moment and capture things as they happen and relax in the moment and still get photos out of it People use it in 52 countries now and have been using it for travel, taking pictures of their families, photographing weddings.

Backerjack: From those use cases, it sounds like people are using it more situationally rather than wearing it all day every day and sorting through the photos. When I tried the product, I was pleased with the picture quality but it makes you realize you’re not doing the most exciting stuff every day.

Kalmaru: It’s a camera that’s great for life-logging if that’s what you want to do. But if it isn’t, it’s great for a lot of other things, too. And as with most wearables, what we’re seeing now is that they aren’t necessarily meant to be used all the time. There are a few wearables that are used all the time — maybe your watch, maybe your glasses. You use the camera in situations where it would make sense. It could be having dinner with friends, spending time hiking with your family. It could be doing things that are maybe out of the ordinary or you want to be able to do those activities and stay in the moment and still capture it.

Backerjack: When you launched, you had a competitor that was priced quite a bit higher. It looks like they’ve exited the hardware market so what do you take away from that? Do you think it was just the price point they were at? Or is it a setback for the category?

Kalmaru: I can’t really tell why they pulled out. We’re having a fantastic year. We have users from all over the world using it all the time. We raised another $8 million from Khosla Ventures in Menlo Park. Again, this is proving that this category is the future. Just look at the trends. The photo trend, that’s one megatrend. There are two billion photos uploaded every single day and you have the wearable trend next to that. People are getting more and more used to wearables devices. Combine those two and you have wearable cameras.

Continue reading “The Backerjack Interview: Narrative’s Oskar Kalmaru on the evolving wearable camera”

Categories
Connected Objects Kids/Babies Wearables

NapTime alerts parents to baby’s crying, still gives them a chance to sleep

New parents have it rough. They have cute little babies who end up keeping them up all night. It’s difficult to be constantly watching a child when sleep deprived.

NapTime is a baby monitoring device that divvies up the parenting work. The device uses a camera and microphone to monitor the baby. When he or she wakes up and starts crying, the camera sends that information to the accompanying smartphone app. In turn, the app will send a notification to one of two wristbands worn by each parent. In order to keep things fair, the app alternates which wristband vibrates so only one parent will have to get up at a time.

In addition to its practical applications, the app also allows parents to customize their sleeping patterns. This way, if one parent is out of town, the app will only notify one wristband. Similarly, it also keeps track of the baby’s sleeping patterns. Each wristband is rechargeable via a micro USB cable. NapTime can also be used as a silent alarm clock so as not to wake a partner in bed.

New parents struggle with the jarring sensation of being woken up in the middle of the night to care for their child. With NapTime, both parents can get just a little bit more sleep. Its design is clever and will certainly delight parents everywhere. To make their product extra convenient, the creators should consider adding some kind of failsafe in case both wristbands run out of battery. Parents can have their very own system for $150 with delivery in June 2015. This product hopes to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Smart Home

HomeTraq monitoring system tracks second home, reports any funny business

Keeping tabs on a rarely-visited second home with a remote home monitoring system presents a special challenge. That’s because most monitoring system depend on either a landline or Internet connection–two things many people don’t want to pay for unless they are actually at home.

The HomeTraq remote monitoring device resolves that issue by using a SIM card that does away with the need for a landline or Internet connection. HomeTraq monitors the temperature, humidity and alarm system of a property, and also keeps track of unusual sounds. A SMS text or email alert will be sent if the device detects an issue, such as the property being too hot or cold.

HomeTraq comes with a SIM card that will not expire and automatically roams until it finds a cellular network to connect to. There is no contract or activation fee. But there is a $6 fee for any month that the user wants the SIM card to monitor the home. However, users can opt to use their own SIM cards to avoid paying that monthly charge. Backers who pledge $29 will get a HomeTraq device when it ship in May as part of a discounted early bird Kickstarter special. The Lewisville, Texas, inventor is trying to raise $15,000 by early February.

The device is clearly designed for a very niche market. But there are many consumers who will find it appealing–such as snowbirds who spend half the year in Florida and half the year in a colder place.

Categories
Wearables

FitLinxx device keeps you fit with a thin strip of adhesive

One downside of many wearable fitness devices is that they are too bulky to be comfortable, especially while exercising. Smart watches, rings and other wearable smart jewelry solve that issue, but some people either find them unattractive or don’t want to replace watches and other jewelry they already own.

The AmpStrip from FitLinxx in Westborough, MA eliminates both of those issues. The thin, waterproof device is only 3.5 inches long, 1 inch wide, less than one quarter of an inch thick including its adhesive, and weighs less than 4 ounces. Despite being as discrete and comfortable as a Band-Aid when stuck to the user’s torso, it’s able to track heart rate and activity around the clock with accuracy, the company claims.

The device is compatible with Bluetooth LE mobile devices including smartphones and tablets, and the company’s goal is to make it work in conjunction with smart watches, too, including those from Apple and Samsung. Backers who provide $119 in financing to AmpStrip’s Indiegogo campaign will get an AmpStrip when it ships in June, along with a wireless charging station and 30 adhesives, good for 3-6 months depending on how often the user opts to replace them. FitLinxx is looking to raise $50,000 to make further innovations to the device, which marks its first foray into consumer products.

It is a crowded market, but AmpStrip’s design and comfort level should give it a leg up on rivals. Even the LEO flexible leg band appears to be more bulky than AmpStrip. But the FitLinxx product does come saddled with necessary refills. On top of the initial cost, users will have to fork up $30 each time they need another 3-6 month supply of adhesives.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Flip Band bracelet gives motivation to complete goals with a check

Right about now, most people’s New Year’s resolutions are falling by the wayside. All of those commitments to work out and get in shape have faded as January comes to its close.

So Flip Band was created to help people to stay on track with their personal improvement goals. The concept is rooted in behavioral psychology and works as follows: the user picks a goal that they want to do every day. Then they wear a Flip Band that says, “Go ahead punk! I dare you to make my day and flip me!” Well, okay, it really just says, “Flip me.” Once the goal is completed, the user gets to flip the band over to the green checkmark side, which is supposed to give them an instant sense of gratification. Flip Band recommends an accountability buddy for the best results.

For those who are able to be motivated by the color green and a checkmark, this just might work. A “thumbs-up” icon might have been more of a motivator, though. This product seeks to raise $7,500. For $19, backers get a set of two bands with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Games

iPac-Man.com offers Nintendo-like controls and battery pack in one

Gaming and smartphones go together like peanut butter and jelly, or whatever other cliché phrase is most appropriate. It makes sense, too because the kind of power a smartphone has absolutely dwarfs full consoles from the ’90s and even early 2000’s, allowing classics from the Grand Theft Auto series to be emulated pretty much without a hitch. The biggest drawback, however, is a lack of physical gamepad, a problem that relegates most smart devices as gaming novelties rather than the big draws they should be.

The unfortunately-named iPac-Man.com is a combination Bluetooth gaming pad and 2500mAh battery pack all-in-one for iPhones and iPads. While the 2500mAh battery is impressively sized, what’s more impressive is the fantastic construction of the gamepad. It offers a directional pad, two analog sticks and a complete set of shoulder buttons, allowing any gaming experience to be comfortable and enjoyable.

As portable as it may be, however, a Bluetooth gaming pad like the Game Cover seems like it would be more comfortable to tote around. In any case, the iPac-Man.com is just $59, and is expected to be shipped in April of 2015 with a successful campaign of $40,000 on Indiegogo.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Indi robotic dock waves arms to signal you have a phone call

The problem with putting a mobile phone in vibrate mode is that the user will often miss an important call, especially when the phone is kept on a desk at work and there is no way to feel or hear the vibration. The Indi robotic phone dock from a U.K. inventor is attempting to resolve that issue.

The dock has a set of robotic arms that signal when a phone call is coming in. The device consists of a docking unit containing an Arduino micro-controller and an app that users will be prompted to download the first time they plug it into a phone. Initially, the device will only support Android phones, but iPhone support is on its way. Backers who pledge £35 (~$53) will get one when it ships in May as part of an early bird discount deal on its Kickstarter campaign. Indi’s maker is hoping to raise £2,500 (~$3,800).

Indi is a clever spin on the traditional phone dock. It could be especially useful to hard-of-hearing smartphone users. But one inherent drawback is that it is only useful when the user is stationary. Even then, however, if the user is busy, it is possible that person won’t see the small robotic dock’s arms moving when a phone call comes in.