Month: April 2015

Categories
Connected Objects Health and Wellness Sleep

Slip into slumberland with the SLiiP connected pillow

A lifestyle filled with stress often prevents individuals from getting in a good night’s sleep. In turn, a lack of sleep can lead to all kinds of physical and mental problems, thereby creating a vicious cycle which makes it even more difficult for people to sleep comfortably the very next night.

One solution to this problem is PoleGame’s SLiiP, a product which combines a connected down and feather pillow with an airbag to facilitate a more comfortable sleeping experience. SLiip automatically inflates and deflates based on factors as varied as uncomfortable sleeping positions and even certain sounds, like snoring. The product is also able to track the quality of sleep over time with a companion iOS or Android app. What’s more,  the pillow comes packaged with an orb that generates delta waves which are beneficial to achieving a deep sleep. The product also features a Bluetooth speaker, alarm, phone charger, and lamp. Each SLiiP is $249 with an estimated delivery date of December 2015. PoleGame Inc. is looking for $100,000 in funding by April 24.

Sleep problems can be caused by a number of issues, but one of the more common and potentially serious ones is snoring. Even if other sleep-aids like the SnoreNoMore promise solutions to snoring, they can be intrusive. SLiiP is very hands off, subtle in what it does, and comfortable to boot.

Categories
Connected Objects Cycling

JIVR chainless e-bike folds in half, uses Bluetooth to show how cool you are

The quest for the perfect e-bike has left a path littered with many grand ideas that have never panned out. Every now and then, though, pearls like the Impossible and LEAOS emerge, offering something new and pushing the idea of what an e-bike can really do.

The JIVR Bike, a folding, chainless, beacon-enabled e-bike, is certainly one of those ideas. It’s sleekly designed frame houses a brushless motor and lithium-ion battery that offers riders 20 miles of pedal assist on a single charge, with a top speed of 15.6MPH. Bluetooth integration allows riders to log everything from distance traveled to calories burned, not to mention other applications that will likely emerge through upcoming JIVR hackathons. When a ride is completed, it takes just four moves to take the JIVR from an e-bike to a piece of luggage weighing in at 33lbs, thus making it extremely handy in a pinch.

The company is offering interesting incentives not seen from other, similar campaigns. One is called JIVR Care, a service that will see someone from the company make a house call within 48 hours to fix the bike in the likelihood something breaks or goes wrong. The second sees JIVR offering backers the opportunity to grab the product for as little as $1,055 by enrolling in its JIVR Ambassador Program. In exchange, participants will have to commit to ride the bike for at least 50km, write reviews, and engage in social media for a few months. Both of these initiatives set the company apart from the competition. Further, both initiatives demonstrate’s the company’s support for the long-term, though interested participants must be located in a relatively short list of pre-approved cities.

The JIVR Bike has an estimated ship date of September 2015 provided the campaign achieves its $105,600 goal by April 10.

 

Categories
Kids/Babies Maker/Development

Codie steers its way to teaching kids simple programming concepts

There are many apps and Web sites that help teach young minds how to program. In addition to being a worthwhile pursuit in and of itself, it helps students learn lessons in logic and problem-solving. However, in this era of connected devices, it’s helpful to see the ways in which coding can affect objects in the real world.

Codie is a small robotic set tank tread that has various sensors in it. Unlike many kits that combine development and robot-building, it is ready to go right out of the box. A companion app allows beginning programmers to implement very simple instructions and logic to control the bot via Bluetooth. Codie includes a microphone, proximity sensor, light sensor, ultrasound sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope. Not everything Codie does depends on its wheels. It can even be used as an alarm clock.

Codie includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery that allows it to run for about four hours of continuous play.. Codie’s use of Bluetooth and simple companion app are part of what set it apart from Romo, another crowdfunded kid-friendly programmable tread-based robot.

The makers of Codie compare it to Lego Mindstorms, a far more expensive and elaborate — albeit expandable — early robotics kit that is used in introductory robotics. Codie is certainly better geared toward younger kids and has a lower price. The Budapest-based team seels $70,000 by May 15;  Codie costs $169 and should be delivered by November.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Germavoid wraps the finger of the most Purell of heart

People don’t realize that the most dangerous things they encounter on a daily basis are teeny tiny. Germs and bacteria live quietly on door handles, toilet seats, phones, elevator buttons and pretty much everywhere else.

Ignoring these germs is downright impossible. While fighting them is always an option, it’s preferable to never even encounter them at all. Germavoid is a way to keep the outside world on the outside. This little condom slips over the finger in times of public touching. Germavoid features a plastic shield with hole in it. The hole is filled with red rubber that goes over the finger. It’s pocket-sized and can be carried around anywhere. The rubber is retractable to keep the germs hidden and it even features an opening in the bottom to affix it to a keychain.

People love new ways to avoid germs. Whether or not this product will keep the user from ever getting sick remains up for debate. Still, many people still worry about germs and would like a way to avoid touching public fixtures altogether. Germavoid is a reasonable, albeit slightly awkward way to do just that. One unit will cost backers $15 for estimated delivery in September 2015. This product is looking to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter by April 15.

Categories
Maker/Development

Raspberry Pi cleans up by donning the PiKasa

Raspberry Pi devices are super useful precisely because they offer so much functionality. From messaging, games and music playback to controlling “internet of things” devices – it can pretty much handle whatever light duties need to be accomplished. The biggest problem, though, is how messy everything becomes when the bare Pi is out in the open, with all kinds of wires connected to it.

As it turns out, the Raspberry Pi cleans up nicely with the PiKasa, a simple but attractive housing structure dedicated to making the module more presentable. The housing comes complete with a 7″ HDMI LCD screen, five USB ports, a LAN hookup, speakers, a battery charger, and a spill proof keyboard just for safety. This setup deepens the Raspberry Pi’s versatility while also making it something that can be left out in the open without causing one to look like a mad scientist. Backers can grab one for $99, with a ship date somewhere in August 2015. Its funding goal is $25,000 by April 14.

The Raspberry Pi certainly has many outfits, and this one is limited to being just a desktop. If a user is looking for something a bit more portable, the RaspiTab offers some Pi in a hackable and upgradeable tablet form.

Categories
Aquatics

Roll-Up Sail lets paddleboarders ride with the wind, stay in the clear

Paddleboarding is the newest trend in water sports. The activity features a heavy board for standing along with a paddle riders can use to navigate with. All told, it looks a little boring at first glance, but people nonetheless love to partake.

Now, paddleboarding can be a bit more interesting with the Roll-Up Sail (RUS). This nifty product attaches to any paddleboard using a C-clamp. It rolls up and down so that when a little speed boost is desired, the user can unfurl the sail and then roll it back up when finished. The sail itself is made out of a durable clear material that is rated to last for years.

The RUS is an elegant solution to the problem of getting stranded far out in the water. However, it’s still likely that some riders, especially in stiffer winds, may end up in the drink if they’re not seasoned sailors. Those who crave the speed more than anything else may just want to stick to windsailing. Interested backers can pick up their own for $75 by July 2015 (paddleboard not included). RUS is hoping to raise $5,000 by May 25.

Categories
Automotive Cell Phone Accessories Displays Features Technology

Before the Backers: better batteries, a vision quest and the outer limits

Before the Backers highlights up-and-coming products that haven’t yet made their crowdfunding debut.

rev

RevAMP

Car batteries are rarely thought of — until, of course, they’re dead. Of course, at that point, they’re nothing more than extremely heavy and possibly explosive paperweights. The RevAMP is a product that replaces standard lead batteries. While it may have a similar price and come in a familiar size, it has several tricks up its sleeve. For one, it doesn’t die because it turns itself off when necessary. It’s also eco-friendly, ditching the lead, acid, and the potential for explosive hydrogen for earth-friendly materials. It’s also extremely light, weighing in at only seven pounds. Don’t take its lightness for weakness, though, as it’s capable of generating 2000 amps of power over a suggested 20-year lifespan. Keep an eye on Kickstarter for this one.

Continue reading “Before the Backers: better batteries, a vision quest and the outer limits”
Categories
Technology

Runcible is unique pocket watch-style mobile phone

For consumers looking for a unique mobile phone with a unique internal and external design, there aren’t many options available on the market today.

The makers of Runcible are out to change that with a mobile phone modeled on the look of pocket watches. Internally, the Runcible’s operating system is built on top of Mozilla’s open source Firefox OS. It features a fully round screen and a palm-sized form factor. Although it uses Bluetooth, LTE and Wi-Fi, Runcible will never beep, alert or otherwise interrupt the user, its maker says.

Runcible is certainly unique, so there might be at least a small group of consumers attracted to it on that basis alone. Beyond that, however, it’s too soon to predict how well Runcible might perform in the marketplace, largely because of the few product details available on Monohm’s website, the device’s manufacturer. The device will ship in late 2015 though product pricing hasn’t  yet been provided. Monohm, though, says the cost will be comparable to a premium, unlocked smartphone.

Categories
Food and Beverage

Hotshot contains its excitement, brings the heat to canned coffee

People waste so much money each year on coffee runs. Whether they’re visiting a chain or their local coffee shop, most can’t help stop in at least once a day for that much-needed boost of energy.

patent-claimedHotshot provides a way to save money on coffee while still enjoying that little kick. The Hotshot system consists of a heater that can hold up to 12 cans at once. That’s right, it heats up coffee in cans. Hotshot features many different flavors and even has hot chocolate. From a safety perspective, the label on the cans prevents users from burning themselves. Hotshot’s heater, the HotBox, plugs into the wall and measures 10” wide, 4” deep and 10” tall. It uses innovative conductive heating technology and uses 75% less energy than a refrigerator.

Hotshot does seem like a good alternative to traditional ways of drinking coffee. It’s cost-effective and offers a chance to carry around more coffee than is possible with a traditional thermos. The product also claims to be more environmentally-friendly than the K-Cup. While a little silly looking, Hotshot does manage to give people hot coffee on the go. One will cost backers $99 for delivery in December 2015. This product is looking to raise $100,000 by May 13 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Tech Accessories

InfiniteUSB lets your USB cables live out their Lego dreams

Laptop users with a limited number of USB ports often run into problems when they want to connect several devices to their computer.

patent-claimedInfiniteUSB solves this problem with a daisy-chainable connector solution which allows users to connect a theoretically infinite number of devices to a laptop with just one USB port.  As a result, InfiniteUSB can ably charge multiple mobile devices while still keeping other USB ports open for important peripherals like a mouse. InfiniteUSB is compatible with iOS, Android and any other device that offers USB connectivity support. Each unit costs $21 with an expected shipment date in June. Its maker is hoping to raise $10,000 via Kickstarter by April 22.

Infinite USB holds a tremendous amount of promise, solving a problem that many computer users are all too familiar with. Its small form factor and magnetized ends allow it to be folded over, thereby making it extremely portable. One possible negative is that it’s arriving just as the industry is starting to transition to USB-C cables which allow, among other things, greater charging capability (up to 100 watts) than current USB cables. As it stands today, InfiniteUSB doesn’t support USB-C though a USB-C compatible version is in the works with a working prototype expected by April.