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Connected Objects Health and Wellness Imaging

Heimdall 3D camera system helps your elderly parents before they fall

One of the hardest parts about taking care of the elderly is preventing them from falling down when one isn’t watching them.

Heimdall is a 3D camera and computing platform that features smart artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring software allowing it to detect danger and accidents. It’s designed primarily for elderly consumers and their caregivers. Heimdall keeps track of when an elderly person may be leaving a room or their home, and when they may be wandering off alone. It detects falls and other accidents before they happen, and alerts caregivers on their mobile devices so they can take action.

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Imaging Organization

GearEye helps you keep an eye on your gear

Many people have become increasingly reliant on their smartphones, cameras and other electronic devices. One resulting problem is the difficulty in keeping track of all the various lenses, chargers and other accessories that are used in conjunction with devices.

GearEye is an RFID-based tagging and gear management system for ensuring that all gear is in one’s bag or close at hand and, if it’s not, that it can be easily found. It works in conjunction with an Android and iOS app, and uses a smartphone’s smart sensors and RFID GearTag labels to keep track of the user’s gear.

GearEye ships in July at $199 for a SKU that includes a choice of a case or dongle, along with five GearTags for metal items and 15 regular GearTags in a mixture of sizes, and $219 for a SKU that includes 10 GearTags for metal items and 30 regular GearTags in mixed sizes. But Kickstarter backers can order them now for pledges of $129 and $139, respectively. Its makers are out to raise $60,000 by Dec. 30.

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Smart Home

Switch Bot pushes all the right buttons to control your switches

While running around from place to place each day, it’s common to forget to shut the lights or other electronic devices off at home. It would also be nice to shut those same devices off while one is just too tired to get out of bed.

Switch Bot is a small robotic device that attaches to other devices throughout the home or office and can wirelessly control all their switches and buttons. Control can be done while at the location or remotely using a smartphone or smartwatch.

 

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Smart Home Television

ZaZaRemote may have you going gaga with its multifunctions

It would be really convenient if one’s universal remote control could not only control the TV, but also every other electric appliance in the room.

ZaZaRemote is a hybrid touchscreen/button remote control that uses infrared (IR), 2.4G-radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It can remotely control all IR electric appliances, including TVs, set-top boxes, projectors, DVD players, audio devices and air conditioners. The programmable remote also serves as a home security assistant, reporting its sensor’s data to the user’s mobile phone.

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Displays

SPUD provides you with portable pop-up projector

Portable projectors can come in handy, but they typically require perfect lighting and a perfect wall to use them with, meaning they cannot be used anywhere. They also tend to have relatively low brightness, resolution and battery life.

But that’s not the case with the Spontaneous Pop-up Display (SPUD). It’s a high-resolution, projector-based display with a 24-inch screen that collapses and expands like an umbrella. Because of SPUD’s light weight (less than 2 pounds) and compact form factor, when collapsed, it easily fits in the user’s purse, backpack, laptop bag, or even their jacket pockets. Its patented projection screen doesn’t wrinkle when collapsed.

SPUD can be connected to any device via HDMI or a separate adapter, and doesn’t use a light bulb/lamp in its projection system. The system instead uses three R/G/B LEDs as the light source, and they have a lifespan of about 50,000 hours, meaning one can use SPUD for 10 hours a day for well over 10 years before worrying about its lifespan, according to its makers.

SPUD ships in June at $499. But Kickstarter backers have been able to order one with a pledge starting at $349 for super early birds. Its makers hope to raise $33,000 by Dec. 16.

Multiple usage scenarios can be envisioned for SPUD, including for business presentations, for playing video games and while traveling. One additional big plus compared to typical portable projectors is that it uses a flexible polymer that can’t crack or chip and, if it gets dirty, SPUD is also washable.

On the other hand, despite its 1280 x 720 resolution being better than portable projectors like the 854 x 480 Asus S1, some consumers may be looking only for a device that supports 4K at this point. Its screen size is also likely too small for some consumers, but its maker is looking to offer larger display sizes in the future.

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Connected Objects Imaging

Pello interactive kids’ camera comes in yellow, four other colors

Parents like to know what their kids are up to when using interactive devices, whether it’s a computer, smartphone, tablet or even a camera. But cameras don’t typically offer a way for parents to keep tabs on their kids’ activity.

Pello is a child-focused camera with filters and Bluetooth connectivity to a parental smartphone app that allows parents to see the photos their kids are taking. The interactive camera is designed specifically for children, and also allows them to easily share their photos with friends.

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Connected Objects

EnzoMind Connect connects to and controls your devices via voice

It would be handy to control all the devices in a room just from the sound of one’s voice. EnzoMind Connect is an intelligent remote control system for devices in the home and office that works via voice control. EnzoMind also makes it easy for users to quickly find any piece of information they want on the Internet. The device uses algorithms based on neural networks and has a built-in Wi-Fi module.

The Android-based EnzoMind Connect ships in August at about $299 for a basic version with two adapters to control two electronic devices, about $359 for the EnzoMind Connect Pro with four adapters to control four devices, or about $395 for a multi-room set with one control unit, three adapters and a satellite that expands its operation to two rooms. But Indiegogo backers can order EnzoMind Connect for a pledge of $249 for the basic version, $299 for the Pro model, or $329 for the multi-room set. There are also double and triple sets. Its makers hope to raise $80,000 by Dec. 7.

Other devices have used neural networks, including the Xpider. And, of course, other devices –- namely smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Echo and smart hub systems from companies including Samsung — can be used to control devices around the home. EnzoMind’s makers say it can control most electrical devices. Assuming that it does, however, there are still just too many similar devices on the market that it’s up against to call it a sure thing.

 

 

 

Categories
Connected Objects Music

Spaco compact speakers save space and work via voice control

One problem with small wireless speakers is the quality of their sound. In other words, let’s face it: They tend to not even be all that great at the main function they were designed for.

patent-claimedSpaco is a line of 720-degree, voice-controlled speakers with adjustable lighting that also tout high-end audio performance. The speakers can be controlled by voice even in noisy situations and also offer a special levitation feature providing what its makers call uninterrupted surround sound. A 720-degree acoustics field is created by the combination of 28 dynamic and electrostatic diaphragm drivers that provide what they say is multidimensional, movie-theater grade audio. Music can be streamed from any device that has Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and Spaco supports  Wi-Fi networks with any 802.11b/g, 2.4GHz broadcast-capable router. Set-up is done via an Android and iOS app.

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Connected Objects

Bixi relies on gestures, lets you nix standard remote control

editors-choice-300x96The main problem with controlling music and GPS navigation in one’s car through traditional remote control devices is that it can be a dangerous distraction.

Bixi is a smart home and mobile device that allows users to control connected objects via simple hand gestures. The small smart controller can be placed on top of any surface in the home or car, or mounted just about anywhere as well. Bixi connects via Bluetooth Low Energy to smartphones, tablets and computers. The device is based around next-generation time-of-flight optical sensors, and works well in complete darkness.

Categories
Imaging Input

Loupedeck lets you edit photos without going loopy

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software makes it easier for photographers to organize their images. But computers aren’t exactly the most user-friendly devices to use that software with.

Loupedeck is a photo editing console for Lightroom complete with knobs and sliders that makes photo editing faster, improving efficiency and allowing users to be more creative with their images. It replaces the mouse and keyboard, and works seamlessly with Macintosh and Windows operating systems.