Who doesn’t spend at least a little time once in a while to remember the good old days, the happiest and most special moments of one’s life? Problem is, memory can be a little spotty sometimes, and there’s no way to share a complete picture of that memory with another person. LifeLogger is a small, wearable camera in the style of early Looxcie headsets that fits over the ear designed to record all of life’s big moments. With eight hours of battery life, GPS, and Wi-Fi the LifeLogger can stream video live through the cloud or store videos online to be reviewed at any time. The LifeLogger is available for $169 and will be out by the end of this year.
Tag: wearable
The Premise. The more options viewers have to interact with traditional video content, the more likely they are to make a connection with that content. 3D glasses have been around for more than half a century, and having to rely on a tablet for supplemental data takes viewers out of the action, so what’s the next logical step? The Product. Invisivision isn’t far off from current-era 3D theater glasses in terms of look and style, but the flip-up lenses offer something that 3D doesn’t even compare to. With the Invisivision technology, videos can provide two different sets of visuals for those looking through the glasses and those that aren’t. From subtitles to completely unique camera angles, hidden content can come in all forms with Invisivision. The applications for the technology will work with movie theaters, televisions, and video games as well. The Pitch. It’s easy to tell right off the bat that Invisivision creators PipeDream Interactive are all about entertainment and making an experience fun. The quirky, high-energy video featuring the company’s CEO, CFO, and COO also showcases the different functions Invisivision can bring to a cinematic or broadcast viewing experience. The campaign video features the acting talents of JP Manoux, and the film created by PipeDream to demo this technology will feature Manoux as well as Aaron Ashmore. PipeDream needs $200,000 CAD to make their pitch to the major movie companies of the world as firm as possible. The Perks. For $25 CAD, supporters can get their own pair of Invisivision glasses complete with a protective case. If something more subtle than blue and green is wanted, limited frame color options are available at the $50 CAD level. The Potential. While the technology for the Invisivision glasses is easy to get excited about , it has a few obstacles ahead of it. First is the North American practice of getting glasses at the showing of any 3D or special screening movies, not bringing an owned pair for home. Second is the hurdle in getting filmmakers to adopt the technology – the PipeDream Interactive team is making their own film, but others may be slow to follow suit. Something like these glasses could be great for cooperative gaming or certain kinds of television viewing, and it will take time and those bold enough to experiment to give Invisivision a proper place in the market.
The Premise. Sure, the idea of being able to control all the devices in a home with a tablet or phone is appealing. What If all that could be done without a mobile device, however? What all that could be done with a sleek, wearable interface?
The Product. The Nod is the next entry in the field of smart rings designed to keep users able to interface with all kinds of connected electronics without having to pick up any kind of keyboard or phone. This stylish stainless steel ring combines motion-detection with buttons and a touch interface to allow users to control Android or iOS apps, Bluetooth or wi-fi enabled devices, smart lightbulbs, thermometers, and more.
The Pitch. In a simple, one-minute introduction video, the Nod is shown primarily as a tool for slackers to control things by waving their hands around. From Netflix to Halo, the couch-bound hero is intent on accomplishing everything with the ring on his finger. Nevermind the nightmare of trying to play a game with that many buttons using a ring, the Nod is then shown at a business presentation, as a wild, complicated gesticulation becomes a search for a six-letter word. This video does a good job of showing off what Nod can do, but a better job of showing how ridiculous it looks to use. Nod is available for pre-order now.
The Perks. If buyers like it and they want to put a Nod on it, they can get one in fall 2014 for $149.
The Potential. The smart ring is being brought up as a small, powerful interface tool for users to interact with all connected objects. Nod lacks the subtlety of competitor Fin, but appears to offer a wider range of compatibility, albeit trading in subtle thumb slides for wild Wii-like finger swipes. Nod offers a similar sense of style as the previously-covered Smart Ring as well, but Nod’s intent is to be an interface for all appliances, not just a handy way to keep track of phone applications. The idea is appealing, and the execution seems to be there as well, but the freedom from traditional input that a Nod provides seems to come with a sacrifice of simplicity of use. Anyone with a decent typing speed on desktop or mobile might lack the patience for Nod.
The Premise. Everyone’s had a moment where they meet someone new and everyone pulls their phones out and circles up to swap information and add a new contact or two. It’s more convenient than it used to be, but interrupts socializing for much longer than a simple pass of the business card used to do.
The Product. Looking to bring back that elegance and seamless networking is PIE (Personal Interactive Experience), a smart band that users wear on their wrist to interact with the world around them. PIE can take advantage of its proprietary protocol called FLEX to interact with other PIE devices. However,, for the foreseeable future, it will have to interact with other products using NFC and Bluetooth 4.0. PIE can be used to make purchases at any contactless terminal, trade information with other PIE users, and download any data from NFC hotspots. With a simple shake of the hand, potential employers can get a copy of a resume, or simply swap contact information.
The Pitch. In the extremely clever campaign video, we see a bearded PIE user go through his day, mostly through his eyes and perspective. While out and about, he does what people do: networks, enjoys company, meets new people, and engages in business, but does so with the assistance of the slim band on his wrist. Because the video is largely artistic in its narrative, the rest of the campaign goes over exactly what PIE does and how. PIE needs to raise $150,000 for pretty much the entire process, from materials and design to packaging and shipping.
The Perks. A PIE unit with all features, diary app, and charging base can be had by the end of this year for $110, plus $20 outside of Europe for shipping. A limited Indiegogo version is available for $165, a 2-pack for $200, and for those that can’t wait, a developer tier is available for $345 that will ship in August.
The Potential. The PIE is kind of a neat idea that’s just a little too late. Because it operates entirely on NFC and Bluetooth, there’s no reason that this kind of functionality can’t be employed on a smartphone or other smartwatch or band, either by hardware or by app. It doesn’t do enough to supplant any form of human interaction, and potentially could only be brought to its full potential by other PIE users, meaning early adopters will have a hard time getting the most out of the device, let alone explaining to a store clerk that they can just tap their wrist on a POS terminal to make a purchase. There’s more here in theory than there seems to be in practice, making the hopes of this product rather “PIE in the sky.”
One of the main issues with the latest trend of activity trackers is that users just might not have them on at all times. Everybody knows that they need to stay active to be healthy, but how active is active enough? SmartMove is a new kind of activity tracker that monitors all movement and exercise because its sensor is embedded in an insole for a shoe similar to the original Nike+ sensor that started the activity tracking renaissance, SmartMove can tell when a user is sitting or standing, and tracks movement and activity data to report fitness habits to its own proprietary app. Available for $99, SmartMove will keep users moving as soon as August 2014.
A fever is never something to be ignored, and for children they can be especially dangerous. With that kind of importance in mind, the iTherm armband was designed to keep an eye on a sick child without disturbing anybody’s sleep patterns. With the iTherm, parents can set their phone to watch for temperature outliers and send an alert to wake them up if a child reaches that temperature. This way, prompt care can be given and little risk is taken while providing maximum rest. Parents who want to stay in the know during fevers can get an iTherm for $34, arriving in September 2014.
Wearable fitness and activity trackers are becoming something that active people insist on using all the time, so it’s no surprise that more and more are popping up. More like the Misfit Shine than a Fitbit, the Goccia is an impressively small, constantly worn fitness tracker that can monitor both activity and sleep. With a battery that lasts for two weeks and a housing the size of a coat button, the Goccia easily syncs up with a phone simply by placing it on top of the screen. Then the data is stored in the cloud for users to look at and monitor their levels of activity. The Goccia can be had at a discount for Kickstarter backers at a pledge of $60, and will be delivered in May.
The Premise. From the 40-yard dash to the infield single, speed is a crucial element for almost every athlete. Private coaching is expensive and just not conveniently accessed every time the opportunity to train arises.
The Product. The XBand Speed Pro System is a three-component setup that can analyze runners of all ages and advise them how to get a better start at the line and how to finish with the fastest time. With a body sensor that fits arms or clips onto clothing, starting form and acceleration can be tracked even when practicing alone. The finish line module can be placed at any distance and tracks run times down to hundredths of seconds. Finally, the smartphone adapter clips in using the audio jack and interfaces with the Speed Pro app to communicate with the sensors, provide feedback, and track performance both over time and with other users. The setup requires 4 AA batteries and a CE2032 battery.
The Pitch. The XBand Sports team is quick to identify the need for quality coaching with the lack of convenient, available options. Showing off how simple and flexible the system is to set up with various distances and running styles, as well as the possibility for updates to the app down the line, it’s clear how the Speed Pro System can benefit amateur athletes. The campaign text and photos get into more technical details regarding the operation and internal components of the equipment. XBand Sports wants to raise $150,000 to get out of the prototype phase and begin proper tooling.
The Perks. A complete XBand Speed Pro System is available in October 2014 to backers who pledge at least $100. Additional sets can be ordered at higher reward tiers.
The Potential. Considering the one-dimensional application of tracking and analysis this device performs compared to other wearable personal trainers as it applies only to running, the XBand Speed Pro isn’t going to finish first at market. It continues the trend of specialized fitness wearables that have been parading through crowdfunding sites. However, track coaches and running enthusiasts obsessed with speed will find an affordable solution that will give them real answers without hiring a trained coach to give pointers. This product looks good only in sprints – anyone wanting to do more than just run fast has plenty of other options available.
The Premise. Baby monitors haven’t changed much for decades, partially because they haven’t had to serve any other purposes. But what if a baby monitor could report on a child’s sleeping patterns and whether or not they were safe in their crib?
The Product. The Monbaby sleep analyzer is a small button that can be clipped onto any article of clothing and monitors how much a child is moving during sleep, whether or not they have woken up, and even if they’ve fallen. This data is sent to the companion iPhone app, which reports all of this information as well as whether a child has rolled onto their stomach or back, and can provide customizable alerts depending on certain variables. It can provide this data for users of any age, but in the early stages of the technology, it is being tailored specifically for newborn children.
The Pitch. Monbaby inventor Arturas Vaitaitis shares his inspiration behind the sleep analyzer and discusses his professional background, also asking for feedback on what else this tiny device could do. While every child will react differently, the baby in the video seems content enough, not even noticing the Monbaby clipped onto its clothes. The device has been featured at CES, the IWC Bluetooth competition, and won a prize at the Munich Wearable Technologies conference. Vaitaitis is looking for $10,000 to create an infrastructure that can store the data recorded by the sleep analyzer.
The Perks. Getting a Monbaby sleep analyzer button with the companion app takes a pledge of $79. Custom colored models are available in blue, pink, gray, and red for $169. The basic model will ship in October with the colored buttons arriving the following month.
The Potential. There’s a lot of untapped potential in the baby monitor market, and something like this could also provide valuable data for doctors to look at when considering a child’s development. Not only is it safe and non-intrusive for sleeping babies, but having one of these could even help parents get a little extra sleep themselves, and that alone would probably be reason enough to pick one up.
In the past decade, it has become trendy to espouse that, like any muscle, the brain needs to get a workout every once in a while to stay in shape. The iFocusBand is a piece of smart headgear that slips inside the band of any ball cap and measures brain waves to determine focus and awareness, which it then translates into audiovisual stimulus to help boost athletic performance. Smart headbands are beginning to pop up all over the crowdfunding scene, but the athletic angle may help iFocusBand stand out. iFocusBand will cost backers $295, and has its eyes on the prize for an October 2014 release date.