Drawing blood, sending samples to a laboratory, and awaiting findings: Time-consuming tests are frequently used to monitor metabolic health. Two University of Duisburg-Essen master's students wish to change that. They are creating a wearable sensor device called VitaMetis with the goal of continually monitoring a number of metabolic markers without the need for invasive procedures. Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi and Abdullah Osman Gwela have qualified for the national COSIMA competition thanks to their proposal.

What if checking levels of urea, vitamins, and even hormones were as simple as tracking your heart rate with a smartwatch? That is the idea behind VitaMetis, a project led by Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi, 27, and Abdullah Osman Gwela, 28, two electrical engineering master's students at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). After more than a year of development, they are preparing to present a working prototype in Munich, reports NewsMedical.

The project is built around a small wearable patch that continuously monitors metabolic indicators through sweat. Using optical sensing technology, it identifies specific substances and measures their concentrations. The system relies on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a technology developed for practical use at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg.

A handheld scanner reads the patch's measurements, eliminating the need for blood samples or any procedure that penetrates the skin.

VitaMetis is still in development, and the students acknowledge that commercial availability is some way off. Their goal, however, is to make the technology useful to a wide range of people, from healthy individuals and athletes to pregnant women and patients with kidney disease.

Related AI Wearable Patch Detects Heart Rhythm with 99.6% Accuracy

"We want to develop a technology that benefits as many people as possible," says Algamoudi.

For Gwela, the potential impact is particularly personal. Coming from Libya, where access to healthcare can be limited, he believes wearable monitoring technology could make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

The project has already attracted sponsors, along with support from UDE and their supervisor, Prof. Dr. Karsten Seidl, of the Electronic Devices and Circuits research group. The team is now preparing to showcase its prototype in Munich as it works toward turning the idea into a practical health-monitoring solution.

"We're going to Munich," Algamoudi declares, "to win COSIMA!"

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Samsung is exploring a new way to use a smart ring: built-in fingerprint recognition. The idea is simple. Putting the ring on your finger could verify your identity, making it possible to unlock your phone, sign in to accounts or approve payments without manually scanning your fingerprint.

How the Technology Could Work

A US patent application published on October 15 describes how the system might operate. Rather than asking you to press your finger against a separate scanner, the ring would read your fingerprint as you slide it onto your finger, reports GadgetsAndWearables.

During setup, the device would capture multiple scans and combine them to create a more complete fingerprint profile. Once registered, it could use a single scan to confirm that the ring is being worn by its owner.

Samsung has also considered comfort and battery life. According to the patent, small magnets and springs could allow the scanner's button to move slightly as the finger passes over it. This would help maintain contact with the skin without putting too much pressure on the finger.

The scanner would not need to run continuously, either. The button could activate it when the ring is put on, helping conserve battery power.

Related Natura’s $99 Smart Ring Brings AI to Your Finger

The same mechanism could also detect when someone removes the ring. When the finger moves away, the button would return to its original position, allowing the ring to notify a connected phone or other device that it has been taken off.

Could It Replace Your Phone's Fingerprint Scanner?

Samsung's patent describes several potential uses, including unlocking phones, signing in to accounts and authorizing payments. In effect, the ring could become a wearable security device that verifies your identity.

Imagine putting it on in the morning and having it recognize your fingerprint. You could then use the ring as part of the authentication process throughout the day. That would give smart rings a purpose beyond tracking sleep, activity and other health measurements.

However, there's an important question: would the ring need to scan your fingerprint every time you wanted to unlock something? If so, taking it off and putting it back on repeatedly would quickly become inconvenient.

One possible solution is to let the ring maintain a trusted status while it remains on your finger. Removing it could end that status, requiring you to authenticate again before using it for sensitive tasks. The patent's removal-detection feature could potentially support this approach, although Samsung has not confirmed exactly how the system would work.

Will It Come to the Galaxy Ring 2?

Turning the idea into a practical product could be difficult. Smart rings have very limited internal space, and adding a fingerprint sensor, moving components and supporting electronics without making the device bulky or uncomfortable would be a challenge.

There's also no guarantee that Samsung will release a ring with this technology. A patent shows that a company is exploring an idea, not that the feature is ready for a commercial product. Samsung has not confirmed whether fingerprint recognition will appear in a future Galaxy Ring.

Still, another Galaxy Ring is in development. Earlier this year, Samsung's digital health chief, Dr. Hon Pak, confirmed that the company was working on a successor. The next model could arrive as late as 2027.

Whether fingerprint recognition makes the final design remains to be seen. If Samsung can make it work comfortably and securely, the feature could give smart rings a new role in everyday digital security.

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Virtual reality and wearable sensors could help researchers better understand how Parkinson’s disease affects walking and how rehabilitation can be tailored to each patient.

That’s the goal of a research project led by Rui Hua, an assistant professor of biostatistics and health data science at Lehigh University’s College of Health. Hua, who has a background in electrical engineering, leads the Smart Wearable Electronics and hEalth daTa (SWEET) Research Group. His team develops wearable and AI-based technologies for neurological rehabilitation and remote monitoring of people with Parkinson’s disease, reports Lehigh University.

The researchers are building a virtual reality platform that uses wearable sensors to measure walking problems, including a symptom known as freezing of gait. This occurs when a person suddenly becomes unable to move their feet, as if they were stuck to the floor. These episodes can increase the risk of falls and make everyday activities more difficult, reducing a person’s mobility and independence.

Why Virtual Reality Matters

Assessing someone’s walking ability in a clinic does not always reveal how they move in everyday life. Real-world situations, such as passing through a doorway or navigating a narrow hallway, can present different challenges.

Hua’s team wants to recreate these situations in a controlled virtual environment. Participants will navigate obstacles while wearable sensors record their movements. Researchers will then analyze the data with clinical experts to identify meaningful patterns in their walking.

The goal is to give clinicians a clearer picture of each patient’s movement difficulties and help them design rehabilitation programs that better match individual needs.

The project brings together researchers and healthcare professionals from several institutions. Carly Haffner, an occupational therapist at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, contributes clinical expertise. Mooi Choo Chuah, a computer science and engineering professor at Lehigh, co-leads the virtual reality development. Jenny Bartoff, an assistant professor at Oregon State University-Cascades, also serves as a clinical collaborator.

Finding the Right Cues for Each Patient

The team is also investigating whether sound and touch can help people with Parkinson’s walk more steadily.

Related Canadian Startup Launches Wearable to Improve Gait

Auditory cues might include a metronome or music with a steady rhythm. Tactile cues could come from vibrations delivered by a wearable device. Both approaches are intended to help patients coordinate their steps.

However, researchers have not established that one type of cue works better than the other in all cases.

Hua believes the most effective approach may differ from person to person. One patient might respond well to music, while another might benefit more from vibrations from a wearable device. Identifying which cues work best for each individual could make rehabilitation more effective.

Students Help Develop the Technology

Students from across Lehigh University are also contributing to the research.

Graduate student Thoi Quach, from the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, serves as the technical lead for the virtual reality project. Undergraduate students contribute to research coordination, music customization and clinical feedback.

Noelle Barone, a psychology major with a minor in health policy and politics, coordinates research activities as the research engagement ambassador. Lillian Linnell, who studies population health and biology, leads the work on customizing music as a rhythmic cue to help patients coordinate their steps.

Sophie Weiskopf, a community and global health major, and Alex Lien, a biology major with a minor in health, medicine and society, are interviewing clinicians. Their work helps ensure that the technology reflects the needs and experiences of healthcare professionals.

Working With the Parkinson’s Community

The research team is recruiting participants through Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network’s weekly Parkinson’s boxing program and local Parkinson’s support groups.

By combining wearable technology, virtual reality and clinical expertise, the researchers hope to make gait assessments more useful and rehabilitation more personal. Their work could help clinicians better understand the challenges people face when walking and identify strategies that support safer movement and greater independence.

The broader aim is to develop practical technologies that improve rehabilitation and make care more responsive to the needs of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

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Smart glasses are moving closer to becoming everyday companions. But for truly intuitive interaction, the device needs more than an understanding of what is around the wearer. It also needs to know where the wearer is looking.

Eye tracking provides this information by illuminating the eye with infrared light and using inward-facing cameras to determine gaze direction. This can support intuitive user interaction and, in AR glasses, help reduce computing and power requirements through techniques such as foveated rendering.

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A design blueprint for immediate implementation

Smart glasses manufacturers can accelerate the product development process by adopting a ready-made design template for safe eye tracking. Ganzin Technology's Aurora IIS eye tracking reference design combines the AS1181 driver IC with SFH 4030B LEDs to enable reliable eye tracking even outdoors in bright daylight. The reference design features synchronized binocular camera driving, complemented by additional driver-based eye-safety protection in the AS1181. This solution powers Ganzin Technology's AI glasses reference designs and is ready to enable next-generation partner platforms, such as those from its ODM partners, including Jorjin and Quanta.

System expertise for the next generation of smart glasses

Reliable eye tracking requires more than individual components. Infrared illumination, driver electronics, cameras, and algorithms must work together within the tight constraints of smart glasses. ams OSRAM combines compact infrared emitters and dedicated driver technology with deep optical and system expertise, helping manufacturers address key design challenges including size, power consumption, performance, and eye safety.

• Watch the video: How eye tracking systems are becoming a key technology for next-gen smart glasses and AR/VR headsets
• Read more here

About ams OSRAM

ams OSRAM is a global leader in innovative light and sensor solutions. As a specialist in Digital Photonics, the company combines engineering excellence with cutting-edge global manufacturing to offer customers a broad portfolio of digital light and sensing technologies.

WHOOP may have found a new use for its removable PowerPack. Beyond charging the tracker, the small battery pack could help estimate core body temperature, a feature WHOOP’s current bands don’t offer.

The idea comes from a US patent application published on October 22, 2026, titled “Core Body Temperature.” The concept might sound unusual, but the approach makes sense once you understand how it works. And no, you won’t need to wear the charger all day, reports GadgetsAndWearables.

Measuring skin temperature at the wrist is relatively straightforward, and many wearables already do it. Measuring core body temperature, however, is a different challenge.

Your skin temperature can change depending on the surrounding environment, what you’re wearing, how much you sweat, and other factors. That makes it difficult to use skin temperature alone to estimate what’s happening inside your body.

WHOOP’s proposed solution is to study how heat moves between the body and the wearable instead of relying on a single temperature reading.

How the PowerPack Could Help

The patent describes a system that uses several temperature sensors. One would measure temperature close to the skin, while another would sit inside the removable PowerPack. Additional sensors could monitor temperatures at different points within the device.

While charging, the PowerPack would introduce a controlled amount of heat. The system could then measure how temperatures change across the device and use that information to understand its thermal properties and how it interacts with the body.

Read more Wearables Are Paving the Way for Data-Driven Healthcare

That’s the key to the idea. The PowerPack wouldn’t directly measure the temperature deep inside your body. Instead, it would help WHOOP calibrate a model that interprets the temperature readings its sensors can collect.

The system could combine skin temperature measurements, estimated heat flow, and this calibrated model to calculate an estimate of core body temperature.

You Wouldn’t Need to Wear the Charger All Day

Most WHOOP users attach the PowerPack only when their tracker needs charging. The patent takes this into account, describing a method that collects useful temperature data during normal charging without requiring any extra effort from the wearer.

The PowerPack could help calibrate the system, with the resulting parameters stored for use in future temperature estimates.

In simple terms, charging the tracker could also give WHOOP an opportunity to learn more about how heat moves through the device and the body beneath it. Once calibrated, the system could use that information to estimate core temperature without needing the PowerPack to remain attached.

What Could This Mean for WHOOP Users?

WHOOP already tracks skin temperature, typically using overnight readings to monitor changes against a person's usual baseline. Adding an estimate of core body temperature could provide another way to understand the body's daily temperature patterns.

WHOOP isn't the only company exploring this technology. I recently tested the Speediance Strap Pro, which also estimates core body temperature, although it uses a different combination of heat-flow measurements, skin temperature readings, and modelling.

One potential application is exercise. Core body temperature could help users understand how their bodies respond to prolonged workouts, particularly during intense training or in hot weather. It could give WHOOP another way to assess physiological strain alongside existing metrics such as heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV).

The technology could also prove useful beyond exercise. Core body temperature naturally changes throughout the day and is closely connected to the body's circadian rhythm. Tracking these changes could eventually provide additional insights into sleep patterns and recovery.

For now, this remains a concept described in a patent application, not a confirmed WHOOP feature. The filing suggests one possible way the company could expand its temperature-tracking capabilities, but it doesn't guarantee that the technology will appear in a future product.

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Danish medtech company Cebreo Medical announced that its NeuroBuds device has received CE marking, confirming conformity with applicable EU requirements. Unlike conventional EEG systems that require a technician-applied cap of electrodes, NeuroBuds is designed to be used unassisted by the patient at home, enabling multi-day and multi-night recordings in a patient's daily life environment.

“With NeuroBuds, we can offer a discreet, unobtrusive solution that enables long-term, unassisted EEG monitoring for weeks, in patients’ own homes,” says Rasmus Madsen, CEO, Cebreo Medical.” “The product has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of long-term EEG monitoring and strengthen treatment decisions compared with conventional brain monitoring.”

Designed to resemble a hearing aid, NeuroBuds is built to minimize the stigma and burden that typically limit compliance in long-term EEG monitoring. Because it is comfortable and simple enough for unassisted use, it supports monitoring periods of up to three months, with repeat measurements, according to a press release.

Extending EEG monitoring beyond the hospital

Extended, ambulatory EEG monitoring has relevance well beyond a single condition — from epilepsy to sleep medicine and other areas of neurophysiological research. Drug-resistant epilepsy is one clear example: treatment decisions depend on an accurate, longitudinal picture of seizure frequency and treatment response.

Related Tiny Cameras in Earbuds Allow Users to Talk with AI

“For patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, the question is not whether they have seizures — it's how often, and whether a new treatment is actually working. Patient-reported seizure counts are often unreliable, particularly for subtle or nocturnal seizures patients don't even notice,” says Prof. Sandor Beniczky, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rigshospitalet; Danish Epilepsy Centre.

“An ambulatory ear-EEG device that can run for weeks at a time, in the patient's own daily life, provides the EEG data with the potential to objectively quantify the seizure burden, and hence, more properly evaluate treatment.”

What's next

With CE marking secured, Cebreo Medical will expand commercial availability across European research and clinical sites while advancing its US regulatory pathway.

About Cebreo Medical

Cebreo Medical A/S is a Danish medical technology company developing wearable EEG solutions for extended, real-world neurophysiological monitoring.

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Choosing between a fitness band and a smart ring usually means giving up something. Alloop wants to remove that trade-off with a wearable that lets you switch the same tracking sensor between your wrist and finger.

One Sensor, Three Wearing Options

Called Alloop Trio, the modular health tracker was introduced by Dr. Tony Wu, RingConn’s co-founder and former CEO. The system includes a removable sensor called Cube, a wristband, a smart ring and an optional Halo module, reports GadgetsAndWearables.

The idea is to wear the ring while sleeping and switch to the wristband during the day, depending on what feels more comfortable.

Cube handles the actual health tracking. You can fit it into the wristband, use it with the Halo module or move it into the ring for a more discreet setup. The sensor weighs just 2.4 grams, has a 5 ATM water-resistance rating and offers up to seven days of battery life.

This design addresses a common problem with smart rings. Although rings can be comfortable for sleep tracking, they may get in the way during weight training, racket sports and certain types of manual work. Being able to move the same sensor between different wearables could make tracking easier without requiring two separate devices.

Cube uses optical sensors to measure resting heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, breathing rate and temperature. The Alloop app uses these measurements to generate sleep, recovery and strain scores.

Halo Adds Voice Notes and Battery Power

Halo gives the system some additional features. Attached to the wristband alongside Cube, it adds vibration alerts, colored light notifications, extra battery capacity and a button for interacting with Alloop’s AI Health Agent.

Read more Wearable Technology: Using Data to Improve Health

Users can press the button to record information that ordinary sensors cannot capture, such as meals, coffee consumption, headaches or how they felt after a workout.

These notes are saved in a feature called Easy Journal, where they can be reviewed alongside the data collected by Cube. Combining personal observations with sensor measurements could help users better understand how their daily habits relate to sleep, recovery and overall well-being.

Price and Availability

Alloop plans to launch its Kickstarter campaign on November 10, with a tentative price of $299. Early units are expected to reach backers around January 2027.

Takeaway

Wu’s experience at RingConn gives the project a founder with a background in wearable technology. Still, several questions remain, including how accurately the sensors perform, how well the software works, how durable the device is over time and whether the interchangeable components stay securely in place.

The main attraction is the modular design. Many screenless fitness trackers can monitor health and activity, but Alloop Trio aims to do something different by letting users move one sensor between a wristband and a ring.

That makes it an interesting concept, though not necessarily a purchase worth rushing into. As with any crowdfunding project, the finished product will need to prove that it can deliver on its promises. For now, Alloop Trio is a wearable worth watching as its launch approaches.

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From blinking and smiling to jaw clenching and eyebrow raising, faces are constantly in motion — and generating tiny amounts of energy along the way.

Now, Northwestern University engineers are putting that energy to work.

In a new study, the team developed a wholly new type of smart glasses equipped with tiny sensors that harvest mechanical energy from facial movements and convert it into electrical power. Even a quick blink or an artery’s faint pulsing provides enough mechanical energy to activate the highly sensitive sensors, reports Amanda Morris in Northwestern University.

To put their self-powered sensors to the test, researchers used the glasses to detect jaw clenching, teeth tapping, blinking and eyebrow raising. Not only did the glasses distinguish these movements from everyday activities like talking and eating, but it also recognized teeth tapping with 99% accuracy and jaw clenching with 96% accuracy.

The advance, called GlassTENG, could pave the way for common glasses to seamlessly monitor cardiovascular health, bruxism (inadvertent jaw clenching and teeth grinding), fatigue, eating behaviors and other activities throughout the day — without bulky batteries or regular charging.

The paper is available in the Proceedings of the 2026 ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers.

“The human face is a goldmine for health data, making everyday glasses the perfect wearable,” said Northwestern’s Nivedita Arora, who led the work. “Generally, wearables track health data, like heart rate, through the wrist. But people have to remember to wear those trackers and take them off to recharge. Our idea is based on the fact that half the population already wears glasses. We can turn those glasses into wearables without asking people to change their habits and behaviors.”

Related Samsung’s Intelligent Eyewear: A New Mobile AI Interface

An expert in self-powered electronics, Arora is the Breed Chair Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, where she leads the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (VAK) Embodied Systems Lab. Raj Dave, Jovanis Prodanich and Yung-ching Lai — all master’s students in the VAK Embodied Systems Lab — are the study’s co-first authors.

A little static goes a long way

At the heart of the new glasses are three paper-thin devices called triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Although the name sounds complicated, the phenomenon behind them is familiar: static electricity.

Anyone who has rubbed a balloon against their hair or pet a cat’s fur on a dry winter day has experienced the triboelectric effect. When two different materials come into contact and then separate, electrons can transfer from one material to the other, generating a brief electrical charge.

GlassTENG takes advantage of that same basic phenomenon. Each flexible sensor contains layers of materials that repeatedly press together and separate in response to facial movements. A blink, for example, pushes against one sensor. A clenched jaw activates another. Even the subtle pressure produced by blood pumping through an artery can push the sensors.

“As the layers touch and separate, they generate a tiny voltage,” Arora said. “That means the very movement being measured supplies the mechanical energy needed to power its detection. In other words, a blink helps power the sensor that detects the blink.”

Three sensors, many signals

To capture as much information as possible, Arora and her team positioned three sensors at strategic locations around the glasses frame. One sits at the bridge of the nose, near the angular artery and muscles surrounding the eyes. There, it can pick up the pulse as well as blinking and eyebrow movements. Another sensor sits near the temple, where it detects the superficial temporal artery along with jaw movements. A third sensor sits closer to the ear, where it detects movements from chewing and clenching.

While wearing GlassTENG, 20 participants performed six activities: blinking, raising their eyebrows, clenching their teeth, tapping their teeth, eating and talking. The research team then used machine-learning algorithms to analyze patterns in the electrical signals and determine which activity each participant performed. Across the six activities, the system achieved 93.8% accuracy.

Ultra-low power, big benefits

Beyond what GlassTENG can do, another big advantage is what it doesn’t need: electricity. Many existing wearables continuously draw power. Constant power consumption leads to bigger energy demands that require bigger batteries, which add weight and bulk. Batteries also need regular recharging, which presents another barrier to truly continuous health monitoring.

GlassTENG’s three sensors consume just 4.1 microwatts of power combined — orders of magnitude less power than many conventional sensing technologies. From there, it uses Bluetooth to stream data straight to a smart phone or tablet.

The study was partially supported by the Ansys, Inc.

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Natura, an AI and hardware startup, is introducing Interface, a $99 smart ring that lets users interact with AI agents through simple voice commands. A press of the finger can capture an idea, start a task, or ask an AI assistant to do something, all without picking up a phone. The ring also tracks health data, including heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, and daily activity.

Natura was founded by Carlo Edoardo Ferraris, who previously launched the tech accessories company Rolling Square. After years of developing consumer hardware, Ferraris came to believe that AI needed a more natural way for people to interact with technology. Rather than opening apps and typing commands, users should be able to ask an AI agent for help as they would ask another person, reports TechCrunch.

Interface is designed around that idea. At launch, it will work with several AI services and applications, including Meta’s Muse, Instinct, Grok Bot, Claude, and ChatGPT. Preorders are expected to open next month, with deliveries planned for December or January.

Why Put AI in a Ring?

Interface is not Natura’s first product. The company previously developed HumanPods, AI-enabled earbuds that let users communicate with AI agents. However, Ferraris said the rapid progress in voice technology led the company to reconsider which device would make AI easiest to access throughout the day.

In an interview with TechCrunch, he explained that people should be able to reach their AI agents at almost any time. A ring makes that possible because users can wear it while sleeping, showering, exercising, or going about their daily routines without needing to take it off.

The company sees plenty of potential uses. Someone going for a run could ask the ring to track a workout. In the morning, they could check their schedule. If they run out of shampoo, they could request a reorder, while someone watching TV before bed could ask the ring to switch it off and set an alarm.

The device could also help with work. After recording a meeting, for example, a user could ask an AI agent to prepare the notes and send them to a colleague.

AI responses can be delivered through connected headphones, an iPhone Live Activity, or Natura’s NatureOS app. Users who work with several AI tools can also choose which agent handles each request. They might use Claude for coding, Instinct to make a reservation, and another agent for a different task.

Controlling Computers Through Voice

Natura’s plans go beyond everyday requests. Ferraris believes AI agents will eventually handle much of the work people now do on computers. Tasks such as filling out forms, sending messages, locating files, and preparing presentations could be completed through voice instructions rather than navigating multiple applications.

Related New Smart Ring Wakes Users Up Mid-Apnea Before They Know It

He expects early adopters to be people who already use personal AI agents, particularly those working in technology. As these tools become more common, however, he believes the ring could appeal to a much wider audience.

The company’s longer-term vision is to make Interface a primary way of interacting with digital services, although that shift will depend on how quickly people adopt personal AI agents and how well the technology performs in everyday situations.

Price, Subscription, and Battery Life

Natura plans to launch Interface at $99 to encourage adoption, even though its manufacturing costs are comparable to those of established products such as the Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring. The company says the devices share many of the same components.

The introductory price will not necessarily last. After an initial free period of three to six months, Natura plans to charge users $9 per month. The company eventually intends to raise the hardware price as well, though it has not specified when that will happen.

Beyond AI functions, Interface measures heart rate, resting heart rate, HRV, sleep stages, daily movement, step count, and changes in skin temperature over time.

Natura estimates that the ring will last between six and 12 days on a full charge, depending on usage. A complete recharge takes around 100 minutes.

Competing in Two Smart-Ring Markets

Smart rings have largely developed along two paths. Companies such as Oura, Ultrahuman, and RingConn focus mainly on health tracking, while newer products from companies including Pebble and Vocci explore AI-based interactions.

Natura wants Interface to bring these functions together in one device. Ferraris says the challenge has been combining health sensors, voice communication with AI agents, meeting recording, and memory features without making the ring bulky or sacrificing battery life.

Whether users will want to wear a ring to manage both their health and AI assistants remains to be seen. But Natura is betting that a device that stays on the finger throughout the day could make AI more accessible than one that requires users to keep reaching for their phones.

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Cerna Healthcare’s "SafePatch” is a safety wearable skin patch that monitors a loved one’s safety and well-being. It is the only safety device in the world that sticks directly to the body, provides Fall Detection, Activity Monitoring and Emergency Messaging. Should there be a medical emergency, the SafePatch send texts and alerts to loved ones and/or professional monitoring staff. The patch is small, light, water resistant and discreet which most people want more than devices that are unsightly and bulky.

SafePatch for Mom and Dad that provides discreet safety and fall detection.

With state-of-the-art electronics and cellular reliability, Nick Payzant, Founder and CEO said, “It’s the most advanced personal senior safety system that exists today, we are using the latest semi-conductors, algorithms, AI and software to build this product.” Nick further explained, “Leveraging technology to assist our most vulnerable helps tremendously in today’s environment where our elders want to live at home and don’t want to deal with frequent recharging and interaction to operate it. My own mother would not wear a watch or pendant, which got me thinking about how to put a device on her that she wouldn’t care about or have to fuss with.” A product that loved ones are comfortable using is vital as family members are increasingly busy and our loved are now alone more often than ever, reports BusinessWire.

The SafePatch with one week’s battery life is paired with powerful software called “FallSoft”, which enables the SafePatch to monitor falls and movement, all while being in a safe environment at home. Alerts and texts are emitted to family members and/or friends immediately should SafePatch send out an SOS, detect a fall, step count and if there is low battery.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

SafePatch priced at $99.00 one-time fee for the unit and six month’s supply of replaceable patches, offers flexible program options to suit a range of needs from an elderly person living alone, to a physically disabled person. All plans include: SOS button, fall detection and activity monitoring.

Related Wearable Device Detects Hidden Stress

Family Monitoring

Anyone designated by the family (no limit on how many) will get alerts when an emergency happens and daily status for $9.99 per month.

Professional Monitoring

Includes a professional monitoring team to monitor, communicate and triage any emergency and non-emergency situation should one occur for $29.99 per month.

The SafePatch starts shipping in October.

About Cerna Healthcare

Located in Irvine, California, Cerna Healthcare is a health services provider that focuses on personal care and safety, primarily for the elderly and those that are losing independence and need personal assistance and/or assistive devices.

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Women’s health platform Flo Health announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Google Health to create a more personal, precise health experience for women at every stage of life – from a first period to pregnancy to perimenopause.

Alongside the partnership, Google Health has made a strategic investment in Flo. This is a recognition of the vital importance of women's health and the need to bring dedicated experiences and tools to life that can better support them, Flo Health said in a press release.

Since it launched over a decade ago, half a billion users worldwide have downloaded Flo and logged their cycles, and tracked symptoms, moods, sexual health and more, so they could better understand their hormonal health journeys. Beginning in early 2027, with their permission, users will be able to receive a more complete picture of health by syncing their Flo app with Google Health to get deeper insights and more personalized guidance for their cycle phases and life stages.

The partnership will connect Flo, used by more than 80 million women every month, with Google Health's wearables and personalized coaching through Google Health Coach, combining the deepest understanding of women's health with continuous signals from the wrist.

Flo Health and Google Health are committed to user data privacy and security, and a crucial part of this partnership is ensuring women stay in control. No data will move between the apps without a user's explicit permission — given separately for each type of data and each purpose — and users have the control to withdraw permission at any time. Flo data shared with Google Health will never be used for advertising, never be sold, and will not be made available to other apps or developers through Google's health platforms. Flo remains an independent company in which users' control their own data.

What the partnership will bring to women

Secure, consent-based app syncing. Women who choose to link their Flo and Google Health apps will see Fitbit signals — sleep, heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature and respiratory rate — to enrich Flo's cycle predictions and symptom insights. In the other direction, Flo's insights can appear in Google Health, so coaching reflects where a woman is in her cycle and her life. Flo will be Google Health's featured, premiere women's health partner inside the Google Health app.

Related Fertility Tracking App Flo Raises $50M Series B Round, Bringing Company Valuation to $800M

Future co-branded product collaborations: Flo and Google Health will partner to build new products that are specifically designed for women, with a deep integration of Flo's women's health insights and algorithms with Google's expertise in wearable hardware and advanced sensors.

Collaborative research to build A.I. that actually understands women's health. It is well-known that women's health has long been under-researched, and A.I. risks inheriting these gaps. This is a tension Google Health and Flo Health want to work on together by co-creating a research program to build A.I. that understands how hormones shape everything from sleep and heart rate, to mood and energy. With their combined expertise, the companies aim to develop models that can recognize early signs of perimenopause, or symptom patterns linked to conditions that can take years to diagnose such as PCOS, endometriosis, or fibroids. Flo and Google Health will also work to set new standards for how A.I. health guidance for women is evaluated, building on Flo's published research into the safety of A.I.-generated health advice. All research will use privacy-preserving techniques such as aggregated, pseudonymized and synthetic data, with rigorous clinical evaluation throughout. Flo and Google Health will also explore how wearable signals can support Flo's work in fertility, subject to clinical validation and regulatory review.

"Women have waited too long for technology that understands their bodies as well as it understands their steps. A.I. is about to change what is possible in women's health - but only if it's built with women in mind, not adapted for them afterward," said Dmitry Gurski, co-founder and CEO of Flo Health. "Flo has spent more than a decade earning the trust of millions of women who rely on us to learn more about what their cycles and life stages really look like. Together with Google Health, we're building on that trust through a privacy-first approach to give every woman insight that is personal, continuous and grounded in science, from her first period to menopause."

"We're making a significant investment in our commitment to women's health. By teaming up with Flo, together with our personalized coaching, research expertise and 24/7 tracking, we can help women understand their health in entirely new ways," said Rishi Chandra, GM Google Health.

About Flo Health

According to Flo Health, the company is the #1 Health and Fitness app worldwide and the #1 OB-GYN-recommended platform for period and cycle tracking. In 2024, Flo became the first European femtech unicorn following an investment from General Atlantic and now supports 80 million monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide. Powered by a network of over 100+ medical experts, Flo guides women through every stage of their health journey – from menstruation to conception, pregnancy, and menopause – offering curated cycle and ovulation tracking, personalized health insights, daily educational content, and a private community for users to share questions or concerns. Through its Pass it on Project, Flo has donated more than 29M Flo Premium subscriptions to improve health literacy to women in need, aiming to reach up to one billion. A leader in privacy and security, Flo Health's Anonymous Mode feature was recognized as one of TIME's Best Inventions 2023 and also named a finalist for Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards as part of the company's commitment to privacy.

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Ultrahuman, the Bengaluru-based health technology company behind a popular line of smart rings, is joining forces with Abu Dhabi’s public health authorities to develop a biological-age assessment model that could eventually reach people throughout the United Arab Emirates.

The company announced on Monday that it had signed a two-year memorandum of understanding with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC). The collaboration will focus on developing and clinically validating a system that combines medical biomarkers with information collected by wearable devices. By analyzing these indicators, the model aims to estimate how an individual’s body is aging and determine which factors, such as sleep quality, physical activity, cardiovascular fitness, and metabolic health, may influence that process, reports TechCrunch.

The initiative reflects Ultrahuman’s broader ambition to expand beyond wearable products and establish itself as a health-data and analytics company. Rather than focusing solely on the hardware used to gather information, the startup wants to turn that data into insights and algorithms that can support research into aging, longevity, and preventive healthcare.

Speaking to TechCrunch, Ultrahuman CEO Mohit Kumar explained that the company’s smart ring is primarily a means of collecting physiological information. The bigger question, he said, is how Ultrahuman can use that information to develop meaningful health applications rather than simply selling a wearable device.

Government collaboration could allow the company to test and deploy its technology among a much larger and more diverse population than its existing customer base. Ultrahuman has sold approximately 800,000 smart rings worldwide. According to Kumar, the Abu Dhabi initiative represents the company’s first attempt to introduce a health algorithm at a national level. The long-term objective is to make the biological-age assessment available to residents across the UAE.

Despite its reputation as a smart-ring manufacturer, Ultrahuman says the model will not depend on any single type of wearable. Data from rings, wrist-worn devices, fitness straps, and smart patches could all contribute to the assessment, alongside conventional clinical biomarkers. The company also plans to make biological-age information accessible through government digital-health services, including TAMM and Sahatna.

Two Years of Research and Clinical Validation

Ultrahuman and ADPHC will spend the next two years developing and validating the model. Kumar said the eventual introduction of the service would take place in stages, although he did not disclose a specific launch date.

Related Ultrahuman Launches Pulsomics Research

The UAE is already an important market for Ultrahuman. Kumar told TechCrunch that the country ranks among the company’s 10 largest markets and generates approximately 4% to 5% of its total revenue. Ultrahuman has maintained a presence in the region for nearly five years, with customer retention reportedly around 25% higher than in its other markets.

However, the company's current user base does not necessarily represent the wider population. Kumar said most Ultrahuman customers fall between the ages of 25 and 43. A nationwide deployment would give the company an opportunity to apply its model to people from a much wider range of age groups.

How the Biological-Age Model Works

The technology has been developed using data already available to Ultrahuman. According to Kumar, the company combines users’ actual ages with wearable-derived physiological measurements and, in some cases, blood-test results. By examining how these health indicators tend to change over time, the system can identify patterns associated with aging and highlight differences from what would typically be expected at a particular age.

The distinction between chronological age and biological age is central to the approach. Chronological age refers to the number of years a person has lived, whereas biological age attempts to reflect the condition of the body based on measurable health indicators.

Kumar also clarified that Ultrahuman will not use UAE residents’ data to train the underlying model. Instead, the company will apply its existing algorithm to data within the UAE program. He added that Ultrahuman will not have access to personally identifiable information through the initiative.

Ultrahuman and Oura Pursue Preventive Healthcare in Abu Dhabi

Ultrahuman is not the only smart-ring company collaborating with Abu Dhabi on health-related technology. In May, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi announced a separate partnership with Oura, one of Ultrahuman’s principal competitors.

That initiative aims to combine Oura’s wearable data with the emirate’s longitudinal health records, initially concentrating on women’s health and cardiometabolic risks.

Kumar said Ultrahuman was not aware of another company working with Abu Dhabi’s authorities on a biological-age model specifically. Although he acknowledged that the government collaborates with multiple health technology providers, he declined to discuss the details of Oura’s separate agreement.

The two partnerships highlight a broader shift in the smart-ring industry. Ultrahuman and Oura are competing not only to sell wearable devices but also to develop health platforms that can turn continuous physiological monitoring into useful insights for preventive care.

For Ultrahuman, the Abu Dhabi project forms part of a wider strategy to build capabilities beyond its existing hardware business. The company is also exploring smart-ring technology that could run software directly on the device, potentially supporting applications ranging from AI-powered interactions to gaming.

If the UAE initiative succeeds, Ultrahuman could gain an opportunity to demonstrate how wearable-derived data and clinical measurements can be combined to support health monitoring on a much larger scale.

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WearOptimo, an AI-native physiological intelligence company developing next-generation Microwearable sensors for continuous health monitoring, today announced that the company's Founder and CEO, Dr. Mark Kendall, will unveil a new embodiment of the company's sensor at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, taking place at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi.

The embodiment designed with a sleek, minimal form factor represents the next evolution of WearOptimo's sensing platform which combines in-skin sensing with physiology-guided AI to provide a deeper, continuous understanding of an individual's physiological state, says a press release.

While conventional wearables rely largely on signals available at the skin's surface, WearOptimo's Microwearable interface reaches just a hair's width into the skin to capture multi-frequency, multi-channel bioimpedance signals, alongside temperature and motion. The company's proprietary AI engine is being developed to interpret these signals and translate them into individualized physiological insights across a range of health applications.

Related Liquid-Metal Patch Tracks Breathing and Heart Activity

"This new embodiment represents an important step toward our vision of giving people a deeper understanding of what is happening within their bodies and ultimately helping them make more informed decisions about their health," said Dr. Mark Kendall, Founder and CEO of WearOptimo. "The Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit provides an ideal forum to unveil this technology and engage with leaders across health and technology on how advances in biosensors and AI can shape the future of health."

WearOptimo's sensing platform has previously demonstrated the ability to detect hydration-related physiological changes in a 45-participant clinical study. The Microwearable outperformed serum osmolality, the blood-based gold standard, in detecting mild dehydration, providing clinical validation of the company's differentiated sensing and AI approach.

About WearOptimo

WearOptimo is an AI-native physiological intelligence company creating a new paradigm for wearables. Its integrated technology platform is built with its proprietary "hardware" and native AI. Its Microwearable features pain-free microelectrodes that reach just a hair's width into the skin, capturing signals conventional surface wearables cannot access. WearOptimo's physiology-guided AI engine translates these signals into real-time, individualized insights, making the human physiological state continuously readable, predictive, and actionable. Hydration and heat-risk intelligence is the company's first application, beginning in elite sport, resources and defense – and also other markets – to where hydration and heat management are critical to performance and safety.

Dr. Yangzhi Zhu, an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, has led the development of a soft, reusable smart contact lens. The innovation is part of OCULAB, a tear-based bioelectronics platform designed to track biochemical changes noninvasively over time by analyzing biomarkers in tears. In this study, the platform was used to measure serotonin directly from tears as a proof-of-concept target for monitoring stress-related physiological changes.

Stress affects many aspects of physical and mental health, yet physiological changes associated with stress can be difficult to monitor objectively over time. Serotonin is an important signaling molecule involved in mood regulation and stress-related physiology and is also present in tears, making tear fluid an attractive, minimally invasive source of biochemical information. The original study was designed to explore whether a soft ocular bioelectronic platform could sensitively detect serotonin in this small and dynamic biofluid, reports Terasaki Institute.

The team developed the device, termed a lab-on-a-contact-lens by integrating  a thin, flexible sensor into a standard soft contact lens. The sensor uses a compound called ferrocene, which reacts with serotonin to generate a small electrical signal that can be measured and converted into a concentration reading. The work, published in Science Translational Medicine, showed the sensor could detect serotonin at concentrations as low as 72 picomolar, a level of sensitivity roughly 200 times beyond what's needed to measure typical human tear serotonin, allowing it to reliably pick up small changes.

In a mouse model of chronic stress, tear serotonin concentrations dropped while cortisol, a well-known stress hormone, rose in both blood and tears, echoing patterns seen in prior human stress research. In a small pilot study, tear samples collected from 10 volunteers during a standardized stress test showed a similar pattern, with serotonin levels falling during the stressful task and returning toward baseline afterward. The lens also maintained accurate readings across up to 400 uses over several days, suggesting it could be reused rather than replaced after each measurement.

Related New Contact Lenses Let You See in the Dark

"Tears carry more information about our bodies than most people realize," said Dr. Minwoo Kim, First Author and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation. "This lens lets us read some of that information without needles or lab visits, right from something people already wear."

"The eye provides a unique window into both ocular and systemic physiology," said Dr. Yangzhi Zhu, Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor at the Terasaki Institute. "Through our ocular bioelectronics program, we are developing soft ocular devices that can turn the tear film into a source of longitudinal biochemical information. Serotonin is an important proof-of-concept target, but the broader goal is to build wearable ocular systems capable of monitoring multiple biomarkers and physiological signals over time.”

The team's next step is to move from the current laboratory-connected platform toward a fully integrated wearable system. The team plans to integrate wireless components so the future version of the lens can acquire and transmit readings in real time while being worn, rather than requiring tear samples to be collected and analyzed afterward. Larger and more diverse human studies will also be needed to determine how tear serotonin relates to stress and mental health across different populations.  Long-term sensor stability, calibration in the dynamic tear environment, comfort, manufacturing reproducibility, and extended on-eye safety will also need to be established before the technology can move toward clinical use.

More broadly, the work establishes a framework for ocular bioelectronics, the integration of soft electronics, biochemical sensing, and wearable technologies with the ocular surface and tear film. Rather than viewing the contact lens solely as an optical device, the researchers envision it as a potential interface for continuously accessing physiological information in a minimally invasive manner.

“Our long-term vision is not simply to build a smart contact lens that measures one molecule,” Zhu said. “We want to establish tear bioelectronics as a broader platform for understanding dynamic physiology through the eye and, ultimately, for enabling more personalized and longitudinal approaches to health monitoring.”

By integrating soft contact-lens materials, electrochemical biosensing, flexible electronics, and future wireless capabilities, OCULAB represents a broader effort to transform the ocular surface into a noninvasive interface between the human body and digital health technologies.

Sweat contains valuable clues about what is happening inside the body. By measuring electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, wearable sensors could help researchers better understand the body's physiological responses during exercise or work in hot conditions. Because these measurements can be taken while people go about their normal activities, the technology may eventually support health monitoring without disrupting daily routines.

Developing a reliable wearable sensor, however, comes with technical challenges. Many existing devices use potentiometric sensors, which detect changes in electrical voltage associated with the concentration of a particular ion. These sensors depend on a reference electrode to maintain a stable electrical potential. Conventional printed reference electrodes can take a long time to settle into a stable state, limiting their usefulness for continuous monitoring in changing environments, reports Medical Lifesciences.

A research team at Tokyo University of Science in Japan has developed a wristwatch-style sensor designed to address this limitation. Led by Associate Professor Isao Shitanda of the university's Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the team incorporated a printed liquid-junction reference electrode that requires little initial adjustment. The findings were published online in ACS Omega on September 21, 2026. Takuma Fujisawa, a second-year master's student in the same department, also contributed to the study.

The compact device combines sodium- and potassium-selective electrodes with a liquid-junction reference electrode, a sweat-transport layer, and electronic components. A key feature is the use of silica gel within the liquid junction. The material allows water to pass into the electrolyte layer, helping the reference electrode reach a stable operating condition more quickly.

The researchers also developed a sample-transport layer made from fabric and superabsorbent fibers. Positioned over the sensing electrodes, this layer helps moisture reach the sensing area and move across it. Together, these components allow the sensor to collect ion-responsive signals while connected to a custom wristwatch unit. The electronics process the measurements, send data wirelessly, and save a local copy to a microSD card.

To assess the system outside the laboratory, the team tested it at an active construction site. One construction worker wore the device during a regular workday that included physical activity, rest breaks, meals, and drinking water. Over approximately two hours and 45 minutes, the sensor recorded signals responsive to sodium and potassium as the worker moved around the site.

The data were transmitted wirelessly to a host computer while also being stored on the watch itself. This demonstrated that the integrated system could collect and transfer sensor readings under everyday working conditions, rather than only in a controlled laboratory setting.

Related Hydrosense: Next-Generation Sweat Sensor

Dr. Shitanda explained that the main contribution was not the invention of a new electrode material. Instead, the achievement was bringing together a printed electrode, a sample-transport mechanism, and a wireless measurement circuit in a wearable system and demonstrating that it could operate in a real-world environment.

“This technology could serve as a foundation for acquiring information about ions contained in sweat without interrupting work or exercise in construction sites, manufacturing plants, sports, and outdoor activities. In the future, by combining this information with data, such as sweat volume and water intake, it could be applied to health management and hydration support in hot environments,” says Dr. Shitanda.

There are still important steps to take before the technology can provide reliable quantitative measurements of sweat electrolytes. Further research, including controlled sweating experiments and additional validation, will be needed to establish how accurately the device measures sodium and potassium concentrations under different conditions.

Nevertheless, the study offers a promising starting point for practical wearable electrolyte monitoring. Since the electrodes can be manufactured using printing techniques, the approach may also help make production more affordable and scalable.

In the future, similar devices could find applications in construction, sports, outdoor work, and other settings where monitoring the body's response to heat and physical exertion is important. While the technology is not yet a substitute for established medical tests, it represents a step toward wearable sensors that can gather useful physiological information as people go about their daily lives.

A team of researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), led by Professor Hnin Yin Yin Nyein of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, has created a new wearable health sensor called HELP, short for heteromodal epidermal liquid-metal patch.

The device uses liquid-metal technology to monitor breathing patterns and heart activity simultaneously. Designed to be soft, flexible, and comfortable against the skin, the patch could eventually make continuous health monitoring more accessible to people with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, allowing them to track important health signals from home without invasive procedures, reports HKUST.

Chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affect millions of people and contribute significantly to declining health and hospital admissions worldwide. Diagnosing and managing these conditions often requires assessments conducted in specialized medical facilities, making regular monitoring outside clinical settings challenging.

Wearable sensors could help bridge this gap by collecting health data during everyday activities. However, developing devices that perform reliably over long periods has proved difficult. A sensor must be sensitive enough to detect subtle movements associated with breathing and heart function while maintaining consistent readings during extended use.

Related AI-Powered Wheeze Detector Receives FDA Clearance

Liquid metals offer a potential solution because they combine electrical conductivity with exceptional flexibility. Unlike conventional rigid electronic materials, they can accommodate repeated bending and stretching while experiencing very little mechanical fatigue, making them attractive for skin-mounted wearable devices.

To manufacture HELP, the research team introduced a straightforward, scalable technique that uses stencil brushing to apply liquid metal patterns onto a prepared substrate. This manufacturing approach could simplify production, reduce costs, and make the technology suitable for large-scale manufacturing.

By combining a flexible design with simultaneous respiratory and cardiac monitoring, HELP represents a promising development in wearable healthcare technology. Further research and clinical validation will be important to establish its performance in everyday use and determine how effectively it can support long-term home monitoring.

Huawei is expanding the availability of its Watch D3 blood pressure monitoring smartwatch across the UK and Europe. Following its launch event in Munich earlier this month, the company is introducing the wearable to additional markets, accompanied by promotional discounts and complimentary gifts.

The Watch D3 represents Huawei's latest effort to improve wearable health monitoring. Its blood pressure measurement system combines a built-in micro-pump with a 25.5 mm inflatable airbag cuff, allowing the device to measure blood pressure using an approach similar to traditional cuff-based monitors, reports HC Newsroom.

First introduced globally on September 2, the smartwatch is now reaching European and UK customers. Pricing starts at £399.99 in the UK and €449 in Europe. Buyers can also benefit from a 12-month interest-free payment option, complimentary membership services, and a care package.

Huawei is adding extra incentives to the launch offer. Customers purchasing the Watch D3 will receive a pair of Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC wireless earbuds and a black 22 mm HNBR replacement strap without the inflatable air cushion.

The smartwatch is available in three finishes: Mocha Gold, Light White, and Black. Those who prefer a different look can also choose a leather-composite bracelet strap.

For international users, the global edition includes CurvePay, which supports convenient contactless payment functions. This allows compatible transactions to be completed directly from the wrist, reducing the need to reach for a phone or wallet.

Related FDA Clears Hilo Band: First Cuffless BP Monitor for OTC Use

Huawei has also refined the watch's physical design. Compared with its predecessor, the Watch D3 is slimmer and features a slightly larger display. Its 1.92-inch AMOLED screen offers a claimed peak brightness of 3,000 nits, helping improve visibility in bright outdoor conditions.

Blood pressure tracking remains the device's central feature. The Watch D3 supports 24-hour ambulatory monitoring and automatic nighttime measurements. It also includes an ambulatory blood pressure study function designed to reduce disturbance during monitoring, along with blood pressure assessments before and after exercise.

The device additionally provides alerts related to changes in temperature and altitude, giving users more environmental information alongside their health measurements.

With its cuff-based blood pressure technology, upgraded display, and expanded payment capabilities, the Huawei Watch D3 combines health-focused features with everyday smartwatch functions. However, users should follow the manufacturer's guidance on measurement accuracy and remember that wearable readings do not replace professional medical assessment when symptoms or concerning results arise.

At Wednesday’s Connect 2026 showcase, Meta officially lifted the curtain on its newest wearable: a pair of AI glasses completely devoid of cameras. Officially dubbed the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, the device tackles head-on the privacy backlash that has plagued smart eyewear in recent years.

By stripping out the lenses and image sensors, Meta hopes to shed the infamous "creeper" reputation that haunted earlier iterations – where bad actors used hidden recording capabilities to film people without their knowledge or consent. Meta had previously tried to curb this by disabling the camera if anyone tampered with the recording LED, but public discomfort lingered, reports TechCrunch.

The new Ray-Ban Meta Audio pivots entirely to sound. Starting at $349 and crafted alongside long-time hardware partner EssilorLuxottica, the specs function essentially as open-ear smart headphones. Wearers can take calls, stream music or podcasts, get live speech translation, and chat directly with Meta’s newly minted AI assistant, Muse. It’s a move that places the frames in direct competition with screenless voice accessories like Apple’s AirPods.

"Once you get used to high-quality audio, it’s just something you want around all the time," CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted during his keynote, explaining that what started as an experiment eventually morphed into its own standalone product lineup.

Shedding the camera modules allowed Meta’s design team to trim down the bulk significantly. The frames weigh just 43 grams and come equipped with practical comfort tweaks like adjustable temple tips, swappable nose pads, and flexible overextension hinges. On the battery front, Meta promises up to 12 hours of playback on a single charge, stretching to 48 hours when paired with the included charging case.

Related Meta’s Muse Charm Gives AI Wearables a Tamagotchi Twist

Style options haven't been dialed back, either. Buyers can pick from 23 frame-and-lens combinations across two brand-new silhouettes: the retro "Clubmaster" and the structured, rectangular "Burbank." Prescription lens options remain available, and pre-orders officially open on October 13.

What Else Came Out of Connect 2026?

For those who do still want visual capture, Meta didn't abandon its standard lineup. The tech giant also unveiled the camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) line. Alongside the flagship Wayfarer, Meta is adding the classic Aviator and a cat-eye frame called the Zena. These feature an upgraded 12 MP camera capable of shooting 3K Ultra HD video, a six-microphone array, and up to nine hours of battery life.

To boost global appeal, Meta is expanding its international rollout and rolling out fresh celebrity partnerships – notably tapping global pop icon Lisa, following a previous campaign with Kylie Jenner.

Every model in the lineup will integrate with Meta’s Muse AI assistant. Meta also teased a roadmap of incoming features across the ecosystem, including:

• Dolby Atmos Capture for richer sound recording
• An automated feature that selects the sharpest image out of multi-frame bursts
• Manual toggles for portrait and landscape video orientation
• Assistive audio boosts designed for users with mild hearing loss
• Customizable gesture controls and fine-tuned audio profiles
• A new "private processing" architecture aimed at keeping user interactions hidden from Meta's internal servers

AI-powered wearable devices have become something of a running joke in the tech world. Products such as Friend have made some consumers skeptical about the idea of carrying an AI companion around with them.

Meta, however, is willing to give the concept another shot.

The company has unveiled Muse Charm, a small AI-powered wearable designed to keep users connected to Meta’s recently introduced personal AI assistant, Muse.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the device during the company’s annual Connect event, saving it for a surprise “one more thing” reveal. The gadget is not quite ready for consumers yet. Zuckerberg said the company is still finalizing the internal component layout but expects Muse Charm to begin shipping in time for the December holiday season, according to Tech Crunch.

At first glance, the device looks more like a tiny digital companion than a conventional piece of technology. The palm-sized gadget can be carried in a pocket or attached to a keychain. A small built-in display shows a cute digital character called Jolly, which serves as the visual identity of the Muse AI assistant.

Users can interact with Muse by simply talking to the device. A fingerprint sensor on the corner allows them to activate the assistant without unlocking a smartphone or opening an app.

During his keynote, Zuckerberg described it as a way to put the entire Muse experience – including real-time voice interaction and its animated avatar – into a device small enough to hang from a keychain.

Related Meta Unveils High-End VR Glasses

The company believes the wearable could be particularly useful when users aren't wearing Meta's smart glasses. Instead of reaching for a phone, they can simply tap the device and start speaking to Muse. The assistant can also potentially respond to information about the user's surroundings and perform tasks on their behalf.

The design gives Muse Charm a distinctly Tamagotchi-like personality. Rather than feeling like another piece of serious-looking hardware, it resembles a small digital pet that happens to be powered by artificial intelligence.

That playful approach may also be strategic for Meta. Instead of betting heavily on another standalone AI gadget, the company can use Muse Charm as a relatively low-risk experiment in the growing AI wearable market.

More importantly, the device gives Meta another physical gateway to its AI assistant. If users become comfortable carrying Muse Charm everywhere, Meta could gain a new and more personal way to keep people interacting with its AI services throughout the day.

Whether consumers will embrace another always-available AI companion remains to be seen. But with Muse Charm, Meta appears determined to prove that AI wearables don't have to look like futuristic gadgets – they can be as simple, playful, and addictive as a tiny digital pet.

SiBionics, a Shenzhen-based Medtech company presented "See More, Act Earlier," connecting continuous sensing with future diabetes care, at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2026. Three exhibition chapters shaped this vision: "See More: Beyond Glucose," covering glucose, ketone and combined monitoring; "Act Earlier: From Insight to Intervention," exploring multimodal sensing and insulin delivery; and "Go Further: Realizing the Unimagined," looking toward broader biosensing applications.

The vision was further explored at the SiBionics industry symposium, "From Sensors to Integrated Care: Emerging Technologies Shaping the Future of Diabetes Management." The symposium was chaired by Prof. Mark Evans, of the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals, United Kingdom, and Dr. Guido Freckmann, of the Institute for Diabetes-Technology GmbH (IfDT), Germany, says a press release.

Prof. Karolina Kędzierska-Kapuza discussed CGM and individualized care in type 3c diabetes. Prof. Wei Qiang presented CGM accuracy findings and future multimodal sensing concepts. Prof. Andrej Janež explored continuous ketone monitoring in the GLP-1 era. Prof. Ahmad Haidar presented ketone monitoring research and the first findings of the SMART02 feasibility study on integrated glucose sensing and insulin delivery.

SMART02 evaluated an early prototype of niia signature, an investigational device jointly developed by PharmaSens and SiBionics since the two companies announced their collaboration in June 2025. niia signature will combine continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin delivery and an automated glucose control (AGC) algorithm in one wearable patch. It aims to reduce the burden of managing separate devices for automated insulin delivery (AID).

Related Google to Add Insulin Resistance Tracking

The study addressed a central integration challenge: maintaining glucose measurement performance when insulin is delivered close to the sensor. Temporary interference after a bolus was uncommon overall and occurred mainly with doses of 10 units or more, where the probability was 20 to 25%. On average, the sensor signal fully recovered approximately 20 minutes after bolus delivery. In the second part of the study, the prototype was also tested together with the AGC algorithm developed by Prof. Ahmad Haidar. The PharmaSens niia patch pump, the SiBionics sensor and the AGC algorithm performed consistently throughout the study. The findings, also featured at the SiBionics booth, mark an early development milestone.

Together, the exhibition and symposium connected clinical needs with emerging technologies. Through niia signature, PharmaSens and SiBionics are exploring how integration could make future AID easier to wear and use. Further research is needed to establish its performance and clinical potential.

niia signature is an investigational device. It is not approved or cleared in any market and is not available for sale.

About SIBIONICS

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Shenzhen, SiBionics is a medical technology company specializing in CGM and multi-parameter health solutions, with nearly 700 professionals worldwide. Combining advanced sensor technology with AI-driven algorithms, the company develops accessible, reliable solutions for chronic disease management.

About PharmaSens

PharmaSens AG, a privately owned Swiss company, is dedicated to simplifying diabetes management and broadening the reach of insulin pump therapy. The PharmaSens team has a wealth of experience in diabetes care and medtech device engineering, having contributed to the development of multiple insulin pump generations.