As the world is trying to reopen after a lengthy lockdown due to COVID-19, tech companies are using gadgets and apps to make the process smooth.

Temperature screening

British telecommunications firm Vodafone is deploying heat detection cameras at entrance or reception area of workplaces. The cameras are made by surveillance tech maker Digital Barriers, reports CNBC.

“The device uses both thermal and HD cameras to deliver reliable, real-time body temperature screening accurate to within +/- 0.3 degrees Celsius and can screen up to 100 people every minute,” said Anne Sheehan, director of Vodafone Business U.K.

Read more Thinklabs One Electronic Stethoscope Keeping Healthcare Professionals Safe During COVID-19 Pandemic

Responding to concerns over whether the cameras could infringe workers’ privacy, Vodafone said its cameras are a “temperature screening solution only.”

“The data it gathers is only relevant at that particular point in time,” said Sheehan. “The device doesn’t include technologies such as facial recognition and it cannot be used as a tracking device.”

Social Distancing

Tharsus. UK-based robotics group Tharsus developed wearables for workers to wear around their necks to help with distancing themselves from colleagues. The wearable smart necklace sends out alerts to wearers every time they come into close proximity with another worker. Tharsus is looking to roll the technology out in a number of workplace environments, including offices, warehouses and canteens.

Proxxi, a Vancouver, Canada-based safety technology company for industrial workforces, announced the launch of Halo, a wearable band to help employees maintain social distancing at work. Halo notifies wearers that another band is within 6 feet (2 meters), reminding them of the need to maintain social distance.

Safe Spacer. Modena, Italy-based technology company IK Multimedia has developed a wearable device that will do just that. Safe Spacer is a lightweight wearable device that helps workers and visitors to maintain safe social distancing, enabling workplaces and public spaces to re-open and operate with peace of mind.

Read more Healthcare Organizations Using Technology To Address Health Disparities During COVID-19 Pandemic

Social Distancing While Commuting

Besides social distancing at work, employees need to keep social distance while commuting to work as well. New York City has approved the private use of e-scooters and bikes, and will allow e-scooter operators to apply for permits in the city, with the exception of Manhattan. It is hoped the devices will offer a safer and more environmentally-friendly alternative for people commuting to the office. “This is about getting the public back to work moving again in a safe way,” Richard Corbett, the U.K. general manager at Swedish e-scooter firm Voi, told CNBC.

Electronic textiles, or Smart textiles are fabrics that enable digital components such as a battery and a light (including small computers), and electronics to be embedded in them. Clothes made from smart textiles provide added value to the wearer.

Read more Smart Clothes to Contribute Over $11 Bn to Fitness Wearable Revenue by 2025, Says Juniper Research

With so many nations vying to develop smart clothes, Japan is forging ahead in the race. Some of the products emerging in Japan's fast-growing market for smart clothing are a virtual-reality jacket that replicates the sense of touch, a belt that predicts when a pregnant mother will go into labor, and a vest that monitors the health of your pet, reports Nikkei Asian Review.

Smart Jacket

A smart jacket, developed by Teijin, can simulate the sense of touch in virtual reality. Its Synesthesia Wear tracks a user's movements, and attached modules vibrate in different ways depending on how the user interacts with the VR space, adding another layer of realism to the experience. The technology can be used not only in gaming but also for physical therapy, where the jacket could collect data on the user while stimulating motor function, according to Teijin.

Smart Belt

Nisshinbo Textile, a subsidiary of Nisshinbo Holdings, is working on a smart belt for pregnant mothers. The belt has a small microphone, which can monitor the baby’s heartbeat and predict a few days in advance when the mother is likely to go into labor. This belt will encourage the user to seek medical care if any abnormalities are detected. The company plans to sell the belt as regular apparel rather than a medical equipment.

Read more Smart Textiles Boost Wearable Tech Connectivity by 1,000 Times

Smart Clothing for Pets

Toyobo, one of Japan's top makers of fibers and textiles, has developed a stretchable conductive film for smart clothing. Dubbed Cocomi, the smart fabric can be used for humans and animals alike. Toyobo has already used the smart fabric to develop a product that can measure the heartbeat of racehorses. The company plans to offer similar wearables for pets and farm animals.

"Animals don't communicate with words, so bioinformation will be useful in deducing health and emotions," said a Toyobo manager.

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Wearables have been around for a few years but their popularity, especially in the form of smartwatches and fitness trackers, has taken off. For health and fitness tracking, these devices are becoming increasingly valuable. However, there’s one drawback; as wearables need battery to operate, they need regular recharging. Now, scientists are looking for natural ways to recharge these devices and they found one – sweat. Devices powered this way could be so small that you’ll forget they are there.

Several research facilities around the world have dedicated their time in developing new ways to use sweat as an energy source for wearable devices. UC-San Diego and Glasgow University are two such institutions.

Read more Wearable Device Gathers Large Samples From Sweat For Monitoring Health

UC San Diego

UC San Diego’s The Center for Wearable Sensors has world-renowned faculty and top students working in the key areas that converge to invent and test the sensing platforms and technologies that fuel the future of sensor systems. Certain chemicals found in human sweat can be used as fuel in wearable-size fuel cells. “A fuel cell consists of two electrodes—an anode and a cathode—with an electrolyte between them. The fuel goes into the anode, where a catalyst separates its molecules into electrons and protons. Sweat isn’t just water. It contains trace amounts of a wide variety of minerals and other substances like glucose and lactate. These substances, called metabolites, are by-products of the chemical processes that constantly go on inside living beings, and they make attractive biofuels,” reports IEEE Spectrum.

University of Glasgow

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed a new type of flexible supercapacitor which replaces the electrolytes found in conventional batteries with sweat. It can be fully charged with as little as 20 microliters of fluid and is robust enough to survive 4,000 cycles of the types of flexes and bends it might encounter in real-world use, University of Glasgow reported in May. The system works by coating polyester cellulose cloth in a thin layer of a polymer known as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate – or PEDOT: PSS. The team chose the polyester cellulose cloth because it is particularly absorbent, and PEDOT: PSS because it offers a useful combination of flexibility, high conductivity and environmental friendliness. The PEDOT: PSS acts as the supercapacitor’s electrode. As the cloth absorbs its wearer’s sweat, the positive and negative ions in the sweat interact with the polymer’s surface, creating an electrochemical reaction which generates energy.

Read more Energy Harvesting Nanogenerators Offer New Option For Monitoring Health

Conclusion

Our body produces sweat when we exert energy. Hence, it’s an excellent choice for powering wearable fitness trackers. But there are other ways sweat can be used in wearables. Wearable sweat sensors for monitoring biomarkers for chronic health conditions are of significant commercial interest. UC San Diego researchers have developed flexible sensors that can be worn on the skin to sensitively track vitamin C levels in sweat. The device could be useful for people to track their daily nutritional intake and dietary adherence.

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The global software-defined perimeter market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% over the forecast period 2020 to 2025, according to a new report by ResearchAndMarkets.com. Wikipedia defines Software Defined Perimeter as: “Software Defined Perimeter (SDP), also called a "Black Cloud", is an approach to computer security which evolved from the work done at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) under the Global Information Grid (GIG) Black Core Network initiative around 2007. Software-defined perimeter (SDP) framework was developed by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) to control access to resources based on identity.”

Read more Global Blockchain IoT Market Expected To Grow At A CAGR of 44.83% To $2,389 Million By 2025

The ResearchAndMarkets report titled “Global Software-Defined Perimeter Market: Growth, Trends and Forecast (2020-2025),” states:

“Cloud services are the primary drivers for the digital transformation with ubiquitous adoption in various industries. It has brought different security challenges for the business that is the crucial reason promoting the growth of the global software-defined perimeter market during the projected period.”

Cloud services provide significant opportunities to accelerate the business through rapid scalability and the flexibility of resource utilization. It also reduces operational costs as well as control financial spending on large scale upgrades as cloud computing facilitates seamless scaling at reasonable costs, reports BusinessWire.

Key Market Trends

BFSI Sector Will Experience Significant Growth

• Wide-scale adoption of digitalization in every sector has also touched the financial sector, and most of the banks are migrating their data, process, and infrastructure to hybrid cloud to benefit from both, on-premises, and off-premise cloud implementation.
• The rapid adoption of electronic devices and high penetration of the internet has also fueled the growth of digital services and increased the customers' expectations for ease of payment, 24x7 uptime, secure storage, and interoperability. It has created an opportunity to maintain a multi-channel relationship with customers at a much-reduced cost. Cloud computing has also shortened the development cycles for new products and supports a faster and more efficient response to the needs of the customers.
• However, it had led to the emergence of cybertheft across the globe and challenges customers financial security and personal privacy. For instance, over 1.4 billion records were lost to data breaches in March 2017 alone, and many of them involved cloud servers. As well as cyber hackers via the SWIFT network had illegally transferred close to USD 1 billion from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York account belonging to Bangladesh Bank.
• Many financial institutions are collaborating with technology solution vendors to advance their cyber security solutions and protect sensitive data. For instance, SBI, most significant and most prominent public sector bank in India, has partnered with Trend Micro to secure its endpoints VMs and digital infrastructure, including cloud and mobility assets. The company has deployed its endpoint and server security solutions across more than 26000 branches of SBI in and outside India, covering over 275,000 endpoints along with securing 29,000 VMs (virtual machines).

North America to Hold a Significant Market Share

• The healthcare industry is experiencing a transformation with new tools and technologies to reconstruct the delivery of health services in order to improve efficiency with better patient care.
• Digital healthcare services provide personalized patient care at reduced costs. According to a recent HIMSS Analytics survey, over 83% of healthcare organizations are already using cloud services.
• Moreover, major players in the retail sector are embracing hybrid cloud solutions with various applications in their own data center and others in the public cloud, in order to benefit from both on-premise and off-premise cloud implementation and to create a great shopping experience. For instance, Amazon Go stores utilize a combination of computer vision, deep learning, and sensor fusion technology to automate the payment and checkout process. So that customer can directly enter the store, pick-up items and leave without queuing while the payment is made automatically through the Amazon Go app.
• The recent outbreak of COVID-19 across the globe is expected to have a short-term increase in demand of security software owing to the increased usage of API and other services from distributed infrastructure. This is expected to influence a significant growth in demand over the next few years as the number of enterprises adopting digital infrastructure is expected to increase.

Competitive Landscape

The global software-defined perimeter market is moderately concentrated and is dominated by a few significant players like Perimeter 81, ZScaler, Cisco Systems, Inc, Okta Inc., APPGate, and Check Point. These major players, with a prominent share in the market, are focusing on expanding their customer base across foreign countries.

Read more Worldwide Wearable Display Market Is Forecasted To Grow At A CAGR Of 20%

Recent Developments

• April 2020 - Okta, Inc. entered strategic partnerships with leading endpoint protection and management providers VMware Carbon Black, CrowdStrike, and Tanium. The new integration partnerships provide a broad set of device risk signals to the Okta Identity Cloud, enabling enterprises to combine endpoint risk detection with user identity to deliver unparalleled access security.
• March 2020 - AppGate, the cybersecurity company signed a distribution agreement with Promark, a premier, the U.S focused value-added distributor. It will distribute AppGate SDP, a unique and robust software-defined perimeter solution, among its growing base of U.S. channel partners.

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Los Angeles-based Sensoria Health announced that it finished the development of the first-ever IoT connected, AI-enabled and comfortable cushion and software system designed for wheelchair users to reduce risk of ulceration, reports MedGadget.

If you spend significant time in a wheelchair you are at risk of developing pressure ulcers. About 3 million people suffer from pressure sores and 60,000 patients lose their lives due to complications related to pressure ulcers each year in the US. The best way to prevent ulcers is to change position and perform pressure relief exercises, Sensoria said on its website.

Read more Sensoria Announces Total End-to-End Knee Replacement Surgery

In the US, there are over 2.7 million wheelchair users and about 3 million people who suffer from pressure ulcers. Our body is not designed to sit for long hours every day without regular movement. Once a patient develops a pressure injury, the healing process is long and painful and may include prolonged bed rest, intensive wound care, and reconstructive surgery.

Wheelchair seat cushions are designed for comfort, pressure management, posture improvement, and increased stability. However, it’s hard to tell if they actually reduce the risk of ulceration.

Each Sensoria® Mat is hand-made. The mat has two parts. The first part has a carefully crafted cushion with skin refreshing gel and comfortable memory foam paired with a proprietary mat insert that is infused with soft textile pressure sensors. The second part is the Sensoria Core – a Bluetooth Smart rechargeable, miniaturized IoT hub device that snaps into the insert to collect pressure relief data and helps wheelchair users maintain their daily rehab, stay healthy and reduce risk of ulceration, the MedGadget report said.

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“The new Sensoria Mat is easy to use and it can help people get started and stay healthy by weight shifting and lifting part of their own weight on a wheelchair a few times a day, coached by a simple and elegant mobile app in their own wellness and fitness journey,” said Garrison Redd, team USA top powerlifter athlete, professional football coach and disabled rights activist in New York.

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Lithuania based smart medical company Zive received medical CE clearance for its ECG recorder.

World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that cardiovascular diseases are on the rise. Many people suffering from cardiac arrhythmia are unable to find a solution. Existing Holter monitors are expensive, complex and uncomfortable to use, reports MedGadget.

Zive ECG provides long-term ECG monitoring with ease. Simply put your Zive ECG strap on, connect optional electrodes for 3 lead ECG monitoring, launch Zive app and follow an instant analysis of your heart in real-time

Read more Eko’s AI-Powered AFib and Heart Murmur Detection Algorithms Get FDA Clearance

You can connect it via Bluetooth or store Your data device memory for long term (up to 48h without recharge).

The Zive app puts your data in one place, accessible with a tap, giving you a clear and current overview of your heart status during day & night. Zive app keeps track of full 3 lead ECG, identifies extra or missed beats. Know instantly if your heart rhythm is normal. With Zive app track your palpitations, symptoms and risk factors over time.

Charge your device with the supplied docking station in less an hour and restart Your heart monitoring for another 48 hours. Easily access Your ECG data and send it to Your physician or use 3rd party software for additional analysis.

Read more Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance and Fitbit Collaborate on AFib Diagnosis

Thanks to Zive ECG, you can now have a cost-effective tool providing peace of mind for you and your family. ZIVE ECG monitor targets home users with simple interface and usage. Unique features of the Zive ECG:

• Chest Strap
• Take ECG recordings anytime anywhere
• Instant heart rate analysis
• Detect normal heart rhythm or AFib
• Unlimited cloud storage and history
• Tracking weight and medication
• Smart monitoring and notifications for smartphone
• Let's you monitor your heart 24/7
• Easy to use
• Simple setup
• Portable
• Unisex
• Battery lifetime up to 50 days

Facedrive, a leading tech developer, based in Canada, announced that its COVID-19 contact tracing wearable solution TraceSCAN is launching a pilot project in partnership with the Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) in early August.

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“The safety and well-being of LiUNA members remain our highest priority. We are pleased to have TraceSCAN wearables available to the membership of LiUNA working together to ensure heightened protection at the workplace amid COVID-19,” said Joseph Mancinelli, LiUNA International Vice President and Regional Manager of Central and Eastern Canada. “We will continue to ensure that the health and safety of all members remains at the centre of all decision making, including the pilot of this innovative safety measure, as we continue building stronger communities across Canada,” added Mancinelli.

The pilot project will take place at a worksite in Hamilton, ON, where every employee is assigned a dedicated wearable device for COVID-19 contact tracing. TraceSCAN has developed a custom deployment process to ensure that contact tracing is done completely independent of phone use. As part of the pilot setup, there is a designated station for employees to upload contact history through Bluetooth at the end of each workday. Facedrive Health will provide support in deploying the contact tracing solution, training staff, and close monitoring to ensure successful adoption, reports BusinessWire.
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“We are excited to be piloting the TraceSCAN Wearables in partnership with LiUNA. We believe that the learnings from this pilot will inform our national and international deployment strategy,” said Facedrive Chairman and CEO Sayan Navaratnam. “As businesses begin to reopen and people return to work, TraceSCAN Wearables presents a viable alternative to other contact tracing applications to enhance our COVID-19 containment efforts in the workplace. As an ESG-focused “people-and-planet-first” platform, we are committed to having a meaningful positive impact on the lives and the health of our community,” added Navaratnam.

Related COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps In Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway Among Most Dangerous for Privacy

Facedrive is a multi-faceted “people-and-planet first” platform offering socially-responsible services to local communities with a strong commitment to doing business fairly, equitably and sustainably. Facedrive Health develops innovative technological solutions to the most acute health challenges of the day. Facedrive Rideshare was the first to offer green transportation solutions in the TaaS space, planting thousands of trees and giving users a choice between electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and conventional vehicles. Facedrive Marketplace offers curated merchandise created from sustainably sourced materials. Facedrive Foods offers contactless deliveries of healthy foods right to consumers’ doorsteps.

When a soldier is wounded in the battlefield, it becomes very difficult to give them proper care, because operating rooms are too far from the battlefield. Generally, the Wounded in Action are far more numerous than those killed.

A team of researchers from Purdue University and the Indiana University School of Medicine has developed an augmented reality (AR) telemedicine system that can be successfully used in very difficult and stressful situations. The researchers named their system ‘STAR’ (System for Telementoring with Augmented Reality), reports Purdue University.

Their study shows medics successfully performing surgery in life-like simulations of these war zones by receiving guidance from surgeons through an augmented reality headset. The work is joint with Purdue’s School of Industrial Engineering and the Department of Computer Science.

Read more COVID-19 Pandemic Will Propel US Telehealth Market To Grow At A CAGR of Over 29% During 2019-25

The headset transmits a recorded view of the operating site to the surgeon, who can then use a large display touch screen to mark up the recording with drawings of how to complete the surgical procedure. Augmented reality helps the first responder see the surgeon’s annotated instructions directly on their view of the operating field.

Operating rooms across the U.S. have already started using AR telementoring to virtually bring in the expertise of other surgeons on how to use a new instrument or better perform a particular procedure.

But this technology hasn’t made it to “austere” settings, such as a battlefield or forest thousands of miles away from a hospital, where a first responder could be treating injuries far too complex for their level of expertise, said Juan Wachs, Purdue University’s James A. and Sharon M. Tompkins Rising Star Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering.

“Augmented reality telementoring doesn’t usually operate well in extreme scenarios. Too much smoke can prevent visual sensors from working, for example,” Wachs said.

The study evaluated first responders using STAR to perform on a patient simulator a common procedure that opens up a blocked airway, called a cricothyroidotomy. Even the responders with no or little experience performing this procedure prior to the study successfully operated after receiving instructions from surgeons through STAR.

Read more Philips Healthcare Signs Deal with US Air Force for Remote Patient Monitoring

The simulations took place both indoors and outdoors, including smoke and sounds of gunshots, explosions and helicopters. The researchers found that first responders more successfully performed the cricothyroidotomies with STAR than with just hearing a surgeon’s voice for each of these scenarios. If smoke made the visualization too unreliable, the responders could still do the operation when STAR automatically switched to audio-only telementoring.

Medicsen developed a needle-free smart patch for painless drug delivery through the skin, based on ultrasound waves that safely increase the permeability of the skin. The device can be standardised to multiple drugs (insulin, heparin, antibodies), is controllable with electronic means, and they have validated the approach in vivo with pigs.

The Medicsen Smartpatch:

• Harmless waves increase the size of natural skin pores.
• Macromolecules up to 2000KDa enter through skin (heparin, insulin ...).
• Is built in a wearable, comfortable device (4x2x1 cm).
• Is painless and safe (pores close when device stops).

The founders – two medical doctors and two telecom engineers – created Medicsen in 2015. Their focus have always been to create a wearable and comfortable injector for patients with chronic daily injections. This innovative healthcare start-up from Spain excited over 8.500 audiences of the 6th Medica Connected Healthcare Forum in 2018 and won the 11th Healthcare Innovation World Cup®.Read more about the success story of Medicsen here.

Feelmore Labs, an innovative wellness technology company driven by neuroscience, unveiled its inaugural product, Cove, a wearable device that effortlessly reduces stress and improves sleep. Using cutting-edge, patented neuroscience technology, the device silently applies gentle vibrations behind the ears that initiate a natural biological pathway between the skin and the brain. By harnessing this connection, Cove is able to activate the part of the brain that regulates anxiety, leading to a profound and durable sense of calm.

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Scientific studies have shown that consistent daily use of the device in 20-minute increments results in reduced stress and enhanced sleep, ultimately improving resilience to stress. Poised to be the future of self-care, Cove may be worn at any time to reduce stress -- during the course of the day while doing other things, like working, or at night before bed to help the user fall asleep faster and sleep longer, says a press release.

"Particularly during these challenging times, many of us are facing stress, uncertainty, fear, and doubt. The traditional ways to overcome and manage these feelings have yet to naturally activate resilience, which is where Feelmore Labs and Cove comes in," said Francois Kress, Co-Founder and CEO of Feelmore Labs. "Cove was created as a simple tool to effortlessly build resilience to stress, better equipping you to deal with it as it arises, while also improving sleep. As Cove doesn't require dedicated time or effort, our goal is for users to seamlessly incorporate it into their daily routines, using it as a resource to find a healthy balance between stress and relaxation. Cove helps you put on peace of mind."

Over a four-year span, clinical studies found that more than 90% of participants who used Cove for 30 days experienced a stress reduction of 41% and a sleep quality improvement of nearly 50%. These results show Cove's promise versus other solutions like meditation, which according to a 2014 Johns Hopkins Medicine study, only improved anxiety symptoms by 5-10%.

The Cove device comes with a companion app (available on iPhone and Android) that can be used to view session history, check stats and streaks, and keep a progress journal. In the near future, heart rate and motion data collected during each session will be used to report stress measurements of the user. With the comfort of the user in mind, the app does not need to be used during Cove sessions; however, it is recommended to check it between sessions for a more complete experience and to support consistent daily use of the device.

Related This Wearable Sensor Monitors Stress by Detecting Cortisol Level

Feelmore Labs is backed by major venture capital firms including True Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, and M13, and is led by a diverse team of scientists, medical professionals, and business and technology executives. Its scientific advisory board is made up of experts in neuromodulation, mood disorders, and sleep science from top institutions including Brown University and Harvard Medical School.

Cove will be available to consumers starting Fall 2020, and can be purchased online through the company’s website.

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Dawson Racing announced its association with Atlanta, Georgia-based Square 1 Flex for its new custom Visa payment-enabled e-wallet and Dawson Racing themed wearable device. As consumers increasingly look for touchless payment opportunities, the new offerings will allow fans to complete transactions more safely on or off the track, while earning points through the new loyalty rewards program.

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The SQ1 Mobile Companion Application is a true all-in-one (AIO) eWallet. It introduces a solution that encompasses the latest in contactless payment capabilities on wearables devices, physical companion cards, and mobile phone payments with a complete management eWallet for the user. SQ1 Flex enables members via ACH, debit and credit card, or direct deposit to securely load and manage their account, make purchases, gain rewards, and redeem points globally all from their Dawson Racing app, says a press release.

SQ1 Flex is an industry disruptor in payments, security, and user applications, providing a comprehensive experience and powerful hosted analytics platform. The SQ1 Flex solution connects Dawson Racing directly to its fans and members like never before -- 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year anywhere in the world. SQ1 Flex leverages next generation encryption that includes biometric security features, ID validation, and geolocation with a curated customer marketplace and loyalty rewards program. Square 1 Flex enables Dawson Racing to engage with its fans and members like never before.

The alliance with SQ1 Flex will provide custom insights and value-added benefits for Dawson Racing's professional racing and esports teams and athletes, particularly in motorsports, and other businesses, as it advances the platforms available to fans and members.

Through Dawson Racing's loyalty and rewards programs, fans and members can accrue points for purchases by using the wearable band, the mobile app or accompanying physical companion card anywhere Visa contactless payments are accepted. The Dawson Racing Mobile app is available now for download from Google Play and iOS App Stores.

“We are truly excited about our association with Square 1 Flex as our wearable technology partners," said Simon Dawson, VP Marketing, Dawson Racing. “Square 1 Flex's secure payment technology is the best and most innovative on the planet. The combined solution of the branded secure wearable wristband, SQ1 Flex mobile app, ID validation, loyalty rewards program capabilities and more are what make SQ1 the perfect partner as we expand our team and offerings. We couldn't be prouder to have them as part of our team.”

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“We are all fans at heart and want to belong. These are the core principals our offering is built on; Breaking down barriers to provide true value to fans and members globally with a revolutionary and socially responsible financial solution to bring people together as a community. We are the new norm and disruptive in nature," said Kenneth Boyle, Principal Partner at Square 1 Flex. “We see the value of Dawson Racing and the motorsports community and immediately saw that this was a company we wanted to be aligned with and help grow. With Simon and his team's vision, the value-added possibilities of this technology are limitless and we're very excited to be involved in providing state-of-the-art payment technology to their programs.”

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Guide dogs help blind people by leading them to their desired destination. However, only a small proportion of blind people use a guide dog to get around, and for others, it is not even an option due to prohibiting lifestyle reasons – such as allergies, expenses or house size.

Anthony Camu, a final year Industrial Design and Technology student at Loughborough University in England, designed a digital guide dog for visually impaired people that fall into the latter category.

Read more Wearable Device Uses Ultrasound to Detect Obstacles for Blind People

Inspired by virtual reality gaming consoles, he has conceptualized and started to prototype ‘Theia’, a portable and concealable handheld device that guides users through outdoor environments and large indoor spaces with very little user input, reports Loughborough University.

Using Theia

Anthony says much like a self-driving car, Theia – which is aptly named after the titan goddess of sight – will program routes to reach destinations and avoids accidents along the way.

To use Theia, a user would simply say: “Hey Theia, take me to (for example) Cabot Circus”.

As an internet of things (IOT) device, Theia will then process real-time data available online, such as traffic density (pedestrians and cars) and weather, to guide users accurately and safely to their destinations.

While guiding a user from A to B, Anthony envisages it will also assist with tackling specific interactions such as elevators, stairs, entrances, shops, and pedestrian crossings, to name a few.

Theia will also have a fail-safe procedure for high-risk scenarios, such as crossing busy intersections.

When a user is close to a crossing, Theia will push them back and enter ‘manual mode’, which is a bit like using a cane.

The technology

Anthony aims to combine Lidar [a remote sensing method that uses light] and cameras so Theia can capture a three-dimensional image of the users’ surroundings.

Powerful onboard processors will then determine the best path to take and separate routes into individual commands – for example, bear left at 1.4 m/s.

The problem from here is communicating this information to the visually impaired person, and Theia aims to tackle this by physically ‘leading’ users.

Theia will communicate complex walking maneuvers and actually move users’ hands in open space using a novel form of force feedback that involves a control moment gyroscope (CMG) – tech found in satellites and space vehicles, including the international space station.

Read more These New Generation of Wearables are Empowering Blind and the Visually Impaired

Following user testing, a unique system of force and resistance was found, which can communicate complex walking maneuvers in real-time.

“Theia has the capacity to expand a blind person’s comfort zones and possibilities, broaden their horizons and allow them to think less about walking and more about what’s waiting for them at the end of the route,” said Anthony.

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Wearable medical devices offer a convenient means of monitoring many physiological features of our body. These devices, which include insulin pumps, continuous heart rate monitors, and neural stimulators, need an electric power source to function. Now, a team of scientists at Purdue University has developed self-powered wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based contact layers for monitoring cardiovascular health. TENGs help conserve mechanical energy and turn it into power, reports Purdue University.

The researchers published their work in the journal Advanced Materials.

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“The PVA-based TENGs show great potential for self-powered biomedical devices and open doors to new technologies that use widely deployed biocompatible materials for economically feasible and ecologically friendly production of functional devices in energy, electronics and sensor applications,” said Wenzhuo Wu, the Ravi and Eleanor Talwar Rising Star Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering in Purdue’s College of Engineering, who led the development team. “We transform PVA, one of the most widely used polymers for biomedical applications, into wearable, self-powered triboelectric devices which can detect the imperceptible degree of skin deformation induced by human pulse and capture the cardiovascular information encoded in the pulse signals with high fidelity.”

Cardiovascular health is typically measured by echocardiogram to measure electrical activity in the heart or photoplethysmography that measures changes in blood volume in the peripheral microvasculature.

“These technologies can often be invasive to patients and have not yet been adapted into wearables for personalized on-demand monitoring,” Wu said. “TENGs with PVA blend contact layers produce fast readout with distinct peaks for blood ejection, blood reflection in the lower body, and blood rejection from the closed aortic valve, which may enable detection of common cardiovascular diseases such as cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease.”

Wu said PVA offers a valuable opportunity as potential constituents in future wearable self-powered devices. The PVA-based triboelectric devices can harvest the mechanical energy from the human body and use such electric power to support the operations of other biomedical devices.

Read more Researchers Develop Stretchable Thermoelectric Coils for Energy Harvesting in Flexible Wearable Devices

According to Wu, the PVA-based triboelectric devices can function as self-powered sensors to detect and monitor the mechanical activities from the human body in applications such as health monitoring, human-machine interface, teleoperated robotics, consumer electronics and virtual and augmented technologies.

The creators are looking for partners to commercialize their technology.

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NuEyes, a leading augmented reality smartglass company that empowers those who suffer from severe vision loss, announced a new pilot study in collaboration with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) and Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI). The pilot is being conducted as part of the 2020 MassChallenge HealthTech program, an effort to boost startups at the intersection of healthcare and technology, supported by the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative.

Related Comcast Partners with NuEyes to Help Customers with Visual Disabilities Watch TV

“At NuEyes, we are extremely passionate about empowering those with severe vision loss in new and exciting ways. Comprehensive pilot studies like this are embedded into our DNA. From the first pilot study launched in 2013 to now we strive to bring the best augmented reality smart glass technology to market. Collaborating with two esteemed organizations like the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and Massachusetts eHealth Institute is an absolute honor for us, and we feel that the result of these studies will further advance smart glass technology for the visually impaired," said Mark Greget Founder and CEO of NuEyes.

This comprehensive pilot study will last 16 weeks and encompass 30 participants from across Massachusetts. During the study, a multitude of visually impaired focus groups will test five NuEyes head-worn devices that are slated for various commercial releases later this year and into the first part of 2021. The groups will be focused on daily tasks, mobility issues, connectivity issues, as well as how well the current and future products affect their visual acuity. Current form factors, resolution of cameras, and the displays of these low-vision, head-worn magnifiers will also be evaluated to ensure that all future products will meet the necessary requirements to enable the visually impaired in new ways, says a press release.

"Every day, we learn that Assistive Technology is a lifeline for some of the individuals we serve who are blind and visually impaired. We are committed to ensuring that this lifeline continues and improves by working with organizations and companies that are on the cutting edge of assistive technology in the Commonwealth. Our unique pilot program with NuEyes will allow a sample of our consumers to test new AT devices and provide direct feedback to the company as we work together to grow the best assistive technology for consumers to be successful at work and home," said MCB Commissioner David D'Arcangelo.

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Laurance Stuntz, Director of MeHI, commented:

“Our parent agency, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, was founded upon a commitment to catalyze public, private, and academic collaboration to solve shared challenges. This project is a prime example of how our state's Digital Health Initiative is driving innovation through our state's Digital Health Initiative, by bringing together the MCB, a Massachusetts state agency, and NuEyes, an innovative California company to advance their cutting-edge products, while at the same time getting these assistive devices into the hands of Massachusetts residents. By supporting programs like MassChallenge Health Tech, we're also introducing innovative startups to the world-class healthcare and technology thought leaders that call Massachusetts home.”

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One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is respiratory problems, and people with asthma are badly affected by the disease as it can make breathing even more difficult. Now, electroCore, a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company, announced that the FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authorizing the use of gammaCore Sapphire™ CV non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) at home or in a healthcare setting to acutely treat adult patients with known or suspected COVID-19 who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related dyspnea and reduced airflow, and for whom approved drug therapies are not tolerated or provide insufficient symptom relief, reports GlobeNewsWire.

“Needless to say, we are very pleased to have received this EUA, and we intend work vigorously to make this novel therapy available to physicians treating known or suspected COVID 19 patients who are experiencing exacerbation of asthma-related breathing difficulty,” said Dan Goldberger, Chief Executive Officer of electroCore.

Read more FDA Approves AiRTouch Portable X-Ray, Could Be Potentially Used For COVID-19 Diagnosis

Peter Staats, MD, Chief Medical Officer, went on to say, “Results from prior pilot studies that evaluated gammaCore for the acute treatment of asthma support our belief that nVNS may provide much-needed relief to patients who are experiencing asthma-related breathing difficulty, which can be particularly debilitating in patients with COVID-19.”

Image: gammaCore

JP Errico, electroCore Board member, co-founder and co-inventor of gammaCore, commented, “This FDA decision is an encouraging first step toward developing evidence that may provide a basis for electroCore to pursue expansion of nVNS into reactive airway disease (RAD), which was the first area of research for electroCore.”

Read more FDA Expands Use of Remote Patient Monitoring During COVID-19 Emergency

electroCore will provide additional details on the pricing and distribution of gammaCore CV under this EUA in the coming weeks.

The EUA is based on preliminary data from two prospective studies of use of VNS or nVNS to treat asthma:

Study                    Design                  N                          Findings

VNS for the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations

nVNS for the relief of acute bronchoconstriction due to asthma

Prospective, multicenter, open-label study490 minutes after acute percutaneous VNS treatment, FEV1 improved from baseline by a mean of 73%, and mean VAS dyspnea score decreased from 8 (at baseline) to 1Prospective, multicenter, open-label study3090 minutes after acute nVNS treatment, 93% of patients reported improvement in VAS dyspnea score, and 86% had improvements in FEV1

^{Abbreviations: FEV}₁^{, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; nVNS, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation; VAS, visual analog scale.
Staats.P, Giannakopoulos.G, Blake.J, Liebler.E, Levy.R. April 27, 2020. Use of Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Treat Respiratory Symptoms Associated with COVID-19: A Theoretical Hypothesis and Early Clinical Experience, Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface.}

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The global motion sensor market size is projected to touch USD 8.7 billion by 2025. The market is anticipated to grow at 7.8% CAGR, according to a new report by Million Insights. The growing use of motion sensors in gaming devices and consumer electronics is driving the market growth. Rapidly increasing consumer electronics market is positively affecting the market growth. For example, newly introduced wearable devices are gaining traction among consumers.

Read more Global E-compass Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR of 14% From 2019 to 2024

Technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmentative Reality (AR) are increasingly getting popular in consumer electronics. These technologies are incorporated in smartphones and wearable devices such as VR glass, smart glass, head-up display and VR motion chairs. Motion sensors play a crucial role in the development of VR and AR applications. The number of VR users has increased from 1 million in 2014 to 150+ million in 2018. Thus, growing VR application is expected to create a lucrative opportunity for the market players, says a press release.

For AR/VR domain, motion sensors are used for gaming applications. Motion gaming system enables players to interact with the help of body movements. The demand for interactive games has increased significantly over the last few years, thereby, supporting the growth of motion sensors.

Europe held the largest share in the motion sensors market and the region is projected to maintain its dominance over the next few years. Presence of leading automobile giant in the region is driving the growth of the market. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast duration.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

• Asia Pacific is a key market for consumer electronics and thereby, projected to occupy a significant share in the market over the forecast duration.
• The microwave category is predicted to exhibit a significant growth rate as they can operate in the K-band frequency range.
• Healthcare segment is projected to grow considerably owing to the increasing demand for wireless body area networks.
• Leading players operating in the market are Kionix, Inc., NXP Semiconductors, SENSINOVA, TE Connectivity Ltd. and STMicroelectronics among others.

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Million Insights has segmented the global motion sensor market based on technology, application, and region

Motion Sensor Technology Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• Infrared
• Ultrasonic
• Microwave
• Dual Technology
• Tomographic
• Others

Read more Worldwide Wearable Display Market Is Forecasted To Grow At A CAGR Of 20%

Motion Sensor Application Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• Consumer Electronics
• Automotive
• Aerospace & Defense
• Healthcare
• Industrial
• Others

Motion Sensor Regional Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

North America

• S.
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• K.

Asia Pacific

• China
• India
• Japan

Central & South America

• Brazil
• Mexico

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

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Singapore-based HealthTech startup SSIVIX Lab has launched its MyCLNQ mobile app, which provides several key benefits to enhance the quality of life for the community. The startup has currently 15,000 users for its MyCLNQ app and plans to expand regionally in the next two years.

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MyCLNQ serves as a one-stop-shop to take care of all your healthcare needs smartly and digitally. Thanks to the built-in smart AI feature, you can quickly view the least waiting time at various nearby clinics located in the neighborhood and take care of your medical needs. You can also set up a digital appointment and browse for the most appropriate and available doctor to seek medical attention from.

SSVIX’s immediate focus is mainly on patient care beyond hospitals and clinics through the use of AI, IoT, and blockchain technologies. It also plans to expand regionally in India and Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in the coming two years, reports MobiHealthNews.

Telemedicine has allowed healthcare to be more accessible as doctors can now care for patients remotely without physical presence. You can set up a chat, video, or teleconsultation easily and consult with a doctor online in your preferred language. Especially for non-urgent cases, there is no longer a need for you to schedule an in-person visit with a doctor to receive treatment. With secure and stable video and audio connections, you can now reach doctors virtually, gain better access to care, and have your medicine delivered right to your doorstep, SSVIX Lab said on its website.

Using the built-in AI feature, you can search and filter through the results for the nearest available doctors in the neighborhood and book your appointment online. Since it’s based on location, you will be directed to the relevant clinics and doctors that are accessible and convenient by distance. The smart feature also allows you to have a bird’s eye view on the waiting times at nearby clinics and avoid the crowd for a quicker consultation.

Read more How FDA is Backing the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Telemedicine

As the leading healthcare app in Singapore, MyCLNQ is changing the way you receive healthcare. The company is focused on the MedTech industry that leverages devices which people use daily, such as smartphones, to connect all healthcare needs in one online platform.

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According to a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global respiratory monitoring devices market is expected to garner around 6% CAGR during 2019 to 2027.

Read more Wearable Medical Devices Market to Surpass $29 Billion by 2026, According to Transparency Market Research

The popularity of non-invasive methods has helped the pulse oximeters segment climb to valuation of approximately US$ 3.4 Bn by 2027.

Research analysts at TMR assert that manufacturers in the respiratory monitoring devices market should focus on improving the effectiveness, convenience, and reliability of sensors in spirometry and capnometry. In particular, focus on innovation on flow and pressure sensors to improve management of respiratory diseases in all clinical settings, says a press release.

Key Findings of Respiratory Monitoring Devices Market Report

• Of the various types of products, pulse oximeter segment held the leading share in 2018 in respiratory monitoring devices market
• Of all the end-use segments, hospitals held the majority of market share in 2018
• Home care is expected to rise at promising pace and will gain share by the end of 2027
• Among the various key regional markets, North America accounted for the majority of share in 2018
• Asia Pacific respiratory monitoring devices market to rise at robust CAGR of ~7% during 2019 – 2027

Respiratory Monitoring Devices Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

• Growing focus on respiratory health in worldwide population is a key driver for opportunities in the respiratory monitoring devices market. The prevalence and mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma is a key factor bolstering the demand for respiratory monitoring devices for diagnostic and therapeutic ends.
• To put things in perspective, per a 2017 report by the WHO, 3 million die every year due to COPD. Further, asthma is the third leading cause of death worldwide
• Rapidly aging population and increasing pollution levels have fueled the prospects in the respiratory monitoring devices market. According to a projection by the WHO, the geriatric population will touch 1.5 Bn by 2050.
• Advances in performance of polysomnography have improved clinical evaluation of problems in sleep patterns, thereby boosting the respiratory monitoring devices market.

• The growing clinical role of respiratory monitoring devices in managing sleep apnea. Over the years, sleep monitoring devices have grown in clinical relevance
• In recent years, numerous product approvals have been made in home care segments. The application smart peak flow meters in detecting asthma exacerbations has also fueled revenues in the respiratory monitoring devices market.

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The Respiratory Monitoring Devices Market can be segmented as follows:

Product

• Pulse Oximeters
• Capnographs
• Spirometers
• Polysomnographs (PSG)
• Peak Flow Meters
• Gas Analyzers
• Others

End User

• Home care
• Hospitals
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers
• Specialty Clinics

Region

• North America
  • S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • K.
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC Countries
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa

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In the U.S., one of the biggest health disparities comes from racial and ethnic differences. Health disparities related to race take on many forms, including higher rates of chronic disease and premature death compared to whites.

Read more The Role Technology is Playing to Stem the Tide of COVID-19

These disparities were only made more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black, Native American Indian, and Latinx communities faced the highest rates of severe illness, according to the CDC.

Addressing Social determinants of health (SDOH) and preventing people from getting sick can be a more effective strategy than simply treating them afterward, reports MobiHealthNews.

Organizations such as NowPow and ChristianCare are focusing on SDOH by offering platforms that connect health systems, health providers and health plans to community resources.

“Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put some members of racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting COVID-19 or experiencing severe illness, regardless of age,” the CDC said on its website.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, NowPow had to adjust its services for customers located in the heart of the pandemic. Some of the company’s largest networks were in New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

“We were in the thick of it, and we immediately, because we’re supporting these larger organizations, understood the magnitude of what was happening,” Kohler said.

As a result, NowPow began integrating “COVID status tags” in the platform to keep users up to date on what was opening and in what capacity.

The company also created a rapid sign-on system where a link could be sent out by text to a potential user to immediately get them registered on the platform. New emergency services popping up in the areas covered by NowPow could use the rapid sign-on to get added to the registry.

“NowPow has made it our business to know more than 45,000 community and emergency-relief services which are open and operating,” Lindau said. “So when we send people to places – people who have a real need and who find it hard to get to places under the current circumstances – those [services] are there to help them.”

Other companies, like Unite Us, which was featured in a recent HIMSS20 Digital session, have also been addressing SDOH during the pandemic.

As people begin to look past the pandemic, the need to change the way the U.S. treats healthcare has become evident, the MobiHealthNews report said.

Read more Wearables Playing Crucial Role In-Patient Monitoring During COVID-19 Pandemic

Other health organizations are focusing on legislation like the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, which would provide funding and assistance for community-based health to address SDOH.

If passed, the bill would help set up grants from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, increase coordination between health and social service programs, and set up program-evaluation criteria.

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As Singapore enters a safe re-opening phase, OCBC Bank has partnered with seven medical groups to launch the HealthPass by OCBC mobile app, providing access to more than 100 general practitioners (GPs) and specialists. The app will address the healthcare needs of all Singapore residents over the age of 18, including non-OCBC Bank customers.

Read more How FDA is Backing the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Telemedicine

Video consultations with both GPs and specialist doctors can be booked and administered through the app, with medication delivered to the patient’s doorstep, reports OCBC.

The consultation fee is kept flat at S$20 for each telehealth and in-clinic visit to a GP during normal operating hours. Patients pay a flat fee of S$100 for the first telehealth or in-clinic consultation with any of the 63 specialist doctors from 21 specialties including gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology, dermatology and oncology, which are among the top fields of specialist medicine Singaporeans often seek medical advice for. Medication and diagnostic procedures are charged separately based on current practices.

Singapore Medical Group, one of the partners for HealthPass by OCBC, estimates that there has been a 60% surge in specialist tele-consults since the onset of COVID-19. Apart from Singapore Medical Group, the other medical partners for HealthPass by OCBC are StarMed Specialist Centre, Thomson Medical, Faith Medical Group, OneCare Medical Group, Etern Medical and True Medical.

HealthPass by OCBC integrates directly with the healthcare partner’s clinic management systems, and information is only accessible by users and their doctors, which provides personal data privacy and security. Patients can also access digital Medical Certificates (MC), clinic invoices and laboratory results from the clinics visited securely through the app. This makes it convenient for patients, especially those with on-going medical needs, to easily retrieve past records for doctor consultations without the hassle of retrieving hard copies and maintaining a physical file.

The wellness shop in the HealthPass app gives users access to more than 100 merchant offers for wellness products and services. Patients also do not need to make physical cash or card payments. Once a credit or debit card is added to the app, payments to clinics and the online store are processed digitally, and the app helps users to track all costs in one place.

Consulting a doctor through telehealth safeguards individuals more susceptible to the effects of the virus, such as the elderly, those with underlying conditions and expecting mums, allowing them to seek timely medical help with relative safety. It also helps doctors to conduct follow-up consultations with patients, especially those with chronic ailments.

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“COVID-19 will eventually pass, but its impact on the community will be long felt, and widespread access to telehealth will provide a big boost to help manage Singapore’s healthcare needs,” said Mr Pranav Seth, OCBC Bank’s Head of Digital and Innovation.

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