Ambiq Micro, a provider for ultra-low-power semiconductor solutions for edge AI, announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the proposed offering may be completed. The number of shares of common stock to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Ambiq intends to apply to have its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AMBQ.”

Read more Ambiq Empowers Digital Health with Edge AI

BofA Securities and UBS Investment Bank will act as joint lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Needham & Company and Stifel will act as joint book-running managers for the proposed offering, Ambiq said in a press release.

“A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction,” the company said.

About Ambiq

Founded in 2010, Ambiq Micro provides ultra-low-power semiconductor solutions, targeting the power consumption challenges of general-purpose and AI computing. Ambiq’s mission is to enable artificial intelligence everywhere by delivering the lowest power semiconductor solutions. Ambiq enables its customers to deliver AI compute at the edge where power consumption challenges are the most profound. Ambiq’s technology innovations, built on the patented and proprietary subthreshold power optimized technology (SPOT), fundamentally deliver a multi-fold improvement in power consumption over traditional semiconductor designs. Ambiq has powered over 270 million devices to date.

Peri, a new wearable device designed to track perimenopause symptoms, was unveiled at CES 2025. The device, developed by identifyHer, focuses on providing women with objective data and personalized insights into their perimenopausal experience. Peri is designed to be worn on the torso, allowing it to capture "digital fingerprints" that are more indicative of perimenopause symptoms than traditional wrist-worn wearables.

The term "perimenopause" describes the time leading up to menopause when the ovaries gradually quit functioning. When hormones like progesterone and estrogen start to decline, mood swings, irregular periods, hot flashes, and night sweats may result. Though it might be as short as a few months or as long as ten years, perimenopause symptoms can vary greatly from person to person and typically last four to eight years, reports The Verge.

Peri is a discreet and unobtrusive wearable device that passively tracks perimenopausal symptoms from the surface of the skin. Along with the companion app, Peri captures objective symptom and lifestyle data to provide personalized insights that empower you to unlock your greatest potential in perimenopause and beyond.

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According to the company’s press release, the device will provide “objective data on perimenopausal symptoms, lifestyle, and sleep, as well as actionable insights and encouragement to better understand the changes their bodies are undergoing.” In official pictures, the device itself appears to be pill-shaped and adheres to a person’s torso as opposed to their wrist or finger, like most other health trackers.

“We will keep the specific sensors confidential until we open pre-orders,” says Peri cofounder Heidi Davis, though Davis acknowledges that none of the sensors in the device are new or proprietary. “Our breakthrough lies in the digital fingerprints we have identified through three years of R&D, collecting sensor data from women experiencing perimenopause.”

Davis says, the "fingerprints" were subsequently utilized to create algorithms that offer ongoing information on perimenopausal women's anxiety, hot flashes, and nocturnal sweats.  According to Davis, one unexpected discovery is that body temperature isn't a good predictor of hot flashes.  Additionally, extra care was taken to make sure that factors like exercise or warm weather, which might alter body temperature, sweating, or heart rate, wouldn't influence the algorithms.
Davis says identifyHer also intentionally decided to forgo a limb-based tracker.

“During the early stages of development, we tested our sensors on the limbs but found that we could not identify the digital fingerprints for some of the typical symptoms of perimenopause,” Davis explains, noting that the torso delivers the most accurate readings and is where hot flashes and night sweats are strongest.

For Kunde, a blind dog, a group of researchers at Rice University has created a haptic feedback vest and camera system. The researchers hope that the vest will soon help other puppies navigate the challenges they face on a regular basis.

A significant percentage of elderly dogs will eventually go blind, whether due to glaucoma, diabetes problems, cataracts, or a variety of other injuries and illnesses. Even though a lot of dogs may eventually learn to traverse their environment without seeing, canines frequently knock into furniture and walls during this process, which is annoying for both dog owners and their closest friends, reports New Atlas.

The owners of Kunde, a dog from Houston, turned to Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, an engineering design maker space at Rice University, for assistance after Kunde became blind from glaucoma. Kunde was lucky that four young students heeded the call.

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The scientists created a wearable system for the dog that included a vest and a set of stereoscopic cameras placed close to his head, building on an earlier system that employed LiDAR for navigation.  Small actuator motors in the vest receive signals from the cameras, which are far less expensive than the LiDAR system, regarding impediments in the dog's route and vibrate in response.  The vibration intensifies with the dog's proximity to an obstruction.

“Kind of like giving Kunde a second set of eyes, the cameras create a depth map,” said Issy Tsai, a freshman electrical engineering major who designed the team’s custom printed circuit board, which sends the signals from the camera to the vest.

Kunde is currently testing the system after figuring out how to keep it lightweight and weatherproof, both in terms of rain and the intense heat that is typical in Houston.  The finished prototype has a battery life of roughly two hours and can "see" up to 8 meters (26 feet).

“The team has made exciting progress, and while there’s still more development ahead to fully meet the client’s needs, they’ve already demonstrated the power of having a real-world challenge to drive meaningful design,” added team mentor, Heather Bisesti. “It’s motivating for students to see how their work can make a direct difference in someone’s ⎯ or some dog’s ⎯ life.”

The researchers intend to use the knowledge they have gained from working with Kunde to create a navigation system that will eventually enable other blind canines to flourish in their surroundings.

Aktiia, a pioneer in optical blood pressure monitoring, announced today that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for over-the-counter (OTC) use of its cuffless blood pressure monitoring technology. This clearance, granted for Aktiia’s G0 Blood Pressure Monitoring System, marks the first time the FDA has cleared a cuffless blood pressure monitor indicated for over-the-counter (OTC) use in the United States. While Aktiia's innovative blood pressure monitoring products are already CE marked and available in Europe under the brand Hilo, the product will be made available to US consumers in 2026.

Trusted by over 130,000 users globally, the Hilo Band has demonstrated the impact of Aktiia’s technology in real-world settings. With this FDA clearance, consumers in the U.S. will soon have access to the same clinically validated innovation behind the Hilo Band and app. With no medical prescription required, it is now the first cuffless blood pressure monitor authorized for over-the-counter use in the United States. The milestone sets a new global benchmark for how blood pressure can be effortlessly monitored through wearable, user-friendly technology. With this FDA clearance, Aktiia is now positioned to establish Hilo as the category-defining wearable for cuffless blood pressure monitoring in the U.S. and beyond.

“This is not just a regulatory win: it’s the start of a paradigm shift in hypertension management,” said Josep Sola, Co-Founder and CTO of Aktiia.
“With FDA’s OTC clearance, we are breaking down the barriers that have kept cuffless blood pressure monitoring out of the hands of millions.”

“This milestone is the result of more than seven years of relentless scientific, clinical, and engineering effort,” said Mattia Bertschi, Co-Founder of Aktiia.
“What began as a research vision in the Swiss Research Institute CSEM twenty years ago has now become the world’s first cuffless, FDA-cleared, over-the-counter solution for blood pressure – and we’re just getting started.”

This regulatory clearance follows an oversubscribed Series B round of over $42 million USD co-led earlier this year by Earlybird Venture Capital and Wellington Partners.

“Aktiia’s FDA clearance represents a breakthrough moment for medical-grade wearables,” said Dr. Christoph Massner, Principal at Earlybird and Board Director of Aktiia.
“We backed the team because they combined bold vision with scientific rigor; and today they’ve delivered what no one else could. The Hilo Band is poised to lead a global transformation in how we understand and manage cardiovascular health at scale.”

The Hilo Band is not just another wearable: it is the first of its kind blood pressure companion, marking a breakthrough moment for cardiovascular health, much like the iPhone did for mobile technology. Due to its sleek, lightweight and comfortable form factor, the Hilo Band ushers in a new class of medical wearables that empower individuals to monitor their blood pressure anytime, anywhere. Achieving this milestone reinforces Aktiia’s leadership in cuffless, consumer-ready blood pressure monitoring, redefining what’s possible in everyday cardiovascular care.‍

About Aktiia‍

Founded in 2018, Aktiia is transforming the way blood pressure is measured and managed. By harnessing one of the world’s largest datasets of optical signals, its cuffless monitoring product (commercially known as the Hilo Band) provides clinically meaningful insights to both individuals and healthcare professionals, making blood pressure tracking more accessible and effortless than ever before.

With billions of optical signals and hundreds of millions of blood pressure readings collected from over 130,000 users, Aktiia has developed a robust and scalable solution to address one of the world’s most pressing health challenges. Hypertension affects more than 1.3 billion people globally and remains the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease; yet most cases remain undiagnosed or poorly managed. By enabling seamless and user-friendly monitoring at home, Aktiia is poised to transform how hypertension is detected and managed worldwide.

Backed by a multidisciplinary team with deep expertise in biomedical signal processing and machine learning, Aktiia’s innovation is supported by more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and over 35 patents. Headquartered in Switzerland, the company is expanding internationally to make accessible, cuffless blood pressure monitoring the new standard of care in home hypertension management.

Note: The Hilo Band requires calibration using a cuff, which is provided with the purchase. The Hilo system by itself is not intended to make diagnoses. Data should always be used in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Minneapolis-based neuro-AI company Fasikl received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Felix NeuroAI Wristband for tremor-related functional limitations in the upper limbs in adults with essential tremor.

“The Felix wristband represents a significant step forward in noninvasive, personalized treatment options for essential tremor,” said Rajesh Pahwa, M.D., Laverne and Joyce Rider Professor of Neurology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Director of the Movement Disorder Program at The University of Kansas Health System.

“For many patients, current treatment options fall short — pharmaceutical treatments are helpful for less than 50% of the patients, and deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound, while effective, require surgical intervention. This new AI wearable wristband backed by clinical evidence is an effective treatment option in patients with essential tremor.”

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Essential tremor is the most common type of tremor disorder, affecting approximately 7 million people in the U.S., and is about seven times more common than Parkinson’s disease. It causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking, most often in the hands, which can make simple and everyday activities like drinking from a glass or tying shoelaces difficult. Traditional treatment options are limited, with oral medications providing inconsistent relief and often accompanied by undesirable side effects. Surgical interventions such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), while effective, require invasive procedures, carry surgical risks, and may not be suitable or desirable for all patients, particularly older adults or those with coexisting health conditions, Fasikl said in a press release.

Unlike surgical or pharmacologic interventions, Felix is a noninvasive, wearable device that effortlessly connects to Fasikl’s cloud-based AI platform, enabling continuous brain-AI co-adaptation and personalized therapy. Worn on the wrist, it uses the cloud to dynamically adjust stimulation, offering all-day symptom relief while seamlessly fitting into the wearer’s lifestyle.

The FDA clearance of Felix is supported by compelling data from the TRANQUIL study, a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial that met its primary endpoint. Results showed that the Felix wristband significantly reduced tremors and displayed statistically and clinically significant improvement in the users' ability to perform daily activities compared to those using the sham device (“placebo effect”).

“FDA clearance of Felix marks a defining moment for Fasikl and the millions of people living with essential tremor who have long been underserved by existing therapies,” said Zhi Yang, Ph.D., CEO of Fasikl. “This breakthrough in noninvasive, intelligent, and personalized neuromodulation marks the emergence of AI therapeutics in disease treatment. It offers a new option that is potentially more effective, safer, and more scalable. Our next step is to execute the commercialization plan to support Felix’s initial product launch."

The Felix NeuroAI Wristband will be available by prescription through healthcare providers in select U.S. regions starting in 2025, with nationwide availability expected in 2026.

About Fasikl

A 2019 spin-off from the University of Minnesota, Fasikl leverages its proprietary platform to capture neural signals directly from peripheral nerves, enabling intelligent, adaptive therapy. The company is on a mission to transform the treatment landscape for movement disorders, paralysis, and other neurological impairments through cutting-edge neuromodulation innovations. Fasikl’s portfolio includes the FDA-cleared Felix NeuroAI Wristband and the investigational Fasikl-X Nerve-Computer Interface.

Sony announced the launch of REON POCKET PRO wearable thermo-device kit, the latest premium addition to the REON POCKET series of products that can be worn around the neck to cool or warm the part of the body that the device is in contact with.

For the first time in the REON POCKET series, REON POCKET PRO features two independent thermo-modules (DUAL thermo-modules). In addition, it features a newly developed heat-dissipating fan offering approximately twice the airflow compared to the previous model, with a newly designed heat-dissipation mechanism. REON POCKET PRO offers several further enhancements from the previous model with approximately twice the cooling area, up to twice the heat-absorbing performance, and up to twice the operating time5, Sony said in a press release.

REON POCKET PRO is equipped with two independent thermo-modules (DUAL thermo-modules), approximately doubling the cooling/warming area compared to conventional models.

The DUAL thermo-module is a new mechanism in which each thermo-module is driven alternately with varying intensity to sustain cooling. In addition, a newly developed heat-dissipating fan with twice the airflow and a newly designed heat-dissipation mechanism deliver improved heat absorption, with improved cooling performance of up to approximately twice that of the previous model.

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As a further enhancement, the upgraded battery delivers approximately 34 hours at COOL Level 1 and up to double the operating time of the previous model.

The accuracy of AUTO START/STOP, which automatically starts or stops the cooling and warming by sensing the condition of the unit and the user's mounting/removal motion, has been improved.

In addition, sensors on the main unit and a unique algorithm have evolved the operating time when using the SMART COOL mode. The enhanced SMART COOL mode intelligently adapts to your environment by analyzing user behavior, temperature, and humidity to deliver powerful, efficient cooling for up to 15 hours.

The new internal heat-dissipating structure has achieved a compact size that remains inconspicuous, even in business environments. The chassis features a light gray color that blends in seamlessly and remains inconspicuous.

The operating noise has been reduced by approximately 50% compared to conventional models, delivering significantly quieter performance. In addition, control buttons located on the sides support basic operations, such as switching between COOL and WARM modes and selecting different levels, even when a smartphone is not available.

The design of the main unit has been improved, with the cooling/warming area now approximately twice larger than before. This area is tilted at the bottom of the main unit to better fit the body shape.

The neckband’s flexibility has been improved by increasing the diameter of the mechanical flexible tube surrounding the wire frame at the center of the band. Additionally, a new silicone extension has been added at the tip of the band for extra comfort.

Pricing and Availability

REON POCKET PRO will be available to pre-order in United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France and Spain. It will be available in Italy and Switzerland from June onwards.

REON POCKET PRO is available in the following kit:

RNPK-P1T: REON POCKET PRO main unit, neckband, and REON POCKET TAG, with an approximate price of £199 in the UK and €229 in selected European markets.

We are excited to introduce Mudra Link, a groundbreaking neural interface wristband that redefines how we interact with digital devices - using only subtle finger movements. This sleek, wearable device leverages advanced surface nerve conduction sensors to capture bioelectrical signals from your wrist and decode them into intuitive, touchless commands. Unlike traditional gesture control systems that rely on cameras or motion tracking, Mudra Link taps directly into your nervous system, enabling lightning-fast, low-latency interaction that feels natural and seamless.

Fully compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, Mudra Link opens new dimensions in human-computer interaction across a wide range of applications – from immersive gaming and AR/VR environments to productivity tools, smart home control, and assistive technologies.
Its ergonomic design ensures all-day comfort, while customizable gesture settings offer a tailored experience for casual users, creatives, and professionals alike.

Winner of the CES 2025 Innovation Award in the XR Technologies category, Mudra Link represents a leap forward in AI-powered, neural wearables - bringing hands-free, mind-driven control from science fiction into everyday life.

About Wearable Devices

Founded in San Francisco, Wearable Devices Ltd. is a pioneer in neural interface technology, dedicated to bridging the gap between human intention and digital interaction. Their products are built on the vision of intuitive, non-invasive control - transforming how people connect with technology. By combining neuroscience, AI, and advanced sensor design, the company empowers users with tools that feel as effortless and personal as a thought.

The Scottish indie brand UNA launched "the world's first" repairable & upgradeable GPS sports watch, the UNA Watch, just a few weeks after preorders for the revived Pebble Core devices opened.

In addition to fitness capabilities like HR zones, pace, laps, and (after launch) downloadable GPX routes, the UNA Watch Kickstarter lists continuous heart rate, blood oxygen, steps, and floors climbed in standard settings.  It boasts a 10-day battery life and dual-frequency GPS, reports Android Central.

It's interesting to note that it uses the same Cortex-M33 coprocessor as the Pixel Watch 3, minus the Snapdragon's draining battery.

Instead of using a proprietary wire, the UNA Watch charges via a straightforward USB-C port. You can even purchase and install modular extras like music storage or a microphone/speaker combo.  Additionally, there won't be any subscriptions.

For an additional $40, you can get the dev tool to add your own firmware and apps!

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Pebble is far less focused on fitness. Both UNA and Pebble however, adhere to the open-source, enthusiast attitude that allows users to add their own sensors or write their own code as needed.  Theoretically, the community will expand the UNA Watch's small feature set, much like Pebble requested community assistance in creating new software.

To the detriment of everyone, wristwatch manufacturers have shifted away from allowing independent developers to access their proprietary platforms. Devices like UNA and Pebble are crucial for this reason.

In addition to introducing additional data points like blood pressure and glucose, several wearable brands are focusing on providing medical-grade health tracking. Others, like Garmin, are putting all of their money on AI as a ruse to charge more for its Connect Plus subscription's premium features.

In essence, the heavyweight era of smartwatches is upon us, where companies jam LLMs onto your wrist and consult doctors for more precise data.  While it is fascinating in its own right, the fact that every watch needs a long list of functions to compete means that there is little opportunity for experimentation on the part of smaller brands, small teams, or independent developers.

Years later, you can add new features or change items by unscrewing everything yourself with the UNA Watch. They will decide which new modules, like the microphone/speaker for Bluetooth calls, to create based on community requests and the Kickstarter comments.

At first, Pebble experimented with allowing users to use "smart straps" to enhance their watches after the fact. With the exception of the modules fitting straight onto the watch itself, UNA seems to carry on that tradition. How many modules you can add will be the question.

There are numerous early-bird offers available to save $75 off the final list price during the UNA Watch Kickstarter, which runs until May 2. August 2025 is when it is anticipated to ship. Pebble's new watches, which have lower costs but a later planned release date of December 2025, are also available for preorder right now if you're more interested in that brand.

Garmin claims that their new armband is ideal for tracking your sleep without having to fasten a device to your wrist. It is made to be comfortable throughout the night.

The Index Sleep Monitor is an ultra-comfortable and lightweight smart sleep band that tracks sleep for a more comprehensive view of overall fitness and recovery. Featuring up to 7 nights of battery life with continuous Pulse Ox tracking, the Index Sleep Monitor is worn on the upper arm and tracks sleep stages, heart rate variability (HRV) status, breathing variations, skin temperature and more to calculate a sleep score for users and provide valuable insights about their health1. After a night of sleep, the data seamlessly syncs to the Garmin Connect smartphone app and can be combined with metrics from a compatible Garmin smartwatch to fill in gaps in data for users who don’t wear their watch at night or are looking to better understand how well they recovered, Garmin said in a press release.

“We are thrilled to add the Index Sleep Monitor to our suite of innovative health and wellness products. Wearing this smart sleep band every night can provide in-depth sleep insights and a more complete picture of fitness and recovery so users can wake up ready to seize the day,” said Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing.

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Rest and recover

Throughout the night, the Index Sleep Monitor tracks the following sleep and recovery metrics, which can then be viewed in Garmin Connect:

• Sleep score: Every morning, receive a personalized score (0-100) for last night’s sleep based on sleep duration, stress, sleep stages and more.

• Sleep stages: View light, deep and REM sleep stages and when they occur during the night.

• HRV status: See last night’s average HRV and status (balanced, unbalanced, low or poor). After several nights of wear, the smart sleep band will establish a personal baseline to help provide a better understanding of recovery and overall wellness.

• Pulse Ox: Track blood oxygen saturation during sleep1.

• Breathing variations: Used in conjunction with Pulse Ox, view and better understand shifts in breathing patterns while sleeping1.

• Respiration: View respiration rates throughout the night.

• Skin temperature: Track skin temperature changes, which can be related to recent activity, sleep environment, potential illness and more.

• Women’s health tracking: Using skin temperature, women can get more insights into their menstrual cycle, including improved period predictions and past ovulation estimates2. Women can also track their menstrual cycle or pregnancy and get exercise and nutrition education in the Garmin Connect app.

• Body Battery energy monitoring: View energy levels to see if the body is charged or needs more rest. Users who wear a compatible smartwatch while awake can get a more complete picture of their energy levels—day and night.

• Stress tracking: See if last night’s sleep was calm, balanced or stressful.

When it’s time to wake up, the smart wake alarm feature looks at lighter sleep stages during a pre-selected window of time to gently wake users with a light vibration so they feel more refreshed.

Available in two sizes (S-M and L-XL), the Index Sleep Monitor is easy to clean; just remove the module and toss the band into the washing machine on the gentle cycle. It is available now for a suggested retail price of $169.99.

Since February of last year, Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie. and Alpine Motorsports have been partners in Formula 1. Shortly after signing the agreement, the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine F1 Limited Edition, their first cooperation watch, was unveiled. The H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition and the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition are two timepieces that Moser is celebrating the relationship with for the 2025 Formula One season.  Both are included in a paired set.

In order to create a watch that is in sync with the team's schedule and keeps everyone on track through a succession of notifications and countdowns on race day, the new Streamliner Alpine "Mechanic's Edition" blends aspects of smartwatches and quartz-powered timepieces, reports GQ.

"They need to keep track of timings when they’re working, so we started brainstorming,” says Edouard Meylan, H. Moser & Cie.’s CEO. “We said we don't want to create a connected watch per se, but maybe we can create a Formula One watch.”

The Mechanic's Edition is one of two new releases that are each limited to 200 copies.  Typically, the "Driver's Edition" would be powerful enough to serve as a talking point on its own. The new piece comes with a skeletonized dial and a beautiful metallic blue PVD steel case. It features a high-end automatic flyback chronograph manufactured by independent specialist supplier Agenhor, in whom H. Moser owns a minority ownership.  But the Mechanic's Edition, a smartwatch with a hybrid analog-digital display and a number of custom features, will make headlines.  Quartz is rarely used by luxury watchmakers, particularly upscale independent companies like H. Moser, and they never enter the smartwatch market.

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The Streamliner Alpine F1 Mechanic's Edition is developed in collaboration with Swiss wristwatch experts Sequent. It replicates other Moser designs with its analog hours-and-minutes dial and "hidden" digital display.

“I wanted people to be a little bit confused,” says Meylan, who intended to reference the brand’s work with VantaBlack dials in recent years. “It was important that it looks like a Moser watch, but has this element of surprise when the dial flicks on.”

The watch was created with a comprehensive alarm system specifically tailored to the requirements of Alpine's engineers and mechanics, and it was already in use at this weekend's race in Barcelona.  According to H. Moser, the team has received between 60 and 80 of these timepieces overall.  Alerts will remind the team of important times over the weekend, and communications can be sent to specific team members or their teams.  This is critical info because, as Meylan points out, there are strict penalties and even fines for working on the car after the allotted windows or missing deadlines.

Although it is uncommon for a Swiss watchmaker to show anything other than unwavering faith in its creations, the new watch will serve as an intriguing gauge of how affluent collectors feel about adopting cutting-edge technologies.

The Sycamore solid-state speaker, which was introduced last year, has been enhanced by California-based xMEMS Labs to become the thinnest in the world.

Smartwatch manufacturers are packing an increasing amount of functionality into a wearable form factor that doesn't demand gym exercises or bulk up the wrist. Because internal space is limited, xMEMS claims that its innovative Sycamore-W design reduces speaker package volume by up to 70%, freeing up space for sensors and bigger batteries, reports New Atlas.

According to xMEMS Labs, this near-field MEMS micro speaker is only 20 x 4 x 1.28 mm (0.78 x 0.15 x 0.05 in) in size and hardly moves the needle at 150 mg, whereas legacy coil speakers for equivalent applications can weigh up to 3 g and be 3 to 4 mm thick.

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It generates sound waves by using thin-film piezo actuators to stimulate a silicone membrane. With a similar mid-bass response and punchy performance at the higher registers, the design, according to the inventors, requires less back volume than small-form dynamic drivers.

The solid-state design is also robust, with component-level protection against dust ingress that complies with IP58 standards and the ability to tolerate shocks of up to 10,000 g.  According to the launch press release, "These qualities make it ideal for active lifestyle wearables and outdoor-oriented smartwatches and fitness bands."

"Sycamore-W redefines audio for smart watches, combining compact design with robust performance to meet the demands of next-generation wearables," said Mike Housholder, xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development. "As the wrist becomes a key interface for ears-free, hands-free AI interactions, Sycamore-W empowers manufacturers to deliver premium audio in smaller, lighter, more durable devices.”

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have developed contact lenses that enable people to see beyond the visible light range, picking up flickers of infrared light even in the dark – or with their eyes closed.

Yuqian Ma and his team have combined conventional soft contact lenses with 45 nanometre particles consisting of gold, sodium gadolinium fluoride, ytterbium and erbium ions.

According to the team's findings published in the scientific journal Cell, upconversion contact lenses (UCLs) transform infrared light with wavelengths ranging from 800 to 1,600 nanometers into visible light, reports DW.

The energy of the long infrared light waves is enhanced by the nanoparticles.  They accomplish this by transforming infrared light into the three main hues that the human eye can perceive.

The researchers was able to somewhat offset this by adding more lenses, but one disadvantage is that the final images are extremely blurry due to the light being scattered by the nanoparticles in the lenses.

Night vision goggles, which magnify weak infrared signals and make them visible, are still far more effective than infrared contact lenses.

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The mice's behavior demonstrated that they could see in the dark when the team initially put nanoparticles into their retinas.

Since the recently created contact lenses don't require injections into our retinas, they are far more useful.

Humans demonstrated the ability to identify letters, patterns, and flashing infrared signals in the dark during experiments.  Additionally, because infrared light can easily pass through eyelids and normal visible light does not interfere with picture creation, infrared lenses perform even better when the eyes are closed.

When hunting in the dark, the ability of certain animal species to detect infrared light is quite useful.  Infrared light is not perceived by them as "light" in the sense that humans do.  Rather, they sense the heat radiation that things emit.

This aids in orientation and nighttime hunting for a number of cold-blooded reptiles, including snakes (pit vipers and rattlesnakes), some fish (cichlids and piranhas), amphibians (bullfrogs), and bloodsucking insects (mosquitoes and bugs).

Warm-blooded animals — such as humans, other mammals and birds are unable to sense infrared light because their eyes lack the proper receptors, and the heat radiation from their bodies also obstructs their ability to see infrared light.

The developers claim that the glasses might be applied to cryptography or encryption, surgery, or the defense against counterfeiting.

This is due to the fact that infrared light is what, for instance, makes invisible markings or features on documents apparent.

Because the lenses make heat-emitting items visible, they could also be utilized to rescue people in low-visibility situations.  Many critics, however, question this because night vision systems are both much more powerful and much easier to use.

Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) developed smart earphones that can check out your vitals as you listen to music. Developed by Dr. Tobias Röddiger and colleagues, the OpenEarable 2.0 earphones do, can measure over 30 physiological parameters.

The OpenEarables, wearable is currently available for preorder at a price of €2,348 (about US$2,566).  Because the earbuds and the software that goes with them are open-source, anybody can modify them and share the results with other users, reports New Atlas.‍

The OpenEarables might theoretically be used in applications like workplace safety or sporting performance analysis in addition to its evident use in the medical field.

Indeed, stereophonic music streamed from a linked smartphone can be played back by the devices.  Sensor data sent by the OpenEarables is processed and shown by an app on the same phone.

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Importantly, Röddiger told New Atlas that the earbuds can simultaneously collect their physiological data and play music, with none interfering with the other. It should be mentioned, though, that the earphones work only with Android phones that enable Bluetooth LE Audio, which is not yet supported by iPhones.

They can follow the user's heart activity and verify their identification by using two infrasound/ultrasound microphones, one facing into the ear canal and the other out of it. In contrast, an onboard bone-conduction microphone may detect if the user is eating, mouthing words that are not uttered aloud, or grinding their teeth when they are asleep.

Additionally, there is an optical skin temperature sensor for measuring body temperature or tracking ovulation, as well as a blood-oxygen-level-tracking pulse oximeter that can be used to evaluate stress or energy expenditure and identify sleep apnea.  Additional sensors include a 9-axis IMU (inertial measuring unit) that monitors respiration rates and exercise progress, as well as an ear canal pressure sensor that detects feeding and tongue motions.

One 45-minute USB charge of each earphone's battery should reportedly be good for up to eight hours of runtime, depending on usage.

In a groundbreaking leap for remote patient monitoring and hospital care, Biobeat has introduced its state-of-the-art wearable biosensor – a cuffless, wireless solution that redefines how vital signs are continuously measured and managed across healthcare settings.

This lightweight, sticker-like device is seamlessly applied to the upper torso or wrist and leverages advanced PPG (photoplethysmography) and AI-powered analytics to deliver continuous, real-time measurements of critical parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), cardiac output, and stroke volume – all without the need for invasive procedures or bulky equipment.

Built with hospital-grade precision and designed for maximum patient comfort, Biobeat’s wearable biosensors empower clinicians with automated, real-time data that improves decision-making and dramatically reduces the need for manual measurement. The device wirelessly transmits data to a secure cloud-based platform, where AI-driven dashboards present trends and alerts in a highly intuitive interface, transforming reactive care into proactive, personalised healthcare.

From hospitals to home settings, this FDA-cleared and CE-marked technology allows for early detection of clinical deterioration, reduced hospital readmissions, and more efficient remote patient management, especially for individuals with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions.

“We are proud to offer a truly wearable, intelligent solution that changes how vital signs are monitored,” said a Biobeat representative. “By eliminating the cords, cuffs, and guesswork, our technology ensures that patients receive timely, precise care - whether they’re in a hospital bed or recovering at home.”

About Biobeat
Founded in Israel, Biobeat is a digital health company revolutionising the field of continuous patient monitoring. With a mission to bring hospital-grade accuracy to wearable medical devices, Biobeat integrates AI, cloud computing, and non-invasive sensing into a robust platform that supports clinicians and improves patient outcomes. The company’s solutions are used in hospitals, post-acute care, and home monitoring programs across the globe, demonstrating the power of real-time health insights to save lives and optimise care.

In a monumental move, OpenAI has acquired io, the AI device startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal valued at approximately $6.4 billion. This acquisition, which CNBC reports as an all-equity agreement, marks OpenAI's largest to date and includes its existing stake in io, bringing the net payment to about $5 billion.

A New Era of AI Devices

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hailed the merger as the dawn of the "greatest technology revolution of their lifetimes." He praised Ive, stating, "Jony is the deepest thinker of anyone I’ve ever met. What that leads him to be able to come up with is unmatched." The core mission behind this integration is to "create a family of devices that would let people use AI to create all sorts of wonderful things."

Ive's Continued Influence

Ive, who left Apple in 2019 to establish his "creative collective" LoveFrom, will assume "deep creative and design responsibilities across OpenAI and io." Importantly, LoveFrom will maintain its independence from the broader OpenAI and io integration. Ive co-founded io a year ago with former Apple colleagues Scott Cannon, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey. The io team, dedicated to developing "products that inspire, empower and enable," will now merge with OpenAI's research, engineering, and product teams in San Francisco to foster closer collaboration.

OpenAI's Growth Trajectory

This acquisition follows another significant investment by OpenAI last month, when it reportedly paid $3 billion to acquire AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf. The current deal with io further solidifies OpenAI's strategic expansion into the AI device market, leveraging Ive's renowned design expertise, which previously shaped iconic Apple products like the iPhone and Mac during his tenure as chief design officer from 1996.

In a groundbreaking advancement for individuals managing diabetes, Biolinq announced the launch of its innovative skin-applied biosensor – a revolutionary approach to continuous glucose monitoring that completely eliminates the need for painful needles.

This technology utilises a soft, discreet patch equipped with sophisticated electrochemical sensors. These sensors gently and painlessly analyze the interstitial fluid located just beneath the skin's surface, providing real-time glucose readings without the discomfort and inconvenience associated with traditional needle-based systems.

Engineered with cutting-edge electrochemical technology and meticulously designed to deliver instant feedback, the Biolinq sensor empowers users to effortlessly track their glucose fluctuations. This continuous stream of data enables individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their glucose trends, facilitating more informed lifestyle choices regarding diet, exercise, and medication management with unprecedented ease and comfort.

By seamlessly integrating this cutting-edge biosensor innovation with an intuitive and user-friendly digital interface (accessible via a dedicated mobile application), Biolinq is poised to fundamentally reshape the landscape of personal health monitoring. This needle-free, real-time, and truly wearable solution promises to significantly enhance the quality of life for millions living with diabetes.

"We are incredibly excited to introduce this revolutionary technology to the world," said a representative for Biolinq. "Our needle-free continuous glucose monitor represents a significant leap forward in making glucose monitoring less intrusive and more accessible. We believe this innovation will empower individuals to take greater control of their health and live fuller lives."

About Biolinq

Founded in San Diego, California, Biolinq is a pioneering health technology company dedicated to the development of next-generation wearable biosensors for comprehensive metabolic monitoring. Driven by a core mission to democratize health data and make it more actionable for individuals, Biolinq unites a diverse team of experts spanning the fields of electrochemical sensing, digital health, and biomedical engineering. Their innovative needle-free sensor platform is specifically designed to improve the lives of millions of people living with metabolic conditions by enabling smarter, simpler, and more connected approaches to health management.

Chinese researchers have presented a novel idea for solar-powered apparel that can control the body temperature of the wearer. The idea, which was developed by Ziyuan Wang and associates at Nankai University, blends cutting-edge flexible solar cells with electrocaloric devices. In a study published in the journal Science, the team outlines its methodology.

The goal of thermoregulating apparel is to maintain a pleasant and safe body temperature in a variety of settings.  In general, it can be divided into two groups: active and passive.  In order to maintain users' comfort, passive thermoregulation makes use of materials that take advantage of absorption, radiation, and the latent heat of phase transitions.

A key advantage of a passive approach is that an external power source is not needed. Passive thermoregulation, on the other hand, typically only works in one way, with clothing having a warming or cooling effect but not both, reports Physics World.

Active materials that use fluidic channels and coolant circulation to accomplish quick heating and cooling are typically used to provide bidirectional thermoregulation.  Batteries, which add weight and require recharging, are typically used to power these systems.  Although it has proven to be a considerable design issue, they might theoretically also be powered by solar energy collection.

“Because of their high energy consumption, it is difficult for active systems to maintain continuous thermoregulation of the human body for a long time through portable, sustainable energy-harvesting devices,” Xingyi Huang and Pengli Li at Shanghai Jiao Tong University write in a commentary article in Science that accompanies Wang’s paper.

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To tackle this challenge, Wang’s team drew from the latest advances in flexible organic photovoltaics. Today, these solar cells can maintain high conversion efficiencies even when contorted into different shapes.

“If such a highly efficient and flexible organic photovoltaic unit could be integrated with a proper thermal management system, then robust, self-sustaining, and thermoregulating clothing could be achieved,” Huang and Li predict.

Wang and associates developed a tiny wearable material in their work by attaching a flexible solar cell to a flexible electrocaloric module.  The latter is a device that reacts to applied electric fields by changing its temperature reversibly.

The electrocaloric module was able to cool the wearer's skin by up to 10 degrees in hot weather when the solar cell was exposed to sunlight.  A tiny, independent battery can be used to store any extra energy.  The wearable can be put into warming mode in the dark, using its stored energy to raise the wearer's skin temperature by up to three degrees. The device can accomplish thermoregulation over the course of a day.

Wang's team hopes that by incorporating this technology into wearable textiles, the invention may result in a new line of useful, solar-powered apparel that aids wearers in adjusting to difficult and complex situations.

Patients frequently conceal their actual feelings from their caregivers or even from their own aware selves. To help health care providers tell the difference, a team led by scientists at Penn State has created a stretchable, rechargeable sticker that can detect real emotions — by measuring things like skin temperature and heart rate — even when users put on a brave face.

Other components include a printed circuit board, wireless charging coil, 5-volt battery and Bluetooth chip. All of these bits and pieces are encapsulated within a waterproof silicone covering, with the whole device measuring about 6 cm (2.4 inches) in length, reports New Atlas.

The strain sensor on the sticker tracks the patient's skin motions along two axes while it is briefly attached to their face. It then wirelessly transmits this information to an app on a nearby cloud-connected smartphone or tablet.

The software's AI-based algorithms can then infer the user's current facial expression, which is undoubtedly connected to their mood. The technology's accuracy in recognizing six common facial expressions—happiness, surprise, fear, sorrow, rage, and disgust—has been over 96% in lab tests.

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Nevertheless, people can fake facial expressions, frequently even unconsciously. Because of this, the app also makes use of real-time data from the blood oxygen, temperature, and humidity sensors.  The system is already nearly 89% accurate at detecting genuine emotions elicited by watching different video snippets using this combination of data.

The technology may enable doctors to remotely monitor their patients' psychological health through the internet, as the data is processed in the cloud.

"This is a new and improved way to understand our emotions by looking at multiple body signals at once," says Cheng. "People often don't visibly show how they truly feel, so that’s why we’re combining facial expression analysis with other important physiological signals, which will ultimately lead to better mental health monitoring and support."

Georgia Tech researchers have developed tiny brain sensor that can be inserted into the minuscule spaces between hair follicles and slightly under the skin. The sensor offers high-fidelity signals and makes the continuous use of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in everyday life possible.

BCIs create a direct communication pathway between the brain's electrical activity and external devices such as electroencephalography devices, computers, robotic limbs, and other brain monitoring devices. Brain signals are commonly captured non-invasively with electrodes mounted on the surface of the human scalp using conductive electrode gel for optimum impedance and data quality. More invasive signal capture methods such as brain implants are possible, but this research seeks to create sensors that are both easily placed and reliably manufactured, reports Georgia Tech.

Hong Yeo, the Harris Saunders Jr. Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, combined the latest microneedle technology with his deep expertise in wearable sensor technology that may allow stable brain signal detection over long periods and easy insertion of a new painless, wearable microneedle BCI wireless sensor that fits between hair follicles. The skin placement and extremely small size of this new wireless brain interface could offer a variety of benefits over traditional gel or dry electrodes.

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“I started this research because my main goal is to develop new sensor technology to support healthcare and I had previous experience with brain-computer interfaces and flexible scalp electronics,” said Yeo, who is also a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology. “I knew we needed better BCI sensor technology and discovered that if we can slightly penetrate the skin and avoid hair by miniaturizing the sensor, we can dramatically increase the signal quality by getting closer to the source of the signals and reduce unwanted noise.”

Today’s BCI systems consist of bulky electronics and rigid sensors that prevent the interfaces from being useful while the user is in motion during regular activities. Yeo and colleagues constructed a micro-scale sensor for neural signal capture that can be easily worn during daily activities, unlocking new potential for BCI devices. His technology uses conductive polymer microneedles to capture electrical signals and conveys those signals along flexible polyimide/copper wires — all of which are packaged in a space of less than 1 millimeter.

A study of six people using the device to control an augmented reality (AR) video call found that high-fidelity neural signal capture persisted for up to 12 hours with very low electrical resistance at the contact between skin and sensor. Participants could stand, walk, and run for most of the daytime hours while the brain-computer interface successfully recorded and classified neural signals indicating which visual stimulus the user focused on with 96.4% accuracy. During the testing, participants could look up phone contacts and initiate and accept AR video calls hands-free as this new micro-sized brain sensor was picking up visual stimuli — all the while giving the user complete freedom of movement.  

According to Yeo, the results suggest that this wearable BCI system may allow for practical and continuous interface activity, potentially leading to everyday use of machine-human integrative technology.

“I firmly believe in the power of collaboration, as many of today’s challenges are too complex for any one individual to solve,” said Yeo. “Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to all the researchers in my group and the amazing collaborators who made this work possible. I will continue collaborating with the team to enhance BCI technology for rehabilitation and prosthetics.”

UK researchers have developed smart insoles that accurately measure the forces created when a foot hits the ground in the real world. The cutting-edge technology can help athletes perform at their best and avoid injuries, as well as aid in the rehabilitation of injured patients.

Your foot pushes against the ground when you run, jump, or walk, and the ground pushes back in the opposite direction with an equal amount of power.  These are GRFs.  They are important because they affect how our bodies respond and move when we exercise, reports Paul McClure in New Atlas.

In order to create smart insoles that measure GRFs in three dimensions more naturally and correctly, scientists from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom partnered with the tech company TG0. For sports science, rehabilitation, and injury prevention, these insoles offer practical movement analysis.

“We wanted to create an affordable and portable alternative to expensive lab equipment,” said the study’s lead author, Dinghuang Zhang, PhD, a former postgraduate researcher from the University’s School of Computing and current associate in the knowledge transfer program (KTP) at TG0. “These insoles could help athletes improve performance, assist doctors in rehabilitation, and even help people track their movement for general health.”

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The ability of the novel insoles to assess the medial-lateral (Fx), anterior-posterior (Fy), and vertical (Fz) components of GRF gives them their three-dimensionality. The side-to-side force is simply referred to as medial-lateral. When you take a step to one side or the other, such as when you make a rapid lateral movement in basketball, it measures the push or pull that happens. The forward-backward force, which gauges the acceleration or braking that takes place when running, is anterior-posterior. The up-and-down force that the ground exerts on your foot as it lands is known as vertical force. It can be viewed as the force that sustains the weight of your body and is typically the strongest of the three. Understanding healthy gait and how it is impacted by injury, muscle fatigue, posture and balance, and neuromuscular diseases requires knowledge of all three.

To monitor foot pressure and movement, the team’s TG0 Smart Insole has an inertial measuring unit (IMU) and integrated pressure sensors. An IMU is a device that has a number of sensors that measure motion by determining the foot's rotation (gyroscope), speed in various directions (accelerometer), and direction of travel (magnetometer). To forecast GRFs, machine learning is fed all of the data collected by the IMU and pressure sensors.

The TG0 Smart Insole was tested by the researchers on five healthy adults of varying heights and body weights. To reduce data variability brought on by muscular stiffness or equipment unfamiliarity, participants initially engaged in a walking and jumping warm-up. After the insole was fitted, patients were instructed to execute a set of exercises on a force plate, including deep squatting, walking and jogging in place, swaying to the left and right, jumping in place, and jumping forward and backward.

The researchers discovered that the insole accurately predicted GRF with an error rate of 4.16% after comparing the GRF data from the insole with the force plate, which served as a reference. The normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE), a metric for predicting accuracy in comparison to gold standard force plate readings, is reflected in the error rate. Although there is a low mistake rate, it is crucial to take into account the environment in which these insoles will be utilized because the allowable error margin may differ based on the application, such as healthcare and rehabilitation versus sporting performance.  NRMSE errors of 8% to 20% have been observed in investigations on alternative GRF measurement techniques, such as motion sensors or pressure insoles, the researchers pointed out.

The smart insoles use Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) to connect to a USB dongle that is connected to a PC.  They include a built-in battery that can gather data constantly for about eight hours.

The researchers anticipate a variety of uses for their smart insoles. They could lower the risk of injury, improve training, and assist athletes in tracking their movements. They might be used by physicians and physical therapists to keep an eye on patients who are recovering from injuries or have movement problems. Additionally, they could gather information to further the study of biomechanics and sports science.

The study was published in the journal Intelligent Sports and Health.