Scientists at MIT have developed a smart glove that can recognize objects by touching alone.

In the dark, humans have the ability to identify an object such as glasses or phone just by touching it. For years, scientists have been trying to teach robots how to grip different objects without crushing or dropping them.

Related New Prosthesis Provides Sense of Touch So the User Knows Its Location

“Humans can identify and handle objects well because we have tactile feedback. As we touch objects, we feel around and realize what they are. Robots don’t have that rich feedback,” says Subramanian Sundaram PhD ’18, a former CSAIL graduate student. “We’ve always wanted robots to do what humans can do, like doing the dishes or other chores. If you want robots to do these things, they must be able to manipulate objects really well.”

In a paper published in Nature, the researchers describe the low-cost device called Scalable Tactile Glove (STAG). The smart glove is equipped with about 550 tiny sensors across nearly the entire hand. Each sensor captures pressure signals as humans interact with objects in various ways. A neural network processes the signals to “learn” a dataset of pressure-signal patterns related to specific objects. Then, the system uses that dataset to classify the objects and predict their weights by feel alone, with no visual input needed, reports CSAIL MIT.

The researchers compiled a dataset using STAG for 26 common objects including a soda can, scissors, tennis ball, spoon, pen, and mug. Using the dataset, the system predicted the objects’ identities with up to 76 percent accuracy. The system can also predict the correct weights of most objects within about 60 grams.

Similar sensor-based gloves in use today can cost thousands of dollars and often contain only around 50 sensors that capture less information. Even though STAG produces very high-resolution data, it’s made from commercially available materials totaling around $10.

The tactile sensing system could be used in combination with traditional computer vision and image-based datasets to give robots a more human-like understanding of interacting with objects, according to CSAIL MIT report.

Related Scientists Use Virtual Reality and Neural Stimulation to Help Amputees Use Their Prostheses

“Humans can identify and handle objects well because we have tactile feedback. As we touch objects, we feel around and realize what they are. Robots don’t have that rich feedback,” says Subramanian Sundaram PhD ’18, a former CSAIL graduate student. “We’ve always wanted robots to do what humans can do, like doing the dishes or other chores. If you want robots to do these things, they must be able to manipulate objects really well.”

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

SolusGuard, a Saskatchewan, Canada-based software company launched a complete set of wearable alarm for workers’ safety. The wearable device pairs with a smartphone app to instantly alert contacts that the employee is in danger. The app also includes a range of customizable features that help businesses in compliance and reporting.

Related IBM Watson Wants to Use Wearable Devices to Improve Worker Safety

This product launch coincides with new regulations from several provinces and territories in Canada that require businesses to take measures to protect lone workers. Other regions are expected to follow suit. SolusGuard features are designed to protect workers from potentially risky situations, but also to allow businesses to stay in compliance with these new laws.

The discreet personal alarm can be worn as a pendant or on a belt loop. In case of an imminent danger, the employee simply presses a button and a list of contacts are notified with an alarm coupled with the employee’s GPS location. If the contacts do not respond within two minutes, a call to 911 is made. In fact, SolusGuard is the only product of its kind that will call 911 as a backup, ensuring that the employee can reach help when they need it, the company said in a press release.

“When an employee is under attack or in another life or death situation, they need access to help immediately,” said Serese Selanders, founder and CEO. “The time it takes to pull out a smartphone, unlock it and dial numbers may not be enough – plus a phone could easily be knocked away. SolusGuard allows employees to call for help at the click of a button that’s worn on their person at all times.”

Features such as employee check in and out and reporting offered by the device can help businesses stay in compliance and maintain records of incidents that occur.

Related Wearable SOS Button to Reduce Lone Worker Hazards

“Employers naturally want to protect their workers because it’s the right thing to do. But they also need to think about protecting their business,” added Selanders. “If an employee is harmed on the job, the business may be at risk of compliance violations, fines, lawsuits and permanent damage to their brand and reputation.”

SolusGuard is ideal for case workers, field staff, delivery drivers, property managers or any other employee who may be at risk while working.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Rokid, a Chinese innovative technology company specializing in robotics research and AI development, started mass production of its globally anticipated Rokid Glass. The Rokid Glass, designed specifically for enterprise, is a fully standalone Augmented Reality smartglass powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile XR Platform and incorporates voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) into a powerful, lightweight and fashionable near-eye display.

Related Rokid Launches Project Aurora Prototype with Two Displays for 3D Content

Rokid Glass provides an array of practical applications across various industries including manufacturing, engineering, construction, energy development, aerospace, warehousing and logistics. Its proprietary on-device artificial intelligence, and battery life of 4-5 hours for active use and 70 hours standby on a single charge, can help businesses boost their after-sales services and maintenance efficiencies, says a press release.

“We’re thrilled to finally offer Rokid Glass to the mass market,” said Reynold Wu, director of product at Rokid. “Through our beta program, our existing enterprise clients already span across manufacturing, education, medical, mining, maintenance and more. We’re extremely excited to see how our enterprise partners use this assistive device to increase efficiencies.”

Rokid Glass is engineered with a unique and comfortable ergonomic design. The balance point is set at the rear of the device with a forward-leaning upper brim which naturally traces the shape of users’ brows. Unlike traditional nose pads, adjustable nose pads of Rokid Glass accommodate more than 90% of users’ interpupillary distance, while a safety strap keeps Rokid Glass firmly in place in any work environment.

Related Vuzix-Eaton Partnership to Develop Smartglasses for Hazardous Workplaces

“Rokid delivers an efficient and practical enterprise smart glass built on the Snapdragon 835 Platform. Rokid Glass’ optimized features including local AI algorithms enabled by the Snapdragon heterogenous compute platform, efficient power consumption and extended battery life demonstrate great strides in transforming industries and business verticals,” said Said Bakadir, director of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

MediaTek unveiled its groundbreaking 5G chipset, a multi-mode, 7nm 5G system-on-chip (SoC) designed to power the first wave of high-end 5G smartphones at the COMPUTEX. The multi-mode 5G chipset, with MediaTek Helio M70 modem built-in, boasts 7nm process and newest CPU, GPU and APU technology for a big performance boost and super-fast connectivity. It includes Arm’s newest Cortex-A77 CPU, Mali-G77 GPU and MediaTek’s most advanced AI processing unit (APU) to meet the power and performance demands of 5G to deliver super-fast connectivity and extreme user experiences.

Related Mobile World Congress Kicks Off with 5G, Foldable Phones and More

The new chipset is designed for 5G stand alone and non-standalone (SA/NSA) sub-6GHz networks. It supports connectivity from 2G to 4G to bridge existing network access while 5G networks roll out globally, said MediaTek in a press release.

“Everything about this chip is designed for the first wave of flagship 5G devices. The leading-edge technology in this chipset makes it the most powerful 5G SoC announced to date and puts MediaTek at the forefront of 5G SoC design,” said MediaTek President Joe Chen. “MediaTek will power rollouts of 5G premium level devices.”

Lead customers will be able to sample the new chipset in Q3 of 2019 and it’ll be commercially ready by Q1 of 2020. The company will disclose full specifications of the chipset in the coming months.

MediaTek 5G SoC features include:

• Helio M70 5G modem: MediaTek designed Helio M70 5G modem integrated into the SoC.
• 4.7 Gbps download speeds and 2.5 Gbps upload speeds
• Intelligent power savings and comprehensive power management
• Multi-mode support – 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G – and dynamic power sharing for the best connectivity
• New AI architecture: Sports an all new AI processing unit. Supports more advanced AI applications, including for imaging like de-blur so users get great shots even when subjects are moving fast.
• Latest CPU technology: MediaTek’s 5G SoC is a performance powerhouse with the just announced new Arm Cortex-A77 CPU.
• State-of-the-art GPU: A robust new Arm Mali-G77 GPU that enables seamless extreme streaming and gaming experiences at 5G speeds.
• Innovative 7nm FinFET: World’s first 5G SoC built on the cutting-edge 7nm production process for big energy savings in a compact package.
• Speedy throughput: A peak throughput of 4.7Gps download (sub-6GHz) and New Radio (NR) 2 Component Carrier (CC) support. Supports both non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) 5G network architectures.
• Powerful Multimedia & Imaging performance: Supports 4K video encode/decode at 60fps and super high-resolution camera (80MP).

Related Qualcomm Announces Support for Next Generation Immersive Compute for XR Viewers for 5G Smartphones

“The industry, OEMs and consumers have high expectations for 5G. We are confident devices powered by MediaTek’s 5G chipset, with its impressive architecture, leading imaging features, powerful AI and ultra-fast 5G speeds, will deliver incredible experiences,” said Chen.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Theranica, a Netanya, Israel-based bio-medical technology company received FDA De Novo request for its smartphone-controlled wearable device Nerivio Migra®, which uses Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for acute migraine treatment.

Migraine affects approximately 14.7% of the world’s population, making it the third most common disease in the world.

Related 4 Wearables to Fight Migraine

However, physicians who treat people with migraine are both patient-centered and science-driven. Doctors use medicines like Triptans and Ergots for acute migraine treatment. But there’s a huge need for new treatments for migraines when these medications are not effective, are contra-indicated, or have non-tolerable side effects.

“The clinical data of this innovative therapeutic device is of very high quality,” commented Professor Messoud Ashina, Danish Headache Center, president-elect of the International Headache Society. “It indicates that the device can provide patients with significant relief of pain and other migraine symptoms without the side effects presented by drugs.”

The de novo classification by FDA works as an alternative means of classifying low- to moderate-risk devices. Therefore, devices that are classified through the de novo process may be marketed and used as predicates for future 510(k) submissions.

FDA’s authorization of Nerivio Migra was based on the results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center pivotal study, where 252 patients from 12 clinics used the non-invasive wearable to treat their migraine attacks, says a press release.

“This study followed the latest edition of the guidelines from the International Headache Society for controlled trials of acute treatment of migraine attacks in adults,” said Dr. Brian Grosberg, MD, director of the Hartford Healthcare Headache Center in Connecticut, who served as the lead Principal Investigator (PI) of the study. “The results of the study demonstrate a high efficacy ratio for single as well as multiple attacks, both at two and 48 hours after treatment,” explained Dr. Grosberg, who was a co-author of an article describing the study, released earlier this month in the journal Headache.

The device is placed on the upper arm (not the head or neck) and uses smartphone-controlled electronic pulses to create a Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) response. Nerivio Migra® is designed for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adult patients who do not have chronic migraine.

Related NeuroMetrix Introduces Quell 2.0 Wearable AI Pain Relief Technology

Alon Ironi, CEO and Co-founder of Theranica said his company is committed to expanding the use of remote electrical neuromodulation therapy for additional indications. “We have identified at least 7 different painful conditions that may be relieved by this non-invasive, drug-free technology after appropriate clinical development,” Ironi said.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

German smartglasses vendor Picavi has launched a U.S. subsidiary called Picavi U.S., Inc. With an operations center in Chicago, Illinois, the company’s goal is to support its customers in North America and to speed up the roll-out of its pick-by-vision platform with a third-party logistics provider, Picavi said.

Related Vuzix-Eaton Partnership to Develop Smartglasses for Hazardous Workplaces

Carsten Funke, Chief Sales Officer and Partner at Picavi, has taken over the CEO position of Picavi U.S. Inc., reports Picavi.

“The founding of Picavi U.S. Inc. aims to boost the internationalization of our business development with even greater dynamism. Direct access to markets should not be underestimated and this will help us market our product and process innovations even more effectively in the future,” says Funke. “This will also enable us to make our smart glasses available to customers and partners in the USA and adapt them to the specific warehouse and IT environment. As a result, we’ll be able to live up to our claim of being a full-service provider for our customers to an even greater degree.”

Picavi is a prime partner of the X.Company, previously known as Google X and manufacturer of Google Glass, in the field of logistics, and is a preferred user of the latest model of the Glass Enterprise Edition.

Establishing the necessary structures and the business processes resulting from them will now proceed at high speed. “In the long term, we want Picavi to become the synonym for picking with smart glasses in intralogistics, just as we’ve already managed to do in our home market in Germany,” Carsten Funke continues. “As the prime partner of the X.Company, previous known as Google X and manufacturer of Google Glass, in the field of logistics, we are a preferred user of the latest model of the Glass Enterprise Edition. Therefore, we are always be able to offer our customers the best hardware together with the most productive IT solution for everyday warehousing use.”

Related Apple Analyst Explains How Apple’s Long-Rumored Smartglasses Will Work

Founded in 2013 in Herzogenrath, Germany, Picavi uses Alphabet Inc.’s Google Glass platform to visually manage the picking process for goods in logistics in a consistent manner. According to the company, its smartglasses maximizes productivity at warehouses and minimizes errors by allowing workers to have both hands free while picking goods. An extensive network of service, integration, technology and sales partners supports the work of the company’s 30 employees.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Apple has acquired Tueo Health, a small start-up that was working on an app to help parents monitor asthma symptoms in sleeping children.

Apple hasn’t disclosed how much it paid for the startup that raised a small seed round of $1.1 million in funding in 2017. Tueo’s CEO and co-founder Bronwyn Harris and chief operating officer Anura Patil changed their employer to Apple on their LinkedIn profiles in late 2018, which is likely around the time Apple completed its acquisition of the company, reports CNBC.

The technology developed by Tueo Health can alert parents or caregivers about potential asthma-related issues in sleeping children to help better manage the child’s asthma.

Related Apple and Alphabet Both Want to Revolutionize Healthcare But in Different Ways

“Parents of children with asthma know that managing treatment can be an uphill battle. At Tueo Health, we’ve built a digital tool that understands your child’s daily hurdles inside and out,” the company wrote on its website. “Our goal is simple: to help all children with asthma achieve a better quality of life with more symptom-free days.”

“We use commercially available sensors to monitor asthmatic children while they sleep. Our technology leverages the data from these sensors to create a personalized baseline for each child. Alerts are automatically sent to parents when there are deviations from their child’s baseline. These alerts are interactive and informative – we provide contextual information and just-in-time education and support to help them better manage their child’s asthma.”

Over the past few years, Apple has been increasing its focus on healthcare. In 2016, the tech giant acquired personal health data startup Gliimpse and in 2017 it acquired sleep tracking company Beddit.

Aside from adding ECG to its latest Apple Watch, on iOS 13, the company is also introducing a redesigned Health app that allows users to better monitor their health, including things like menstrual cycles. It’s not clear if Apple will introduce any new features that make use of Tueo Health’s technology, but there have been rumors that the Apple Watch could include sleep monitoring capabilities in the future.

Related Apple’s New Patents Hint at Watch that Detects Smell to Monitor Glucose

Based in Redwood City, California, Tueo Health was founded in 2015. The name Tueo (“too-ee-oh”) comes from a Latin word meaning to observe, care for, and maintain.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Many people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience nightmares on a regular basis. Nighttime memories often manifest as distressing dreams or nightmares in which the event is relived. These dreams can be very hard to control, since dreams seem to have a life of their own. It is estimated that nearly 5 million Americans suffer from Nightmare Disorder in the U.S. each year through referencing PTSD diagnoses and CDC data relating to PTSD.

Related Wearable Devices and Mobile Apps Exploring Users’ States of Mind to Tackle Anxiety and Depression

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based healthcare startup Nightware has received Breakthrough Status designation from the FDA for its lead product, NightWare, which measures and treats nightmares in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“We’ve seen a markedly large effect size for improved sleep quality in NightWare open label trials.  We are excited to get folks enrolled in these randomized trials to further verify the observed efficacy,” said Daniel Karlin, M.D. and Chief Medical Officer for NightWare.

NightWare is a smart watch application that runs on the Apple Watch platform. The wearable device collects biometric data through integrated sensors and uses machine learning algorithms to create a profile of an individual’s sleep patterns. The app doesn’t actually wake the wearer of the watch, but instead uses vibrotactile feedback to arouse the sleeper out of sleep. Thus, it interrupts the nightmare without interrupting the circadian sleep pattern, enabling the patient to get better and more restful sleep, said the company in a press release.

“This is truly a watershed moment for our company,” said NightWare CEO and Founder Grady Hannah. “In our initial studies, NightWare has demonstrated substantial and significant efficacy.

The FDA’s Breakthrough Status designation will enable us to complete our Randomized Clinical Trials ahead of schedule and give us the opportunity to help improve the lives of veterans and others suffering from PTSD sooner than we anticipated.” Hannah added, “Our team is humbled and excited by this FDA designation.”

Related Muse Releases Latest Version of its Brain Sensing Headband for Meditation

The company is currently enrolling patients in two Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs), one of which is being conducted at VA hospitals in Minneapolis and St Cloud, Minnesota. The company is also enrolling a virtual RCT trial that is much broader in geographic scope. Interested parties can get more information about NightWare clinical trial enrollment here.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded funding to six organizations to support the Next-Generation Nonsurgical Neurotechnology (N3) program. The groups will attempt to develop high-resolution, bidirectional brain-machine interfaces that match the performance of implanted electrodes without the need for surgery.

The six organizations are: Battelle Memorial Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Rice University, and Teledyne Scientific.

Related New Method of Deep Brain Stimulation Adapts to Patient’s Changing Needs

The wearable interfaces could ultimately enable diverse national security applications such as control of active cyber defense systems and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles, or teaming with computer systems to multitask during complex missions, reports DARPA.

“DARPA is preparing for a future in which a combination of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and cyber operations may cause conflicts to play out on timelines that are too short for humans to effectively manage with current technology alone,” said Al Emondi, the N3 program manager. “By creating a more accessible brain-machine interface that doesn’t require surgery to use, DARPA could deliver tools that allow mission commanders to remain meaningfully involved in dynamic operations that unfold at rapid speed.”

In the past 18 years, the agency has showed success in neural control of prosthetic limbs and restoration of the sense of touch to the users of those limbs, relief of otherwise intractable neuropsychiatric illnesses such as depression, and improvement of memory formation and recall. Due to the inherent risks of surgery, these technologies have so far been limited to use by volunteers with clinical need.

Nonsurgical interfaces are needed by the military’s able-bodied population to benefit from neurotechnology. Similar technology could also greatly benefit clinical populations. By removing the need for surgery, N3 systems seek to expand the pool of patients who can access treatments such as deep brain stimulation to manage neurological illnesses.

Related British Army Exploring Utilization of Wearable Technology for Injury Prevention

“If N3 is successful, we’ll end up with wearable neural interface systems that can communicate with the brain from a range of just a few millimeters, moving neurotechnology beyond the clinic and into practical use for national security,” Emondi said. “Just as service members put on protective and tactical gear in preparation for a mission, in the future they might put on a headset containing a neural interface, use the technology however it’s needed, then put the tool aside when the mission is complete.”

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Magic Leap, the Florida-based augmented reality startup has acquired Mimesys, a Belgium-based startup behind co-presence technology that brings hologram-like projections to AR conferences. The team has been working on bringing Star Wars-esque volumetric video calls to the Magic Leap platform.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Related AT&T Joins Forces With Magic Leap to Expand the Future of Spatial Computing

Besides simply projecting a customized avatar, Mimesys uses 3D avatars that look like you, and ramps it up by volumetrically capturing real imagery of the user to give the virtual conference an even more realistic feel. The platform already utilizes Magic Leap’s mixed reality headset, reports Pocket Gamer.

“As we expand the spatial computing ecosystem integrating a best in class communication and collaboration solution helps us to further fulfil the promise of the next computing platform,” said Magic Leap chief product officer Omar Khan.

“The spatial co-presence platform the Mimesys team has created is remarkable and we are thrilled to have them as part of our team. We look forward to further expansion of co-presence and collaboration tools on the Magic Leap platform.”

Mimesys CEO Remi Rousseau added: “Spatial Computing is going to change the way we think and work, leading to more collaborative, physically active, and magical experiences.

“We had the chance to work with Magic Leap Spatial Technology early on, were impressed by their technology and excited by the possibilities of co-presence on the platform. We are thrilled to be joining the Magic Leap family and to integrate the co-presence technologies into their spatial computing platform.”

Related SyncThink Partners with Magic Leap to Use AR for Brain Health Assessment

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Scientists at the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have created a lightweight, highly flexible and high-energy Textile Lithium Battery that offers more stable, durable and safe energy supply for wearable electronics. The new battery can be used in a multitude of applications, such as in healthcare monitoring, smart textiles, smartphones, GPS tracking and IoT.

Related VARTA Microbattery Launches Three New Lithium-Ion Cells for Wearables at the ISPO Munich 2019

The novel Textile Lithium Battery has shown high energy density of more than 450 Wh/L, and excellent flexibility – with a bending radius of less than 1mm, and foldability of over 1,000 cycles with marginal capacity degradation. In comparison, the existing bendable lithium battery can only reach a bending radius of about 25 mm, and with much lower performance of less than 200 Wh/L. The Textile Lithium Battery, of less than 0.5 mm thick, also possesses fast charging/discharging capability, and long cycle life comparable with conventional lithium batteries, says a press release.

The innovation has already won three prizes at the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva held in April this year, namely a Gold Medal and two Special Merit Awards.

“Wearable technology has been named as the next global big market opportunity after smartphones. Global market revenues for wearable devices are forecasted to grow by leaps and bounds, of over 20% annually, to reach US$100 billion by 2024. [1] As all wearable electronics will require wearable energy supply, our novel technology in fabricating Textile Lithium Battery offers promising solution to a wide array of next-generation applications, ranging from healthcare, infotainment, sports, aerospace, fashion, IoT to any sensing or tracking uses that may even exceed our imagination of today,” said Professor ZHENG Zijian, who leads the ITC research team.

Related Hong Kong PolyU Develops Robotic Arm to Help Stroke Patients Move Upper Limb

In today’s market, lithium battery is the most popular type of rechargeable battery due to its relatively high energy density and long cycle life. To enable lithium battery to be used in wearable devices, scientists, over the past decade have been trying to develop bendable lithium battery, often by using metal foils as current collectors. However, it is only until the emergence of PolyU’s Textile Lithium Battery that the bottlenecks over energy density, flexibility, mechanical robustness and cycling stability being able to be addressed.

Laboratory tests conducted by the ITC team have shown the new Textile Lithium Battery to be highly durable, stable and safe.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Boston, MA-based human performance company WHOOP introduced next-gen WHOOP Strap 3.0 featuring WHOOP Live – a suite of improved features for real time data collection. Kristen Holmes, VP of Performance at WHOOP will be part of the panel discussion at the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10. Together with the NFL Players Association, we will be discussing the use of wearables and data analytics for protection, health and media in professional sports in this panel.

Related Best Wearables for Triathletes in 2019

WHOOP is a wrist-worn wearable device that is designed to improve training, sleep and lifestyle choices with real-time feedback on the body. Its effortless social media integration further augments the user experience with compelling graphic design and easy in-app capture for ultimate connectivity. The new WHOOP Strap 3.0 allows users to share live data and progress with trainers, coaches, friends, and connect with the WHOOP community at large, said the company in a press release.

“Data collection and accuracy have always been first and foremost at WHOOP. Through algorithmic breakthroughs, we’ve now found ways to optimize battery life while maintaining incredible accuracy. The result is a product with better ease of use and real-time coaching,” said Will Ahmed, Founder & CEO of WHOOP.

WHOOP Live features include:

• Strain Coach: Get exertion level recommendations based on the body’s recovery. When training begins, WHOOP will show whether the user needs to push harder, is overdoing it, or has reached their goal.
• WHOOP Snap+: Overlay WHOOP data onto videos or photos. Whether recording alone or with a trainer/friend, the user can see how strain, heart rate, and calories evolve over the course of any activity. Videos and photos can be saved, analyzed, and shared.
• HR Broadcast: Users can easily connect to their favorite BLE compatible apps and devices, including Peloton, Wahoo computers, Concept2 ergometers, Strava, and TrainerRoad.

WHOOP Strap 3.0 comes with the new ProKnit band – sturdy and stretchy band, engineered for maximum comfort, sweat absorption and pressure displacement. Optimizations in hardware, firmware, Bluetooth, and data architecture have contributed to an unprecedented 5-day battery life (considerably longer than the WHOOP Strap 2.0’s 40-hour charge). The new WHOOP also offers an opportunity to reflect users’ personal style, launching in three new colors: Onyx, Carbide and Arctic.

Related New Technology Used by NFL Athletes Gives Teams and Trainers Edge in Injury Assessment

WHOOP Live is only available in combination with the WHOOP Strap 3.0. New members receive the WHOOP Strap 3.0 for free with a 6, 12, or 18-month plan. Existing members can upgrade for as low as the cost of renewal, based on membership status. WHOOP is only available at WHOOP.com.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Amazon is reportedly working on a wearable that will tell you to calm down when you’re angry. According to the latest report from Bloomberg, the wrist-worn, voice activated device is able to read human emotions. Amazon would be able to collect emotion information and perhaps share it with other health products, Bloomberg’s sources say.

Related This Wristband Could Help You Manage Your Emotions and Tell Your Friends How You’re Feeling

Bloomberg also reports that Amazon’s new device would use the emotion data to serve relevant ads or product recommendations to people based on their emotional state. For example, when a person is happy the device will show them ad or product recommendation that would suit his or her happy state of mind. If a person is feeling sad, angry, fearful or any type of negative emotions, that person would get different recommendations to suit their mood.

Bloomberg reviewed internal Amazon documents, which reportedly show the Alexa voice software team and Amazon’s Lab126 hardware division are collaborating on the wearable in development.

“Designed to work with a smartphone app, the device has microphones paired with software that can discern the wearer’s emotional state from the sound of his or her voice, according to the documents and a person familiar with the program. Eventually the technology could be able to advise the wearer how to interact more effectively with others,” reports Bloomberg.

Amazon’s new venture suggests the company might be on to something. According to a 2016 Nielsen research, ads that considered human emotion and elicited an emotional response generated a 23% gain in sales volume, compared to those that didn’t include emotional elements.

Related This Gadget Can Communicate Human Emotions Through Touch

A diagram in the patent filed in 2017, says “the technology can detect an abnormal emotional condition and shows a sniffling woman telling Alexa she’s hungry. The digital assistant, picking up that she has a cold, asks the woman if she would like a recipe for chicken soup,” Bloomberg reports.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. However, there isn’t much you can do to stop a seizure once it starts. But advancements in wearable technology is allowing the patient and their loved ones to know beforehand when a seizure will occur. Now, a team of European researchers believe they have found a way to halt seizures with the help of tiny flakes of graphene.

Tiny Graphene Flakes to Stop Epileptic Seizures

The researchers from Sissa (International School for Advanced Studies) in Italy, and the Universities of Trieste, Manchester, and Strasbourg, have shown that these particles are able to interfere with the transmission of the signal at excitatory neuronal synaptic junctions. Furthermore, in animal models the research team demonstrated that they do so in a reversible manner because they disappear without leaving a trace a few days after they have been administered. The injection was done directly into the brain using a syringe, but there was no noticeable increase in inflammation or immune response, reports MedGadget.

AI System Can Predict Epileptic Seizure

Scientists in Australia have developed a low-cost wearable that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) system to predict and alert an epileptic patient when a seizure is likely to strike. The predictive algorithm has sensitivity of up to 81.4% and false prediction rate as low as 0.06/hour. For their study, researchers proposed a generalized, patient-specific, seizure-prediction technique that can alert epilepsy sufferers within 30 minutes of the probability of a seizure.

Embrace2: The world’s most advanced smartband for epilepsy monitoring

Embrace2 is a FDA-cleared smartband that uses advanced machine learning to detect unusual patterns that may be associated with convulsive seizures, and immediately notifies caregivers. It also provides rest and physical activity analysis to better understand your lifestyle. And with fast charging and a 48+ hour battery life, it gives you more freedom to do more of what you love. Beyond helping people with epilepsy better monitor their seizures, Embrace2 also tracks rest and physical activity, providing valuable insights into your health.

Nightwatch: Wearable Night Time Seizure Detection Device

Researchers at Kempenhaeghe and Eindhoven University of Technology in collaboration with multiple partners have developed nighttime seizure alert device for people with epilepsy. Nightwatch, the wearable device is designed to wear at night. It alerts the caregiver of imminent seizure by triggering an alarm. The device is an upper arm strap-on that measures the heart rate and movement of the sleeping person, directly from the body. There is no discomfort. You almost don’t notice that you’re wearing the armband.

SeizeIT2 Detects Seizure Precisely and Discreetly

European organization EIT Health partnered with several other European companies and Universities to deliver a clinically accurate seizure detection system called SeizeIT2. This discrete wearable device monitors several biosignals to allow a more precise quantitative analysis of seizure activity, so that people with epilepsy can receive treatment optimized for their specific condition, reports EIT Health. The first prototype of this wearable allows comfortable and unobtrusive seizure monitoring outside of a hospital setting. Accuracy level of SeizeIT2 is 70-90%, compared to the typical accuracy level of less than 50% in a seizure diary, and the device offers an improved patient experience.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

After gaining a major market share as a successful sleep tracker, Oura ring now has a new feature called Moment, which can track your meditation and other mindfulness practices.

“What I’ve appreciated the most about the Oura Ring is that simply wearing it is a powerful reminder of how important sleep is to my health. Now, with the Moment feature, I have a great reminder of my meditation practice, and one that will help me understand how I’m doing,” said Jack Dorsey, Founder and CEO of Twitter and Square.

Related Muse Releases Latest Version of its Brain Sensing Headband for Meditation

Built on Oura’s sleep tracking features, Moment gives users with information about their heart rate, HRV, body temperature, respiratory rate, and sleep stages. The app also provides analysis of optimal sleep schedules, sleep trends over time, readiness for peak mental and physical performance, and overall recovery, said the company in a press release.

Moment uses resting heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) to track the impact of a session, two data points highly correlated with stress and heart health. Oura Ring users can now see precisely how meditation affects stress levels, sleep, and overall health.

Oura was deliberately designed as a ring (rather than a wrist worn device) because the arterial pulse at the finger delivers a significantly more accurate reading than what can be collected from the wrist. The Oura Ring measures blood volume pulse directly from the palmar arteries of the finger with infrared LED sensors. The personalized data allow users to work toward decreasing stress and increasing heart health.

“Oura is solving a universal problem of helping people to get enough quality sleep. Moment is a natural adjacency of the Oura Ring into the growing meditation space, I’m excited that companies like Oura are helping users understand the connection between body and mind,” said Michael Dell, Chair and CEO of Dell Technologies and MSD Capital, an investor in Oura.

Related This Wearable Sleep Tracker Can Help Detect Your Sleep Apnea

Oura Ring’s performance has convinced well-known biohackers and longevity leaders like Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey and tech leaders like Digg founder Kevin Rose to become investors in the company. Oura is also worn by professional athletes like Drew Brees, Kevin Love, Lance Armstrong, and Manu Ginobili and actress Ali Landry.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is beta amyloid plaque – clumps of protein that builds up in the brain and destroys neuron cell connections. Now, researchers at UC Davis Health and UC San Francisco have developed a machine learning tool that can detect if a sample of brain tissue has one type of amyloid plaque or another, and do it very quickly.

This is a proof of concept for a machine-learning approach to distinguishing critical markers of the disease.

Read more Brain Computer Interface with Neurofeedback Can Improve Your Performance, Says Columbia Study

The findings suggest that machine learning can add to the expertise and analysis of a neuropathologist. The tool allows them to analyze thousands of times more data and ask new questions otherwise impossible with the limited data processing capabilities of highly trained human experts, reports UC Davis.

“We still need the pathologist,” said Brittany N. Dugger, an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and lead author of the study. “This is a tool, like a keyboard is for writing. As keyboards help writing workflows, digital pathology paired with machine learning helps with neuropathology workflows.”

Another researcher in this project Michael J. Keiser, an assistant professor in UCSF’s Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, designed a “convolutional neural network” (CNN), a computer program designed to recognize patterns based on thousands of human-labeled examples.

To teach the CNN algorithm how Dugger analyzes brain tissue, the researchers devised a method that allowed her to rapidly label tens of thousands of images from a collection of half a million taken from 43 healthy and diseased brain samples.

This database labeled example images was used by the UCSF team to train their CNN machine-learning algorithm to identify different types of brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease. This includes discriminating between so-called cored and diffuse plaques and identifying abnormalities in blood vessels. The researchers showed that their algorithm could process an entire whole-brain slice slide with 98.7% accuracy. They confirmed the computer’s identification skills were biologically accurate.

Read more Embracing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Healthcare

“If we can better characterize what we are seeing, this could provide further insights into the diversity of dementia,” Dugger said. “It opens the door to precision medicine for dementias.” She added, “These projects are phenomenal examples of cross-disciplinary translational science; neuropathologists, a statistician, a clinician, and engineers coming together, forming a dialogue and working together to solve a problem.”

The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Google has launched the second edition of its Glass Enterprise Edition for $999 in the U.S. Glass Enterprise Edition 2 looks the same from the first enterprise-focused variant, but it now runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR1 chip. Pankaj Kedia, Global Head for Smart Wearables at Qualcomm will be speaking at the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10.

Like its predecessor, the Glass is not being sold directly to consumers. It’s aimed at workers in logistics and manufacturing helping them to be more efficient.

Related Vuzix-Eaton Partnership to Develop Smartglasses for Hazardous Workplaces

“Glass Enterprise Edition 2 helps businesses further improve the efficiency of their employees. As our customers have adopted Glass, we’ve received valuable feedback that directly informed the improvements in Glass Enterprise Edition 2,” Google said in a blog.

The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 is also a great tool for physicians in hospitals and clinics.

“A typical doctor spends about 2 hours a day to write notes on visits they conducted. And because I have glass, typing that out for me in real-time, I am not worrying about going back four hours later trying to remember all the details of the visit. It’ll help us be better doctors,” says Dr. Albert Chan, Chief of Digital Patient Experience, Sutter Health.

Google noted the glass has “significantly more powerful multicore CPU” and new AI engine compared to the previous Intel Atom chip on EE1. It also features 3GB of LPDDR4, 32GB eMMC Flash, and runs Android Oreo, reports 9to5 Google.

It features an improved camera performance and quality. The Glass comes equipped with an 8-megapixel camera with 80-degree FOV remains in the same position as before with privacy LED for the camera and to denote power on the rear. USB-C charges the 820mAh battery with fast charge available.

Google partnered with Smith Optics to add new safety frames to Glass. Glass also now runs on Android, with support for Android Enterprise Mobile Device Management.

Other specs include a single 6-axis Accel/Gyro and 3-axis Mag, as well as water and dust resistance.

Related Huawei Partners Up with Gentle Monster to Release New Smartglasses

“We’re committed to providing enterprises with the helpful tools they need to work better, smarter and faster. Enterprise businesses interested in using Glass Enterprise Edition 2 can contact our sales team or our network of Glass Enterprise solution partners starting today. We’re excited to see how our partners and customers will continue to use Glass to shape the future of work,” Google said.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Singapore-based smart wearables startup KaHa has raised $6.2 million in a Series B funding to accelerate its growth in Asia. The founding round was led by ICT Fund, a specialized deep-tech venture capital fund focused on deep-tech investments.

Related FORCIOT Raises Four Million Euros in a Funding Led by Volvo and Heraeus

The company will the new fund to boost its research and development and scale its operations in the Asia Pacific region – the world’s fastest growing smart wearables market, outperforming Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

“Apart from helping us expand our product line, this new round of funding will allow KaHa to discover more breakthrough products that can support the health and wellness, sports and fitness, safety and digital payments needs, as well as increase the COVE platform’s availability internationally and improve our accessibility and affordability,” said Pawan Gandhi, Founder and CEO of KaHa.

KaHa was incorporated in 2015 by Pawan Gandhi, Justin Tang and Sudheendra Shantaram. The company runs an end-to-end IoT platform for smart wearables including electronics design, printed circuit board assembly, application framework for iOS and Android, cloud services, data analytics and smart after-sales service tool, reports SME Street.

The platform also enables partners and customers to incorporate the latest technology without high financial costs and speed up their go-to-market time for smart products.

KaHa is expecting the number of devices powered by its platform to exceed two million by the end of 2019.

Related Singapore’s Changi Airport Construction Site Using Smartglasses and other technology for Safety and Security Measures

“We are delighted to partner with KaHa, which is well placed to capitalize on the fast-growing market opportunity in smart wearables. Consumer product brands will increasingly need to offer ‘smart’ products to maintain leadership and KaHa, with its innovative end-to-end platform, is a perfect partner for global brands,” said Brijesh Pande, managing partner of ICT Fund.

As part of its expansion plan, KaHa plans to increase manpower at its Singapore headquarters and offices in China, India and Switzerland within the next two years.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

Is the hot weather becoming unpleasant, making you uncomfortable to walk down the street? Not to worry, U.S. scientists have developed a wearable patch that could give you personalized cooling and heating at home, work or on the go.

Related Very Thin Tattoo-Like Wearable Patch Monitors and Diagnoses Health Problems from Sweat

Developed by researchers from the University of California-San Diego, the soft, stretchy patch cools or warms a user’s skin to a comfortable temperature and keeps it there as the ambient temperature changes.

The novel patch is powered by a flexible, stretchable battery pack and can be embedded in clothing and wearing it could help save energy on air conditioning and heating, reports UC-San Diego press release.

“This type of device can improve your personal thermal comfort whether you are commuting on a hot day or feeling too cold in your office,” said Renkun Chen, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering who led the study.

The device, which is at the proof-of-concept stage, could also save energy.

“If wearing this device can make you feel comfortable within a wider temperature range, you won’t need to turn down the thermostat as much in the summer or crank up the heat as much in the winter,” Chen said in a paper published in the journal Science Advances.

Made of thermo-electric alloys, the device is also comfortable and convenient to wear. It physically cools or heats the skin to a temperature that the wearer chooses.

“You could place this on spots that tend to warm up or cool down faster than the rest of the body, such as the back, neck, feet or arms, in order to stay comfortable when it gets too hot or cold,” said study’s first author Sahngki Hong.

The goal is to create smart clothing by combining multiple patches together that can work as a personalized cooling and heating system.

Related VivaLNK’s Vital Scout is a Wearable Patch that Continuously Monitors Stress and Recovery

The researchers are now working to integrate the patches into a prototype cooling and heating vest.

“We’ve solved the fundamental problems, now we’re tackling the big engineering issues — the electronics, hardware and developing a mobile app to control the temperature,” Chen said.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19

For a limited time (until May 28^th), Nuheara is offering IQstream TV for free when you buy IQbuds BOOST. IQstream TV gives you control of your own volume levels, allowing others with you to watch tv at comfortable levels. Shipping starts in early June.

Related Nuheara Building Ecosystem for Hearables with its IQStream TV

IQbuds BOOST allows you to hear better at a fraction of the cost of traditional hearing devices – and now with IQStream TV you can enjoy watching TV with crystal-clear stereo sound at the volume you want, while others listen at the volume they prefer. No need to blast the TV volume anymore!

Around the world, millions of people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss struggle to hear the television, resulting in uncomfortably loud TV volumes. To compensate for hearing challenges, some people crank up the TV volume to a level that becomes unpleasant for others sitting in the same room, reports Nuheara.

For those with some degree of hearing loss, the experience of watching TV is frustrating. Additionally, the solution is often more complex than simply turning up the volume. As Dr. Meredith Scharf of Manhattan Audiological Services in New York told Consumer Reports in a recent interview:

“We see this issue quite a bit, especially with our older patients. It’s not just volume; it’s clarity any time there’s a high background level of noise. It can be with speech and conversations, as well as with TV.”

Related Semtech and Sonova Partner Up to Create Hearing Aid for Better IoT Connectivity

The supplied cables make it easy to connect IQstream TV to any TV in the household. The Nuheara App automatically identifies IQstream TV and connects with a tap.

You can also set up IQstream in multiple rooms for personalized audio throughout the house.

“IQbuds BOOST allows you to hear better at a fraction of the cost of traditional hearing devices – and now with IQStream TV you can enjoy watching TV with crystal-clear stereo sound at the volume you want, while others listen at the volume they prefer. No need to blast the TV volume anymore!” said the company in a press release.

WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10

The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19