A female Swedish patient became the first recipient of an osseo-neuromuscular implant to control a dexterous hand prosthesis. In a pioneering surgery, led by Prof. Rickard Brånemark and Dr. Paolo Sassu, surgeons placed titanium implants in the two forearm bones (radius and ulnar), from which electrodes to nerves and muscle were extended to extract signals to control a robotic hand and to provide tactile sensations. The breakthrough is part of the European project DeTOP (Dexterous Transradial Osseointegrated Prosthesis with neural control and sensory feedback) project, which involved the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Italy, and Integrum AB, a Swedish firm.

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

A team led by Dr. Max Ortiz Catalan at Integrum AB and Chalmers University of Technology developed this new technology.

In conventional methods, electrodes are placed over the skin to extract control signals from the underlying stump muscles. But these superficial electrodes deliver limited and unreliable signals that only allow movements like opening and closing the hand. More accurate and reliable information can be obtained by implanting electrodes in all remaining muscle in the stump instead. Therefore, the doctors implanted sixteen electrodes into the Swedish woman’s stump to achieve more dexterous control of a novel prosthetic hand, reports Detop.

One of the most important part of this project is that this technology can be used regularly. Integrum AB and Chalmers University of Technology have previously demonstrated that control of a sentient prosthesis in daily life was possible in above-elbow amputees using similar technology.

“Several advanced prosthetic technologies have been reported in the last decade, but unfortunately they have remained as research concepts used only for short periods of time in controlled environments,” said Dr. Catalan, who also heads the Biomechatronics and Neurorehabilitation Lab at Chalmers University. “The breakthrough of our technology consists of enabling patients to use implanted neuromuscular interfaces to control their prosthesis while perceiving sensations where it matters for them, in their daily life.”

Related Electronic Skin for Prosthetic Hands Lets Amputees Feel Pain

The patient with the new implant is learning how to control it using virtual reality. She will have to spend some time becoming comfortable with controlling the device. Two more patients will be implanted with this new generation of prosthetic hands in the coming months, in Italy and Sweden.

Global consumer electronics company Coolpad announced fulfillment partnership with Quality One Wireless (Q1) for Dyno Smartwatch, a wearable made specifically for children.

Related Children are Becoming Major Driving Force Behind the Wearable Market Growth in China

The secure, sturdy and colorful dyno smartwatch is the first in a series of family-oriented connected products to come from Coolpad. The smartwatch offers 4G LTE connectivity, an intuitive user interface, an SOS button for quickly contacting parents, and kid-proof protection against dust and water. Paired with an easy-to-use companion app, the smartwatch allows parents to quickly locate their children, set “safe zones” with virtual perimeter alerts, and communicate via voice and text messages.

“Coolpad Americas chose Q1 as a fulfillment partner for Q1’s valued e-commerce management and logistical support,” said Casey Ryan, CEO, Coolpad Americas.

Quality One can create a customized website and mobile store (typically in less than 30 days), managing the entire e-commerce ecosystem including inventory, checkout, customer support, forward and reverse logistics, said a press release.

“We are excited to join together with Coolpad Americas for the sale of the Dyno Smartwatch, and we are proud to support its online store and shipment to customers,” said Victor Anez, VP of Operations for Q1.

Related The 5 Best Fitness Trackers for Children

Pricing and Availability

Dyno Smartwatch went on sale on January 28 for $149 through its website.

About Coolpad

Coolpad Americas is a top consumer electronics company that has built strategic partnerships with key wireless carriers and retailers. Headquartered in Frisco, Texas and operating in the U.S. market since 2012, Coolpad has embarked on a bold mission to become the number one provider of family technology. Coolpad develops world-class consumer electronics that are inspired by innovation, purpose, and family.

According to a report from The Verge, Microsoft will be holding a press event at Mobile World Congress on 25th February, and the company hints it could reveal the long-awaited mixed reality HoloLens 2 at the event.

The actual invite provides little detail, but The Verge notes that CEO Satya Nadella, CVP Julia White and technical fellow Alex Kipman will be hosts at the event. Given the names involved, it seems Microsoft has some significant news to release. Kipman is the creator of HoloLens, so his presence suggests Microsoft will have at least some news on the latest version of HoloLens.

Related HoloLens Will Help Surgeons in UK Hospital by Providing Important 3D Visualizations During Surgeries

Rumors surfacing last year suggested the software giant would unveil HoloLens 2 late last year or early 2019, so the February event fits that timeline. Microsoft will reportedly use Qualcomm’s 850 or XR1 chip to power the system – Qualcomm designed the latter especially for virtual reality and augmented reality headsets. It supports 4K video at 60 frames per second, along with 3D overlays and directional audio.

Microsoft has confirmed that HoloLens 2 will include a custom AI chip, and according to reports, the new headset will be more comfortable than its predecessor.

Microsoft’s first HoloLens went on sale in 2016 for $3,000, while the commercial suite was priced at $5,000.

HoloLens, the standalone AR headset, was positioned for developers and enterprise. However, Microsoft has long envisioned the devices will become part of consumer’s lives too. To that end, its’ not clear if HoloLens 2 will be aimed at consumers.

Related Microsoft HoloLens 2: What We Know So Far About the Next-Gen Headset

“We’re not trying to sell hundreds of thousands or millions or anything, it’s expensive, and it’s not in huge numbers. So we’re happy with the level of sales that we’ve got – I can’t tell you anything about the numbers, but it’s in thousands, not hundreds of thousands, and that’s fine. That’s all we need,” Roger Walkden, Microsoft’s HoloLens commercial lead told The Inquirer back in 2016.

SOLOS Smartglasses and CTS are teaming up to provide CTS coaches, athletes, and training camp participants access to innovative, high-performance SOLOS Smart Glasses. Kopin Corporation, which owns the Solos wearable technology company, announced the news in a press release.

Related DigiLens Announces AR Waveguide Displays for Smart Motorcycle Helmets

The SOLOS Augmented Reality (AR) smartglasses provide athletes with critical in-workout performance data in its high-resolution heads-up display and integrated stereo speakers, allowing athletes to focus on the road or trail ahead, rather than looking down at their bike computer, GPS watch, or smart phone. Athletes can choose to display metrics such as heart rate, speed, power, pace, cadence, distance, and other ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible data. SOLOS’ latest app update also gives athletes the option to import TrainingPeaks structured workouts and be coached through the workout specifics with visual and audio cues, directly through the headset, said the press release.

“We are very excited to announce our strategic partnership with CTS, and look forward to working together with one of the most successful endurance sport coaching companies in the world,” said SOLOS General Director Ernesto Martinez. “Starting from our initial co-development with USA Cycling and Team USA athletes for the 2016 Rio Olympics, to our technology integration with TrainingPeaks, SOLOS remain committed to bringing the most advanced performance enhancing experience to the athletic community.”

Related Ellcie’s Smartglasses Prevent Car Crashes by Detecting if You’re Falling Asleep

CTS Founder and CEO Chris Carmichael said this partnership will not only help athletes improve their training and push the boundaries of their performance, but it will also help athletes stay safe on the road. “Now with the integrated capability of having all the important real-time metrics and audio features in a heads-up solution, athletes can keep their eyes off their bike computer and focus on the road. This is game-changing technology that is going to have a large positive impact on athletes’ training and safety,” he said.

The iQ Group Global, an Australian consortium of life science and financial services companies, developed a biosensor capable of accurately measuring glucose in a person’s saliva.

This groundbreaking technology is the world’s first non-invasive, saliva-based glucose test for diabetes management that measures glucose in saliva rather than blood. The saliva-based glucose test is being developed to improve the quality of life for over 425 million people living with diabetes globally.

Read more Researchers Create 3-D Printed Glucose Biosensor for Wearable Monitors

The technology, invented by Professor Paul Dastoor and his team at the Centre of Organic Electronics at the University of Newcastle in Australia, comprises the Glucose Biosensor Unit and a digital healthcare app. The iQ Group Global acquired the biosensor technology in 2016 and has accelerated its development for diagnostic applications. The Glucose Biosensor Unit is a small, disposable strip, which when exposed to an individual’s saliva instantly provides a glucose measurement. The glucose measurement will be presented in real-time, via a proprietary digital app on a patient’s smart device, said a press release.

“Diabetes is a global epidemic, with 1 in 11 adults living with the disease. Achieving normoglycemia is one of the main targets for diabetes patients. However, finger prick testing is a painful and frustrating process, with many citing the pain as the main reason for poor adherence to testing protocols. By eradicating the need for finger prick blood tests, the saliva-based test will lead to increased glucose monitoring and better healthcare outcomes among these patients,” says Dr. George Syrmalis, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of The iQ Group Global.

The Glucose Biosensor Unit

The patent protected modified organic thin film transistors work in combination with Glucose Oxidase (GOX) to initiate an electrochemical reaction that produces an electrical signal. This signal can be displayed on the patient’s smart device in real time. Due to its high sensitivity the biosensor can detect glucose levels at considerably lower levels than in blood. It has a linear glucose sensing capability at concentrations of 100 times lower than current blood measuring methodologies.

Read more VitalConnect’s VitalPatch Biosensor and VistaTablet Provides Continuous Patient Monitoring Anywhere

Future Medical Applications

The iQ Group Global is currently working on a pilot research and development program with the University of Newcastle to expand beyond the saliva glucose diagnostic test and develop the platform of Point of Care Diagnostic Tests beginning with tumor markers, hormones, and communicable diseases.

As smart rings are gaining popularity, there’s a race happening on crowdfunding sites as entrepreneurs compete to see who can make the best smart ring there is. Smart rings make a great wearable device because of their smaller size and the way they fit around your finger. Some experts believe smart rings might replace smartwatches in the future. Smart rings can collect valuable health data because your fingers have easy-to-sense arteries. Some smart rings can even track your sleep or send SOS alert in case of an emergency. Here I have made a list of some of the most popular smart rings in the market.

Read more Dutch Bank ABN Amro Introduces Wearable Payments on Smartwatches, Rings, and Bracelets

Oura

Developed by Finnish sleep improvement platform Oura Health, Oura ring helps you pinpoint what’s going on in your body throughout the day, so you can tweak your inputs in response to your measures.  With daily feedback to improve your health, Oura helps you better understand your body and reach your goals. You’ll be guided through an intelligent, data-driven plan to help you improve across the most important aspects of your well-being. The sleep tracker automatically collects the wearer’s data and synchronizes it to the Oura app to a smartphone running Android or iOS. Just wear the ring around your finger, and it’ll measure your physiological signals, with no switches or flashing lights. The Oura ring registers your body temperature reading every minute while you sleep. By comparing that value to values from earlier nights, it indicates your body temperature baseline and any variations from it.

Ringly

Ringly is an activity tracker that also sends notifications and alerts. Ringly founder Christina D’Avignon believes “Women deserve technology that helps them live healthy, balanced lives without sacrificing style or comfort. The days of clunky fitness trackers are behind us.” Besides basics like email, text and calls, you can also get messages from social media sites including Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter plus other apps like Viber and MyFitnessPal. A small light on the side of the ring flashes different colors depending on alerts you want. You can also program the device to vibrate.

Motiv

Motiv Ring is a basic tracker that tells you how many calories you’ve burned, how many steps you’ve taken and how your overall sleep quality is. For a basic tracker, Motiv is a great option. On top of that this stylish tracker comes in the form of a ring and it’s so light and comfortable that you’d forget you’re wearing it. The band fits like a wedding ring, but despite its tiny size, it packs an optical heart-rate monitor, Bluetooth, three-axis accelerometer, and LED. The ring features WalkID – a new biometric authentication system based on gait analysis. WalkID can run as long as the user is wearing it and walking, which allows for continuous, passive authentication. The company said fingerprint and facial recognition through a paired smartphone will further extend the biometric authentication security of the ring. The ring is water resistant up to 50m, connects via Bluetooth and supports a host of Android devices. The battery lasts for three days.

Read more Chinese Company Totwoo Unveils Love Bloom Smart Necklace in the U.S. Market

ORII

ORII is a sleek smart ring that lets you talk via your mobile phone while holding just your finger near your mouth, emulating a scene from of a James Bond movie. The ring gives you clear and crisp audio while listening to text messages through your finger without the need of a screen, making communications more stylish and efficient. The ring is created by Hong Kong startup Origami Labs, who last year raised $500,000 in crowdfunding and closed at a substantial total funding of $2.5 million. It received over 4000 pre-orders from 3000 plus backers in 60 plus countries. ORII is very lightweight and comfortable to wear. It’s splash-proof and even features anodized aluminum.

A recent Ernst & Young study explored how large number of available data on human body is helping the healthcare industry to provide more effective and personalized patient care. According to the study, technology is changing the operating model and practices of existing industry players, creating new opportunities for non-traditional players, and redefining the role of the patient.

Read more The Quantum Group Establishes BlueBox.Care to Revolutionize the Use of Wearables and AI in Healthcare

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a big role in healthcare as well. AI is speeding up the process of diagnosis and cure of illnesses and improving the pharmaceutical industry’s failing rate in research and development, reports EY.

“I have spent the bulk of my career in the pharmaceutical industry, and when I left the company I work for, I realized that actually we had to do things differently, Professor Jackie Hunter, Director, BenevolentAI, which pioneers the use of artificial intelligence to research new medicines and develop blueprints to cure sicknesses, said in a podcast. “The pharmaceutical industry is actually failing to innovate consistently and the exciting thing for me about joining BenevolentAI is that we had a real opportunity to do things differently, be totally disruptive and just reengineer the whole model.”

To create value in the industry, organizations really need to focus on unlocking the power of data to fuel innovation. So, looking at how you can connect data, combine data and share data better to fuel innovation, to deliver better health outcome, but in a very personalized way, according to the study.

“As we discover more and more about human body, there are so many data processes that lie within it that we have yet to understand fully. So, if you link that with the pace of change and the technology development, the data collection through sensors that we’re beginning to see emerge, said Pamela Spence, who leads EY’s Global Health Sciences and Wellness practice. “I do believe that human body is going to be one of the biggest sources of data in the future, so understanding the data within the platform of the human body will really bring great dividends to the wider healthcare industry in the future.”

Read more WTEU19: These Companies are Revolutionizing Healthcare with Innovative Wearables

Spence believes small innovations, like wearable devices can pay massive dividends to the healthcare industry. Vital signs that are normally measured in the primary care or the secondary care environment, now can be done by the patients themselves. “And I do believe, you know, we’ll be able to have blood tests at home. So, then we’ve got full vital sign capture, we’ve got full blood capture and we don’t need to go to the actual facility for our health care per se. And I think that makes us more empowered because we get access to more and we become more responsible, linked with all the behavioral nudges. I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for us to have better access to health care because the health care industry starts to revolve around us as patients, rather than we having to, at some personal cost to ourselves, try to fit into a clunky and very antiquated system,” she said.

When it comes to psychiatric illness in children, it is extremely difficult to monitor or diagnose the condition early. Children’s internalizing disorders are not well understood and many cases remain undiagnosed. If left untreated, children with internalizing disorders are at greater risk of substance abuse and suicide later in life. Can wearable tech help?

Related FDA Approves Seizure-Detecting Smartband Embrace 2 for Use by Children

University of Vermont (UVM) researchers have developed a movement sensor that can identify children with internalizing disorders – including anxiety and depression – with 81% accuracy, according to a research published in PLoS One.

Ryan McGinnis, PhD, a biomedical engineer and assistant professor of biomedical engineering teamed up with Ellen McGinnis, a clinical psychologist at UVM and colleagues, to develop a tool that could help screen children for internalizing disorders to catch them early enough to be treated, reports University of Vermont.

“This is the first study [on wearable technologies] that targets internalizing disorders like anxiety and depression in young kids and also the first to use this type of approach for identifying individuals likely to have a diagnosis.” McGinnis told Infectious Diseases in Children. “We are excited about this result because it points toward the future use of these technologies for screening children with otherwise hidden problems.”

The researchers used a common research method designed to elicit specific behaviors and feelings such as anxiety. They used “mood induction task” to test 63 children, some of whom were known to have internalizing disorders.

Children were led into a dimly lit room, while the facilitator gave scripted statements to build anticipation, such as “I have something to show you” and “Let’s be quiet so it doesn’t wake up.” At the back of the room was a covered terrarium, which the facilitator quickly uncovered, then pulled out a fake snake. The children were then reassured by the facilitator and allowed to play with the snake.

Related This Therapy Robot Helps Children with Autism by Teaching Them Social Skills

During this task, children wore a commercially available sensor on their waist that tracked their motion. Researchers used a machine-learning algorithm to compare the movements of children with internalizing disorders with the movements of those without the disorders. Diagnoses were confirmed by a parental questionnaire and a diagnostic interview conducted by the researchers.

The system was able to differentiate the children with 81% accuracy (67% sensitivity, 88% specificity).

With the Honor Watch Magic Huawei has showed just how thin the line is between what makes a smartwatch stunning and useful, and what doesn’t. The Honor Watch Magic is actually a smaller version of its Watch GT, but it’s less fancy and even more affordable.

Read more Huawei’s Latest Smartwatch Watch GT Uses its Own LiteOS Instead of Google’s WearOS

The watch has been carefully crafted using 316L stainless steel that is both lightweight and comfortable, and it is one of the slimmest smart watches on the market. Polished to perfection, HONOR Watch adopts CNC machining and the latest laser engraving to boost durability for daily use. As a finishing touch, the shell of the watch is made of biodegradable nylon plastic.

The 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen boasts a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels at 326 PPI to offer a superior, brand new visual experience. The battery is smaller as well, 178mAh, down from 420mAh. And according to honor, this is enough for a week of typical operation.

The Honor Watch Magic comes with 5ATM water resistance certification which means it can survive submersion of up to 50 meters. The smartwatch is also thinner, just 11mm thin.

Read more Huami and Timex Group Announce Partnership to Develop Innovative Wearables

Features

Features include continuous real-time heart rate monitoring, sleep mode, swim stroke recognition, altitude barometer, pressure monitor, call reminders, various sports modes like smart running, and customizable watch faces. The Honor Watch Magic comes with barometer, and NFC support.

The Honor Watch Magic boasts a built-in GPS that supports 3 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO) worldwide.

Cycling

Track recording, real-time display of distance, heart rate, speed, altitude.

Mountaineering

3D Distance, Vertical Velocity, Altitude and Pressure Measurement.

Professional Fitness Mentor

The HONOR Watch provides you with customized running courses and professional guide from introductory to advanced level, as well as real-time workout tracking and overall evaluation for a more fruitful workout.

Heart rate monitoring

HUAWEI TruSeen™ 3.0 is essential to safeguarding your health and fitness levels.

TruSleep

TruSleep™ provides sleep quality scores based on analysis of your sleeping habits and breathing patterns to help improve the quality of your sleep.

Athletes and sports enthusiasts are increasingly relying on smart wearables to monitor or enhance their performances. Wearables and hearables are now routinely used as practical training aids for many different sports. Reliable batteries are essential for wearable devices that produce precise and continuous records of vital data.

Read more Fraunhofer IZM Researchers Develop New Bendable Micro-Batteries for Wearable Devices

At the ISPO Munich, the world’s largest trade fair for sports articles and sports fashion, VARTA Microbattery will demonstrate what is currently possible in this field by launching three new lithium-ion cells at the shared WT | Wearable Technologies Pavilion in Hall C6, Stand 706, from 3 to 6 February 2019. VARTA Microbattery will present its CoinPower series at the trade fair in Munich.

While the performance level of wearable devices is increasing, they are becoming smaller and lighter. Therefore, the amount of energy provided by batteries has to be adapted accordingly.

VARTA Microbattery will present its CoinPower series at the trade fair in Munich. This includes three new flat Lithium-I on cell types: the CP 0854, CP9440 and CP7840. Their cylindrical shape and high energy density make them an ideal energy source for wearables and hearables.

“The new cells are the result of our ongoing drive to improve miniaturization. This is of benefit to manufacturers, since they can make their devices increasingly smaller and flatter,” Matthias Dorsch, Product Manager at VARTA Microbattery GmbH, explains.

Read more Open-Mesoporous Carbon Nanofibers May Provide Power to Flexible Power Sensors

The coin cells with high capacity and fast charging capability are easy to install in end devices. The strong steel housing of the cells ensures high tolerance against impact and vibration. The CoinPower series has produced several patents, including the i-Lock system, which together with the circular form enables up to 30 percent higher energy density than comparable batteries on the market.

About VARTA AG

As the parent company of the Group, VARTA AG is active in the business segments Microbatteries and Power & Energy through its operating subsidiaries VARTA Microbattery GmbH and VARTA Storage GmbH. Already an innovation leader in the microbattery sector and a market leader for hearing-aid microbatteries, VARTA Microbattery GmbH also aspires to market leadership for lithium-ion batteries. The Group’s operating subsidiaries are currently active in more than 75 countries around the world, with four production and assembly facilities in Europe and Asia as well as distribution centers in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Thin cell batteries are among some of the smallest batteries around. Although very tiny in size, these batteries are capable of providing a stable voltage to power electronic devices and outperform coin cells at higher discharge rates.

Read more NGK’s Chip-type Ceramic Secondary Batteries Win CES 2019 Innovation Awards

The technology behind thin cell batteries originated over twenty years ago when Ultralife developed the 9-volt battery. Over the years of successful development Ultralife’s engineers changed the cell layout to maximize the space used.

The original cylindrical shape of batteries waster wasted space so Ultralife’s engineers changed the cell layout; they developed the thin cell battery as a pouch with square cells and also sealed the cell with a bespoke mixture of materials to keep moisture out and ensure battery longevity, reports Ultralife.

These thin cell batteries have many use cases such as:

Theft Prevention

Using thin cell batteries in small trackers attached to the valuable materials is a much more efficient way than using RFID tags, which have to be manually scanned. Because the batteries are small, the tracker can be fitted discreetly to deter thieves from breaking off the tag.

Medtech

When developing new technologies to better care for the ageing population, many medtech companies are also following the industrial trend of the Internet of Things, with a multitude of connected devices feeding information back to a central point. Wearable devices and sensors are seen as a way to keep a constant monitor on vitals, in a hospital and outside of a healthcare environment. In a hospital, doctors can use wearables that measure vitals, without the patient being restricted to a bed, but can also use items such as the SensiVest.

Read more How Researchers are Working to Improve Performance of Batteries

Smart Security

Smart security systems are increasingly becoming prevalent in homes to protect against intruders, monitor entrances and detect floods. The worldwide smart home security market is expected to reach $18 billion in 2020.

Most smart security services can be controlled by a smartphone app, showing live cameras and allowing homeowners to view alerts. As more parts of the home are being monitored by smart security sensors, the power requirements for the devices have changed. Sometimes, they cannot all be powered by the central mains supply, as wires are not practical or are too obvious. Ultralife’s Thin Cell technology, are essential in these applications. As home automation is intensifying, battery manufacturers should reflect on how to best power the multitude of sensors and devices which form the web of smart security systems. If home automation equipment manufacturers fail to use innovative battery technology to ensure long lasting and reliable batteries, end users will soon become frustrated and therefore unlikely to invest in further technology.

Going through physical pain can sometimes be unbearable. The most common causes of muscle pain are tension, stress, overuse and minor injuries. This type of pain is usually localized, affecting just a few muscles or a small part of your body. To ease pain, many people turn to chiropractors, but unfortunately, chiropractic alone sometimes isn’t enough to reduce pain and improve lifestyle.

Read more NeuroMetrix Introduces Quell 2.0 Wearable AI Pain Relief Technology at CES 2019

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) uses electrical pulses to improve physical fitness. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) relieves pain, but you need to buy several units to work on various areas simultaneously.

ElectroFit is an all-in-one smart device that uses EMS and TENS-based technology to transmit micro-electrical pulses through specific areas of the body. By exercising muscle while keeping nerves active, ElectroFit is capable of deliver the kind of full-body results that other devices in the market are too limited to achieve. Electrofit is a home therapy program aimed at those who want to live an active and healthy lifestyle.

In TENS therapy, the device uses electrical pulses to fight pain by stimulating the sensory nerves to produce mood-enhancing endorphins and prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. For EMS therapy, the device sends an electrical pulse to motor nerves causing the targeted muscles to contract. These muscle contractions can be used to warm up muscles before a workout or, as ElectroFit advertises, enhance the contraction of muscles during a workout, reports Digital Trends.

The device comes with an app which connects via Bluetooth to the controller and the accessories. You can adjust the intensity and the type of workout by using the app.

The controller connects to several attachments. The basic set comes with two electropads, which can be used anywhere in the body.

The ElectroFit controller also works with the Electro Abs attachment, which can be used to tone your six-pack or strengthen thighs while you relax.

The Dual Electro attachment helps to tone and strengthen glutes, arms and lower back.

ElectroFit can be used for years as an effective fitness and pain relief aid, and has no known side-effects, says the company.

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

The ElectroFit controller is very small, measuring about 2 inches wide. Every unit comes with integrated rechargeable lithium battery, Micro-USB charging port and medical grade adhesive electro gel pads.

This can be a great device for athletes, helping to build-up maximum strength and increase power.

ElectroFit wants your support to back the project on Indiegogo. The unit is available at an early bird price of $99 for the base unit which ships with the controller unit and a set of ElectroPads that can be used on any part of the body.

Discover cardmembers can now make payments using Garmin Pay, a contactless payment solution for people on the move, said a press release.

Related Garmin Pay Contactless Payments Now Available for Maestro European Accountholders

Garmin Pay is available on Garmin’s latest active lifestyle smartwatches, the vívoactive® 3 series, and new GPS running watches, the Forerunner® 645, Forerunner 645 Music and fēnix® 5 Plus series, as well as the D2™ Delta aviator watch series. Adding Discover card to Garmin’s virtual wallet will allow users to make quick and easy purchases using just their watch.

“Consumers are constantly on the go and our goal is to make it as simple and seamless as possible for our cardmembers to pay with their Discover card, including on IoT and wearable devices,” said Shaida Lynch, vice president of e-business at Discover. “Now someone can be out on a jog or running errands and the ability to pay with Discover from their Garmin watch is just a quick tap away.”

Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales said his company is excited to provide their customers as well as Discover cardmembers another option of payment while they’re on the move. “Having the ability to easily pay for purchases, without the need for a phone or wallet, is a feature that we are happy to bring to users who live an active lifestyle,” he said.

With the Garmin Connect™ mobile app, users can add payment card to Garmin’s virtual wallet and start to use tap and pay with just a few quick touches. Discover cardmembers can use Garmin Pay at any merchant retail location that accepts both Discover and contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) transactions.

Related Dutch Bank ABN Amro Introduces Wearable Payments on Smartwatches, Rings, and Bracelets

“We are very pleased to have partnered with Discover and Garmin to bring additional payment capabilities to Discover cardholders,” said Michael Orlando, chief operating officer of NXT-ID and president of Fit Pay, Inc. “Discover cardholders will now be able to experience a truly frictionless payment experience through Garmin’s amazing line-up of smartwatches.”

Discover cardmembers who use Garmin Pay to make purchases will continue to receive all the convenience and benefits of their Discover card, including rewards, fraud protection and U.S.-based customer service.

San Francisco, California-based Fitbit has quietly launched two new fitness trackers, the Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Inspire HR, designed specifically for health plans, employers and health systems.

Both models are made available through Fitbit Health Solutions for corporate customers who want to provide them to their employees as part of a wellness program. Both models offer fitness tracking capabilities, including heart rate tracking, sleep monitoring, and a waterproof design.

Read more NIH, Fitbit Launch First Digital Health Technology Initiative BYOD Project

The Fitbit Health Solution website says, “Please note these devices are designed for our customers who are members of participating health plans and wellness programs. We suggest checking with your employer or health plan to learn more.”

Last year, Fitbit launched Fitbit Care as part of an effort to shore up the company’s enterprise business as a platform that wraps in health coaching and virtual care, along with the company’s existing activity tracking services, reports MedCity News.

The Fitbit Inspire tracks your activity, sleep as well as the number of calories burnt. It reminds you about your goals and moves with features like goal celebrations and moves reminders. The tracker can show notifications for calls, texts and calendar alerts and offers five days of battery backup.

The Inspire HR includes an interesting feature – a heart rate monitor, which can also be used for heart rate zone-based training. It has more than 15 goal-based exercise modes, same as the Charge 3. The GPS reads your real-time pace and distance data.

Read more Why Insurance Firms Increasingly Embracing Wearable Devices and Fitness Trackers

Though the Inspire supports sleep tracking, the Inspire HR can track sleep modes, such as light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Both sets of features are remarkable for a fitness tracker, and performs better than other Fitbit models.

As these two new trackers aren’t available for everyone, Fitbit hasn’t provided any details on their pricing. Also, the company didn’t say when these devices will be available for everyone.

Wearable devices can help people and physicians to monitor their natural aging and the risk of future disease, according to a study published in the journal Aging.

While other biomarkers of aging exist, like DNA methylation, researchers from Gero and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center conducted a systematic evaluation and found that wearable devices can be a feasible and cheaper option than getting blood drawn when it comes to tracking aging and potential diseases, Peter Fedichev, founder and chief science officer of Gero, told Healthcare Analytics News™.

Fedichev and his research team trained an AI algorithm to find patterns in everyday changes of physical activity to estimate a person’s biological age.

Read more Wearable Accelerometers Can Predict Seniors’ Risk of Falling, Says Study

Researchers examined the association between physical activity and signs of weakness, morbidity and mortality risks.

The team analyzed human physical activity records from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and UK Biobank databases. More than 107,000 records were analyzed by the AI algorithm.

The researcher found that people who lead an unhealthy lifestyle like smoking, tend to have less physical activity, a changing in dietary patterns and a heightened risk of developing disease. Wearable technology can measure these factors which lead to the smokers’ biological age increasing.

However, if an individual stop smoking, aging can be reversed but if it’s discovered before serious age-related diseases.

Using wearable tech, a person can monitor his or her biological age in a more affordable way and without interrupting their everyday life, said the study.

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While this is only the first step in evaluating the usefulness of wearable to improve aging, Fedichev told Healthcare Analytics News that wearable and AI systems could be able to start advising people on whether they need to eat more or less, exercise more or not smoke, etc.

“Consider this a first step,” Fedichev said. “If you can measure something you can test future interventions and then make more informed decisions about lifestyles.”

The 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference will take place on February 5-6 and will once again be THE meeting point for global professionals of the entire wearable ecosystem. This year for the first time the event will be part of ISPO tradeshow located in the brand new innovation hall C6 of Messe Munich. More than 60 high-level speakers coming from Bayer, Odlo, Casio, Gore, Microsoft and STMicroelectronics will give you the latest insights into their applications and digitalization strategies via IoT and WT solutions and drive your business development. The unique agenda is covering the latest trends and developments of the tremendously growing wearables market.

Sports is probably one of the most disrupted industries. And the industry is undergoing more disruption worldwide as a result of shifts in media consumption, emergence of novel technologies and the swiftly progressing sponsorship market, according to PwC’s annual survey. Heading into 2019, disruptive technology is changing how sports are played.

At our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6, we will highlight great thought leaders and innovators from all over the globe. While these innovators will be speaking at the conference, the companies themselves will showcase their breakthrough innovations. The companies and their leaders speaking at the conference are listed below. Do not miss the chance to meet and listen to them in person and join us for #WTEU19!

The Protxx wearable sensor, coupled with a powerful data analytics engine, helps trainers and sports medicine professionals monitor athlete performance and track the onset and progression of changes to both neurovestibular and musculoskeletal physiology triggered by impact exposure, enabling early intervention, reduced injury incidence and severity, improved recovery outcomes, and higher levels of performance during every game and practice.

John Ralston, Founder & CEO of Protxx will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Mr. Ralston will be discussing “Wearable Sensors to Reduce Neurological and Orthopedic Impact Injury Risks.”

With My Fitness Card the city is your gym. This new health&fitness platform – founded by Ralph Siebold and Andreas Schröder – offers a flexible subscription services to get access to a variety of handpicked studios without being  tied up to  longterm contracts.  Members enjoy more flexibility to book their desired workout and match it with their personal schedule & lifestyle. My Fitness Card promotes new fitness trends and making them easy to book & join. Studios can easily broaden the exposure of their offerings with an additional online channel. In addition, they get to extend their media coverage without additional costs. Studios get the opportunity to better manage and control the utilization and frequency of their floor and courses. The highly segmented market of outdoor fitness is also included in the My Fitness Card offerings.

Andreas Schröder, Founder & CEO of My Fitness Card will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Mr. Schröder will talk about “Fitness Aggregator.”

Technical University Munich (TUM) combines top-class facilities for cutting-edge research with unique learning opportunities for students. It is committed to finding solutions to the major challenges facing society as we move forward: Health & Nutrition, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment & Climate, Information & Communications, Mobility & Infrastructure. The university thinks and acts with an entrepreneurial spirit. Its aim: to create lasting value for society. All this combines to make it one of Europe’s leading universities.

Dr. Daniel Link, Senior Lecturer at the Technical University Munich, will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Dr. Link will talk about “Data Analytics in Top Level Sports.”

RideOn specializes in cutting-edge Augmented Reality. They’re good at weaving digital information into the real world, and creating new experiences in a variety of activities with their tech. RideOn’s ski goggles are just the beginning. The company has already shipped their flagship product, RideOn AR ski goggles, to hundreds of early adopters worldwide. As they continue to deliver to tech and sports enthusiasts, their team is ready to take on new frontiers.

Alon Getz, CEO of RideOn will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Mr. Getz will discuss “Bringing Fun, Safety and Performance to Outdoor Activities using Head-Worn Augmented Reality.”

Elan is a Slovenian company, located in Begunje na Gorenjskem, specializing in the production of sporting goods. It is best known for its skis and snowboards. Other products include sailboats from 30 to 50 ft length, motor yachts, apparel (mostly sportswear), and equipment for sports facilities. Elan was founded in 1945 by Rudi Finžgar, a visionary and an audacious ski jumper, who jumped a world record (95 meters) in 1941. The beginning is more than promising, as after only a few years Elan is exporting to the US and rolls out 800 pairs of skis a year.

Melanja Šober, Head of product management at Elan, will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Ms. Sober’s topic will be “Smart Products are becoming a commodity. Is the Ski Industry ready?”

The 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference will take place on February 5-6 and will once again be THE meeting point for global professionals of the entire wearable ecosystem. This year for the first time the event will be part of ISPO tradeshow located in the brand new innovation hall C6 of Messe Munich. More than 60 high-level speakers coming from Bayer, Odlo, Casio, Gore, Microsoft and STMicroelectronics will give you the latest insights into their applications and digitalization strategies via IoT and WT solutions and drive your business development. The unique agenda is covering the latest trends and developments of the tremendously growing wearables market.

To be a winner in the increasingly competitive environment, companies need to make significant investments in technologies to lower costs, boost access to care delivery, and enhance care. The microelectronic is improving our daily life. We are in a perpetual state of change. To keep up with the state of the art technology will be more and more difficult for only one single company. That is why new companies are emerging every day to deal with these issues.

MOMES GmbH is specialized in developing software and hardware solutions for any kind of sensor measurement and signal analysis. This privately owned company was found in 2009. The team members are still in the microelectronic business since decades. The idea behind momes is to combine all special skills with a worldwide network of research institutions in one company.

Dirk Sandrock, CEO & Founding Partner at MOMES will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Mr. Sandrock will discuss “Why google glass and augmented reality failed so far or how much data do you need in action?”

Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA) offers practice-oriented, higher education developed in close cooperation with the business community and educational institutions in Denmark and abroad. KEA has a number of labs with access to VR equipment, Drones, 3-D printers, and more.

Dr. Petra Ahde-Deal, Docent of Design at KEA, will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Dr. Ahde-Deal’s topic will be “Wearables Becoming Part of the Everyday.”

Casio, a Japanese multinational consumer electronics company, is contributing greatly to the wearable technology. From handheld scanner to industrial terminal or smartwatches – CASIO supplies innovative hardware solutions for mobile data capture and internal communications that are precisely tailored to the needs of modern working life. Reliable, durable and easy to use: for smooth and efficient work.

Thomas Uppenkamp, Sales manager at Casio, will be speaking at our 33rd WT | Wearable Technologies Conference on February 5-6. Mr. Uppenkamp will discuss “Smartwatches for Efficient Communications in Occupational Environments.”

Meet those international experts at the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference at ISPO Munich in hall C6 Feb 5-6!

Join us with 20% discount by using the code WT20 Register here

Wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches are now part of our life. However, this notion of wearable technology isn’t new, in fact, it goes back hundreds of years. Around 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci used pedometers which were among the first wearables developed to measure physical activity. Wearables used in sports today are used to monitor and analyze physiological parameters and individualize training programs to boost athletes’ performance and health.

Over the past 20 years, major advances in technology have resulted in the triaxial accelerometer that measures movements in the anteroposterior, mediolateral, and vertical direction, easing the limitations of previous devices. Accelerometry-based wearables can be used to objectively assess physical activity and interventions aimed at improving health-related outcomes.

Wearable technology emerged as the top fitness trend in a worldwide survey conducted recently by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), predicting sales of U.S. $1.5 to U.S. $2.5 billion for some devices.

At the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference & Exhibition at ISPO Munich on Feb 3-6, several companies providing sports and fitness wearables will showcase their products and services. Here are the companies:

ARION is a next-generation wearable that helps runners improve their technique to run faster, longer and safer. It brings insights and innovations from elite top sport athletes to the wider population and makes cutting edge training techniques and exercise science available to everyone, helping them to achieve personal goals. The pressure-sensitive insoles measure the direct interaction between your feet and the ground. The footpods accurately track the movement of your body. Combined with the ARION app it connects you to your running technique that wasn’t possible before, to ultimately run faster, longer and safer.

Firstbeat is the leading provider of physiological analytics for sports and well-being. We transform heartbeat data into personalized information on exercise, stress, and recovery. Hundreds of elite sports teams, wellness professionals, and millions of consumers worldwide trust Firstbeat to enhance performance and well-being. Firstbeat was founded in 2002 in Jyväskylä, which is the hub of sports sciences of Finland with the University and physiology labs. The company’s mission is to use physiology and science to unlock human potential in health, performance and productivity.

The Protxx wearable sensor, coupled with a powerful data analytics engine, helps trainers and sports medicine professionals monitor athlete performance and track the onset and progression of changes to both neurovestibular and musculoskeletal physiology triggered by impact exposure, enabling early intervention, reduced injury incidence and severity, improved recovery outcomes, and higher levels of performance during every game and practice.

Meet those companies at the WT | Wearable Technologies Joint Pavilion at ISPO Munich in hall C6, booth 706 on Feb 3-6!

The co-located WT | Wearable Technologies Conference will take place on February 5-6 and will once again be THE meeting point for global professionals of the entire wearable ecosystem. This year for the first time the event will be a more integral part of ISPO tradeshow located in the brand new innovation hall C6 of Messe Munich More than 60 high-level speakers coming from Bayer, Odlo, Casio, Gore, Microsoft and STMicroelectronics will give you the latest insights into their applications and digitalization strategies via IoT and WT solutions and drive your business development. The unique agenda is covering the latest trends and developments of the tremendously growing wearables market.

Join us with 20% discount by using the code WT20

Register Here

Despite being a smash hit, Apple hasn’t launched the next version of its Airpods for more than 2 years. Now, Digitimes, an electronics publication well known for rumors, is reporting that the tech giant plans to launch the next-generation of its Bluetooth earbuds – the Airpods 2 – in 2019 with new health monitoring features.

The rumor, however, doesn’t talk about the specifics on the features. Theoretically, both heart rate and blood pressure could be tracked from the ear.

Starkey Hearing Technologies unveiled Livio AI, an Artificial Intelligence-powered hearing aid that automatically translates foreign languages, and tracks both your physical and mental health at the CES 2019.

Valencell, a US firm that develops biometric sensor technology for wearables and hearables, announced an ear-based blood pressure sensor at the CES 2019. The company is also working on earbud-based heart rate sensors available since 2014.

“The technology works by looking at the different waves, seeing which waves it likes, and then processing those waves into estimated blood pressure based on the characteristics of those waves,” Valencell President Dr. Steven LeBoeuf told MobiHealthNews in an onsite demo at the event. “The reason the technology doesn’t work at the wrist is manyfold, but it has to do with you just need a whole lot more data. You may need about a thousand times more data to make the wrist work as well as in the ear becaus all the different structures in the wrist and the variations in the wrist complicates how you process the blood pressure because we’re not directly measuring blood pressure. What we’re doing is a transfer function between the blood flow and the blood pressure, and that transfer function has less variation on the ear and the finger — actually, it works a lot better on the ear than the finger.”

If the next gen AirPods really do feature health sensors, it will be interesting to see what type of health tracking they are capable of performing. Previously, Apple filed a patent for wireless earbuds with build-in sensors for heart rate monitoring and measuring body temperature.

Sleep trackers only track your sleep; they don’t help you fall asleep when you need it badly. Philips Health decided to do something about the sleep problems many of us face, and came up with a smart headband called ‘SmartSleep.’ Once you wear it in bed, the headband plays white noise to help you fall asleep.

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At the recently concluded CES 2019, Philips added 3 new features to the SmartSleep: a new wearable called the Snoring Relief Band, an advanced coaching system to help users improve the quality of their sleep, and a system for better analyzing a person’s sleep, reports Gearbrain.

Snoring Relief Band

Sleeping on your back can cause you to snore. Philips Snoring relief band combines science-based technology with a small, discreet sensor to help encourage you to sleep on your side. Worn in a soft band around your chest, the band uses sensors to work out when you are moving from your front or side and onto your back, and prompts you to move to your side. The gentle vibrations don’t disrupt your sleep, and the intensity and vibration pattern automatically adjust to your snoring needs. The result: quieter nights for both you and your bed partner.

SmartSleep Better Sleep

Next up from Philips at CES is the SmartSleep Better Sleep Program, which is claimed to “re-train sleep habits to help users fall asleep faster and stay asleep with sustainable results.”

Related Pegasi Light Therapy Smart Sleep Glasses Helps You Sleep Better at Night

Adopting new sleep habits requires more than a quick fix. The SmartSleep Better sleep program offered by Philips provides you with a sleep-improvement schedule that retrains you to be able to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night5. Using your smartphone and wearable device, the program starts with an evaluation of your sleep habits and environment, which will then create a customized and personalized program to help you understand your sleep challenges. The Philips SmartSleep Better sleep program tools are designed to keep you motivated during every step of the way and give you sustainable results.