The growing need for soldiers’ coordination, training and health, the increase in asymmetric warfare, and modernization programs in the military, among others, are some of the factors that are fueling the growth of the military wearables market. Wearable devices play an important role in improving the capabilities of the soldier.

Related: US Army Uses Modified HoloLens 2 for Real-Life Video Game

The U.S. military is turning to wearable technology to enhance soldiers’ capabilities and prevent injuries.  In recent months, various Defense Department components have been cautiously applying diverse wearable technologies to gauge soldiers’ stress, monitor for COVID-19 spread, and other health- and performance-related purposes.

The Pentagon’s primary developer of advanced military, medical material products is exploring how it might operationalize wearable Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, prevention devices.

Specifically, the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Device Activity’s Warfighter Brain Health Project Management Office is exploring technologies — designed with the intent to be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration — that can protect service members from such traumas or at least reduce the severity of them, reports Brandi Vincent in NextGov.

“Identification of medical device technologies with such capabilities are essential to protect the warfighter and is vital to force protection and strength,” officials from that office wrote in a request for information.

In another story, the U.S. Army is conducting several studies designed to use wearable devices -- special watches and rings that track heart rate, body temperature, and other physiological data -- to evaluate how soldiers respond to stress and physical exertion.

These devices also can be used for cognitive training to help soldiers learn how to cope with stress more effectively, increasing their physical performance, according to the experts from Booz Allen Hamilton, a firm that offers consulting, analysis, and engineering services to the public and private sector organizations.

"We know that performance originates in the brain; by knowing that, we, as performers, can either set ourselves up for success or failure simply based on these conscious thoughts," Lindsay Blaine, cognitive performance coach at Booz Allen Hamilton, said during a webinar focusing on the cognitive training and the mind and body connection.

Jannell MacAulay is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and expert in human performance training. She believes self-awareness is the key to coping in high-stress situations, writes Matthew Cox in Military.com.

"There is some stress that is actually good for us. And so when we get that ... anxiousness, our performance will actually go up," she said.

The U.S. Army is conducting a study to measure the mental health of troops operating in extremely cold environments. As part of the study, about 1,000 soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division in Alaska are wearing Whoop biofeedback devices.

Another 530 members of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, are participating in a yearlong human performance study that has them wearing similar devices to track not just physical exertion but also how their heart rate responds to stress.

Related: US Army Is Testing AR Goggles for Dogs To Give Remote Commands

According to Michael Baum, branch chief of the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center, the Army is hoping that some of the data taken from these biofeedback devices will help the service design more effective training scenarios as part of its synthetic training environment, an effort to create realistic training simulations using gaming technology.

Alvalux Medical, a Belgian medtech wearables company, announced that it has been awarded its second Patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its wearable ocular insert device.

Read more Wearable Sensor Collects Data from Tears or Saliva to Treat Eye or Mouth Diseases

The invention (US Patent 10,953,240) is a small, energized, ocular insert designed to deliver home-based Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy to treat retinal diseases including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy which affect approximately 20 million people in the USA alone, says a press release.

"This patent represents an important contribution to the future of 'on-eye' miniaturized therapeutic wearables, and it also spawned two other inventions including our on-market, award-winning, CicaLux® product line," said Michel Alvarez – CEO and inventor. He added, "I would like to congratulate co-inventor – Professor Denis Flandre – ICTEAM institute at the Université catholique de Louvain (UC Louvain) - for his contribution and shared vision to bring smart, small, wearable, home-therapy devices to people around the world."

"This was a great basis for our deeper collaboration and further innovation in smart medical wearables involving ultra-low-power thin-film electronic circuits and sensors," said Professor Flandre.

Alvalux's first patent award announced last month (US Patent 10,953,238) is a wearable dermal repair system marketed under the CicaLux brand that delivers energized combination PBM therapy to treat various skin-related conditions, diseases and disorders. First product CicaLux Energized Scar-Care is available for sale in the European Union, USA and other countries.

Read more Nasal Neurostimulating Device to Treat Dry Eye Syndrome

About Alvalux Medical

Alvalux Medical is a Belgium-based medical device company founded in 2015 by medtech veteran Michel Alvarez.  It aims to be a global leader in smart, wearable, energized, therapeutic devices for use at home, at work, or on the go.

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Mictic is a wearable wristband that can translate your gestures and movements and turn them into musical tones and sound effects in real-time. Mictic has started a Kickstarter campaign.

“We’re coming to change your relationship to music. Mictic is the Swiss-made XR wearable that turns your movements into sound. It doesn’t matter if you already have a Grammy or have never picked up a musical instrument, with Mictic you’ll be expressing yourself the minute you put the wristbands on and connect via Bluetooth,” Mictic says.

Related: Genki Wave for Work – Control Apps and Zoom Calls with This MIDI Controller

Mictic claims to be the first wearable device that is a true musical instrument and not just a controller for Midi or other interfaces. The wristbands translate your arm movements into included instrument sounds like electric guitar, drums, cello, and genre-based soundscapes like EDM and hip-hop. We have pending patent applications capturing this technology.

How does it work?

The wristbands contain sensors that detect movement and motion with supreme precision and accuracy. You can connect the sensors with your smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

• Strap Mictic to your wrists
• Connect your smartphone via Bluetooth
• Pair with the Mictic App
• Pick your Instrument or sound experience
• Let the Magic happen

Who is this for?

You don’t have to be a musician to use Mictic. The wearable device is easy to use and can be used by anyone. “Our mission is to give everyone the power to express themselves no matter what kind of music they enjoy, and whether they are already Grammy-winners, or have had no training at all. Mictic can be used for any age range and you really don't have to be a musician to enjoy it,” Mictic said.

What type of sounds can Mictic generate?

Below a list of features that are integrated into the first app version:

Instruments

• Acoustic Guitar
• Electric Guitar
• Cello
• Drums
• Violin

Sound Scapes

• Hip Hop
• Trap
• Latin
• EDM
• Rock

Games

• Kung Fu
• Robot
• Safari / Zoo
• Lightsaber
• Tennis

The company is planning to deliver many more features shortly after launch.

Related: Music Fingers Wearable Lets You Make Music With Your Fingertips Even While You’re On The Go

You can connect and use Mictic via Bluetooth as Midi controller for your favorite digital audio workstation (DAW) such as Ableton, Logic, Pro Tools, Garageband, or 100s of other MIDI-compatible apps.

For more information, please check out their Kickstarter campaign.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have developed liquid metal for processing with a 3D printer.

Soft, stretchable materials that are also electrically conductive are hard to come by. It’s even harder to create a circuit that withstands damage, going as far as to heal itself. For Carnegie Mellon University researchers, however, these kinds of innovations are just another day at the office. The new material they created has high conductivity and the collected energy can be used for the manufacture of wearables, for example.

Read more Carnegie Mellon Researchers Create Autonomously Self-Healing Material for Robots

In 2018, Carmel Majidi, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, and his team created a circuit that was able to electrically heal itself—that is, it could continue to function even after the main paths had been cut or damaged. Building on that development, Majidi and his team at Carnegie Mellon University’s Soft Machines Lab (SML) have made a liquid metal material capable of conducting electricity and repairing any physical damage it incurs.

“We can now suspend liquid metal in virtually any polymer or copolymer in order to tailor their material properties and enhance their performance,” Majidi said. “This has not been done before. It opens the door to future materials discovery.”

SML achieved these advancements using a liquid metal made of a gallium and indium alloy. This metal is safer than other liquid metals like mercury, authors say. These discoveries allow the technology to be expanded to other polymers, including gels. This widens the range—and effect—of their research. In fact, circuits made with liquid metals can be erased and re-drawn, making them highly adaptable, reports Madison Brewer at CMU Engineering.

These new materials can also be 3D printed. Sarah Bergbreiter, a professor of mechanical engineering, worked with Majidi and SML to print these materials using a new manufacturing process. Creating 3D structures of these self-healing and re-writable circuits will widely expand the range of applications. One such application is energy harvesting. Energy can be generated using electricity from contact between two surfaces.

What’s more, liquid metals are highly conductive, so they can easily produce large amounts of energy. And, because the electronics are soft and stretchable, they can readily be integrated into clothing.

The electrically conducive material was worked into the fabric from which shorts were made. One subject ran in the shorts on a treadmill. After 2.2 minutes, the shorts gave him enough power to operate a thermo-hygrometer sensor with a digital screen. The team assumes that further innovations could benefit from this development. Researchers from Asia also use 3D-printed wearable sensors to generate enough electricity for wearables.

Read more Carnegie Mellon Researchers Develop Flexible Wearable Patch That Sticks to the Skin Like a Band-Aid

The researchers say potential uses of their invention could include bio-inspired robotics, human-machine interaction, wearable computing, and solar cells. These soft robotics will be highly adaptable and durable, allowing for a wide range of applications.

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Rising consumer demand is propelling the supply chain industry to adopt new technologies. The supply chain companies are turning to wearables and robotics to increase accuracy, speed, and safety on the warehouse floor.

Read more: LUBA Workers’ Comp Using Oura Ring To Explore The Use of Wearables in Workplace

Industrial wearables: A huge market

In June 2019, a report published by Research and Markets predicted that the industrial wearable devices market will exceed $2.78 billion by 2024, increasing annually at a rate of 9.2%, with smartwatches holding the largest share of growth, reports SDCExec.

Similar market growth is expected with industrial robots, commonly used for tasks such as picking, loading orders, and transportation, among other order fulfillment jobs. Around $2.4 billion is spent annually on industrial robotic arms and automation machines, according to McKinsey & Company report. A few years ago, there were at least 2 million robots in use on factory floors, warehouses, and similar locations, and the report predicted that number to increase to 4.4 million by 2023.

The advancing wearable technology

TeamViewer uses AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and augmented reality (AR) in its technology.

“TeamViewer helps companies like DHL, Coke or Airbus to improve quality, speed, and safety of their logistics, manufacturing, and maintenance operations,” says Percy Stocker, TeamViewer’s executive vice president, AR Americas. “Using AR-guided workflows and ad-hoc video collaboration, companies can digitize and streamline their processes, while offering a more ergonomic and intuitive solution to their frontline workers.

Companies use TeamViewer to improve quality, speed, and safety in their operations.

“For example, DHL managed to improve the speed of their logistics operation by 15% on average. Coke significantly improved their quality to 99.99% accuracy level,” Stocker says.

The rising popularity of safety wearables

In 2019, a CDC report nodded the use of wearables to monitor workers’ health, environmental hazards, and other issues. The report said that the tools can be valuable in maintaining the safety of workers in industrial settings. Kenzen makes wearables that can predict and prevent injuries on the warehouse floor.

Wearables can improve efficiency

In the near future, wearables will be considered essential to warehouse and distribution center operations, according to Ilhan Kolko, chief product officer at ProGlove.

“Wearable scanners enhance these processes at large because they easily cut the total scanning time in half,” Kolko says. “Aside from the massive time gain, workers always have their hands free, which is tremendous relief when you load or unload a truck.”

Wearables can maintain privacy

Heidi Lehmann, co-founder of Kenzen says that workers need to know their privacy is maintained while wearing the devices.

“We need to make sure the worker is very comfortable with our solution,” she says. “This begins with the actual comfort of the device when worn by a worker, to worker privacy and making sure the worker understands that the platform has been designed with their privacy in mind.”

According to Lehmann, the worker’s own biometric information can be seen only by the workers themselves in detail and in real time.

Read more: KINETIC-JLG Partnership To Deploy COVID-19 Safety Wearables For Industrial Workers

“Other user groups only see the information they need to keep the worker safe,” she says. “For example, a safety manager would understand, through the team dashboard, when a worker is calibrating in a dangerous direction and needs assistance or needs to rest, yet they don't see any specific personal health details, only that an intervention may be needed.”

VARTA has launched a new VARTA CoinPower A4 generation battery, opening up opportunities for the future development of wireless and mobile devices in a wide range of application areas. From wireless headphones and medical devices through measurement and safety systems and automotive applications, Varta manufactures batteries as prototypes or in large series, both as standard versions and in line with customer specifications.

Related VARTA Plans to Boost Production to More Than 150 Million Cells Per Year

VARTA CoinPower batteries are the first choice for a number of modern high-tech portable products. They provide a long-lasting, reliable main power source that is lightweight and occupies a minimum of space in the host device, reports VARTA.

VARTA CoinPower batteries meet the most important design requirements of these products: Reliable high-power output, design flexibility with a minimum of space requirement, and a round form factor.

Features

• High energy density
• Wound electrode design
• Built-in safety device with chemical safety components
• Fully automated production in Germany
• Worldwide branch offices with technical support

Advantages

• Lightweight and small size
• High discharge currents
• The market’s best safety performance
• High reliability and consistent quality
• Close customer relationship

Customer Benefits

• The best performance and long battery life
• Suitable for applications with high peak currents
• Additional cell protection in case the electronic circuit malfunctions
• High reliability in the field
• Local contact, local knowledge, local language

Applications

VARTA CoinPower batteries are especially suitable for modern electronic applications such as Bluetooth Mono/Stereo Headsets, Sensors for Fitness/Sport/ Healthcare, Smart Watches, Wearable Technology, Smart Car Keys, and many more. These cells are the ultimate power source for your electronic devices and make your products smaller, lighter, and more attractive. VARTA CoinPower provides outstanding performance and reliability, excellent quality along with very safe operation.1.3 Applications.

Storage

VARTA CoinPower batteries are delivered in a state-of-charge (SoC) of approximately 30% of their full capacity. This provides the best condition for long-term storage at the lowest self-discharge rate. Higher temperatures increase the rate of self-discharge. It is recommended to store the cell at a state-of-charge between 30 % and 50 % at room temperature (20 °C) or lower.

Related SAFEDI Wearable Clip Warns Against Too Much Proximity In Corona times, VARTA CoinPower Supplies Energy

About VARTA Microbattery

VARTA Microbattery is a leading manufacturer of batteries and provides professional support worldwide to customers to help them to design VARTA batteries into their applications. Quality, reliability, high performance and customer satisfaction are the main reasons for our leading position in the market. VARTA Microbattery provides solutions to major OEM companies for high-tech applications such as Bluetooth headsets, activity trackers, heat cost allocator devices, backup for memory, and the real-time clock in PCs/notebooks as well as alarm systems, medical equipment, consumer electronics, and many more product types. VARTA Microbattery produces all major chemistries in various form factors. We are fully equipped to produce customized batteries. We are confident that we can provide an optimized battery solution for most application requirements.

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The famous Apple leaker Jon Prosser has released a video that shows the first pictures of the upcoming Google Pixel watch.

The Google Pixel Watch, according to Prosser, could launch in October, alongside the rumored Pixel 6 smartphone. The smartwatch seems to have taken inspiration from Samsung and Apple offerings by including a wrap-around display and a crown, respectively.

Read more: Google Pixel Phones Will Soon Track Heart Rate and Respiratory Rate Using Your Phone’s Camera

In January 2019, it became apparent that Google was tinkering with its own watch when the company bought smartwatch technology from Fossil worth 40 million US dollars.

As per the rendered images, the Google Pixel Watch has the codename “Rohan”. (Rohan is the name of the horse kingdom from Middle-earth in the novel series " Lord of the Rings "- Note from the Red). In addition, Prosser received" an incredible amount of image material "from a Google source. The only condition of the source: Prosser should not publish the original images, but may create corresponding render images and use them with his For this reason he worked with the 3D render artist Ian Zelbo for the Pixel Watch. Zelbo not only recreated the design of the Pixel Watch but also first glimpses of the software and bracelets.

Prosser stirs up high expectations saying, it is the best smartwatch he has ever seen. That says a lot. The renders show the watch sporting a circular dial with multiple silicone band options, suggesting that Google may allow users to easily swap bands.

As per Prosser, Google will offer around 20 band options with the Pixel Watch. In an episode of his YouTube show “Front Page Tech,” the tipster says that the renders are based on marketing material he had seen from a source within Google. He collaborated with Ian Zelbo for the renders.

Nothing concrete is known about the specifications yet, but it is presumed that the Google Pixel Watch will run Wear OS by Google, the company's operating system for smartwatches, reports Gadgets360. It also may come equipped with a heart rate sensor and multiple sports modes.

After the Fitbit takeover, we became curious to see how Google and wearables will continue. Will Fitbit OS and Wear OS be developed in parallel? Will Fitbit continue to be offered at all if you'd rather push the Pixel line? These are some exciting questions for the rest of the year.

Read more: Google Announces Wear OS Update With Custom Third-Party Tiles

We will of course keep our eyes open and will submit more details as soon as we find out more on this story.

CyberLink has introduced biometric technologies for the prevention of COVID-19 spread with an update to its FaceMe facial recognition engine, a Canadian startup called Tevano, and Tiger Tech. Tiger Tech received emergency FDA approval.

Read more How Digital Technology Is Helping in the Fight Against COVID-19

Conferences are resuming at a Las Vegas conference center with the help of CLEAR. CLEAR is the trusted digital health passport that securely validates your ID, lab, and vaccination credentials, making a safer environment for employees, employers, and others.

CyberLink has integrated its face biometrics, mask detection and temperature measurement capabilities to enhance its FaceMe Security solution for user identification and contactless access control, reports BiometricUpdate.

FaceMe is uniquely positioned to integrate edge-based AI facial recognition into a wide range of IoT and AIoT solutions. FaceMe is optimized to run on most hardware configurations, from high-end workstations to low-power chipsets typically used in IoT devices. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS systems.

FaceMe Security’s compatibility with a number of popular video management systems (VMSs) has been enhanced, and support for the cost-effective Nvidia Jetson platform and other chipsets optimized. The newest addition of FaceMe Security Workstation is also optimized to run on edge hardware for real-time biometrics.

The system is so simple that a small business owner can set up a single computer, single-camera system on their own. FaceMe Security’s robust and scalable architecture allows easy and rapid implementation by system integrators, the BiometricUpdate report said.

“Biometric and vision technologies are setting new standards for IP surveillance deployments. Not only can solutions using top-tier facial recognition accurately verify identity, even for faces partially covered by a mask, but they can also detect if the mask is worn properly,” states Dr. Jau Huang, CEO of CyberLink. “Powered by the world’s leading facial recognition technology, FaceMe Security is an all-inclusive solution that can completely overhaul existing IP surveillance infrastructures to deliver the latest security, access control, and health screening capabilities, for organizations of all sizes, across all industries.”

Tevano, a Vancouver-based startup, deployed Health Shield, which debuted commercially in December. The tablet-like device, mounted on a stand, can take someone’s temperature in less than a second and determine if they’re wearing a face covering. The Tevano Health Shield uses a cloud-based back end for centralized monitoring and can issue alerts, view email or text messages.

Read more COVID-19 Impact: Wearables Gaining Popularity During the Pandemic

CyberLink is a world leader in facial recognition and face attribute technologies. FaceMe® is a highly accurate AI engine – ranked one of the best in the NIST Face Recognition Vendor Test (VISA and WILD tests). Through constant innovation, we ensure our technology meets the highest accuracy and security standards, for deployments across a wide range of industries and use cases. For over 20 years, CyberLink has built a stellar reputation in the IT industry for its R&D leadership.

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As constantly evolving wearable technology is giving us innovative wearables like smart clothes and smart shoes. Myant, a Toronto-based smart textile company has come up with a new type of wearable – smart underwear. The award-winning company has been working on its Skiin Connected Health & Wellness System that embeds biometric monitors into everyday clothing, with a particular focus on undergarments.

Read more: Myant Partners with Osmotex to Integrate HYDRO_BOT Technology in Smart Clothes

“Connectedness between you, your body, your loved ones and your world is essential to a healthy life. The relationship between social connectedness and health outcomes is central to the reason Myant created the Skiin Connected Health & Wellness System. Continuous monitoring of ECG, stress level, sleep quality, activity, temperature, among other metrics, is one of the most efficient and reliable ways to potentially prevent health issues,” Myant said in a press release.

In 2018, Myant entered into a strategic collaboration with Mayo Clinic to bring the power of Mayo’s patented algorithms for heart monitoring and arrhythmia detection to Myant’s SKIIN Textile Computing platform.

The agreement gave Myant Inc. exclusive license to Mayo Clinic’s proprietary heart monitoring and arrhythmia detection technology for use in Textile Computing or smart clothing projects. Myant’s SKIIN smart underwear will be released in 2019 pending FDA clearance and Health Canada approval.

The system includes a variety of clothing options that can track your health including underwear, bras, shirts, and sleep masks, providing you with the option of 24/7 monitoring across your day. These garments connect to the Skiin App, running on the Myant Platform, which analyses your data and provides you with advice about lifestyle changes to improve your wellbeing.

Read more: Myant-FCAD Partnership to Develop Innovative Applications in Textile Computing

Currently, Myant underwear measures the regular smart wearable options, like heart rate, stress level, sleep quality, activity, temperature, stationary time, and feeds the information back to the linked Skiin app, reports Interesting Engineering.

The smart underwear can also detect slip and fall, track ovulation, and monitor driver fatigue. The company even envisions its smart underwear to be programmed to play soothing music when it picks up your stress levels, to lower the room's temperature if your workout is warming you up, according to Interesting Engineering.

Myant was selected as a CES 2020 Innovation Award Honoree for its Skiin Connected Health & Wellness System.

If you don’t know what your handicap is, then the new smartwatches from Garmin may not be for you. With the Approach S12 and S42, Garmin is bringing tailor-made wearables for golf to the market. But the features of the two smartwatches are of course not only suitable for golf. Other functions could ensure that the S12 and S42 are also a lot of fun away from the green.

Read more Garmin Enduro to the Test: This is Garmin’s Most Advanced Smartwatch

Of course, both watches have GPS onboard. This results in a first major advantage for golf. In fact, 42,000 golf courses worldwide are automatically preinstalled in Garmin's extensive database. This means that the watch not only recognizes which golf course you are currently on. On top of that, the location is so precise that it should even be recognized which hole you are currently playing. This is not only exciting for the subsequent evaluation of a round of golf. Thanks to GPS, you can see at any time how many meters you are from the next hole. This not only saves a lot of walking but certainly gives the game with ball and racket a new charm.

But golfers can also look forward to further help from the two smartwatches. Garmin installed the "GreenView" function here. This should be able to show the wearer the shape of the green. This should allow strokes to be planned much better. Speaking of which are the mandatory strokes. Garmin itself also advertises its racket sensors in connection with the S12 and S42. The Approach CT10 club sensors are specially designed to detect hits. So you can evaluate statistics afterward and work on your technology. The tailor-made set for golfers is rounded off by the Garmin Golf app.

Golf with style

The lightweight Approach S42 offers an easy-to-read 1.2-inch color touchscreen display with a sleek design that easily transitions from a daily timepiece to a comprehensive golf watch. Once on the course, golfers can rely on a loaded feature set that includes the AutoShot round analyzer to track and auto-record shot distances. Golfers can wear the smartwatch in and out of the golf course and peruse smart notifications3 and activity-tracking features4 that include steps, sleep, calories, vibration alerts, move bar, and built-in sport profiles. Whether golfers are looking for style points or sportiness, switching bands is easy with the Approach S42’s quick release bands. Enjoy more time on the links thanks to the Approach S42’s versatile battery life that lasts up to 15 hours in GPS mode, and up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, reports BusinessWire.

Ready to tee off

Easy-to-use and practical for beginners and seasoned players alike, the Approach S12 includes interchangeable quick release bands and introduces a unique round watch design with a 1.3-inch sunlight-readable high-resolution display. Thanks to the new Big Numbers display mode, Approach S12 makes it easier than ever to read yardage numbers during play. When paired with the Garmin Golf app on a compatible smartphone, the Approach S12 wirelessly updates a player’s most frequently played golf courses for up-to-date course information. Golfers can confidently play round after round thanks to the Approach S12’s internal, rechargeable battery that lasts up to 30 hours in GPS mode.

Approach G12 GPS Rangefinder

Golfers can fine-tune their game with the Approach G12 GPS rangefinder featuring a thin, compact design with a 1.3-inch high-resolution sunlight-readable display that lasts up to 30 hours on a single battery charge. Offering all the benefits included in the Approach S12, the versatile Approach G12 GPS rangefinder adds a built-in clip and a lanyard loop to securely attach the device to pockets or golf bags.

Read more Garmin Announces Tactix Delta, a Multisport GPS Smartwatch Built to Military Standards

Price and Availability

Available now, the Approach S42 GPS golf smartwatch has a suggested retail price of $299.99; the Approach S12 GPS golf watch has a suggested retail price of $199.99; the Approach G12 GPS golf rangefinder has a suggested retail price of $149.99.

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With the Galaxy Wearable App, Samsung has a central solution for all of the manufacturer's wearables. The Galaxy Wearable app is a bridge between Samsung’s wearables and phones. And that means that every time a new device is released, Samsung has to add support for it within that app.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Leaks, Release Date, Specs, and More

Sometimes, if we look really closely, we end up lucky enough to spot the changes Samsung makes in anticipation of a still-unannounced device. Sure enough, it has now received an update again, which prompted the colleagues from Android Police to sniff the code. Why not, because if an update is published for such an app, information about new functions or devices could appear.

In the teardown of the most recent Galaxy Wearable APK, Android Police found references to Galaxy Buds2.

The teardown also shows that the earbuds are codenamed “berry” and that they’ll be able to connect to multiple devices, reports Android Authority. The Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds Plus, and Galaxy Buds Pro are also mentioned in the APK file, suggesting that the Buds 2 are indeed a new pair and not related to any older models.

Talking about Galaxy Buds Plus, the wearable device got Auto Switch feature for compatible Samsung handsets as a part of a firmware update.

Furthermore, the code lines also suggest that the Galaxy Buds 2 will be able to connect to non-Samsung devices.

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: Which earbuds are Better?

Unfortunately, there is currently no further information about it, it is clear that these Buds2 will replace the previous Galaxy Buds. Let's see when we will find the first leaks because as of now, we have no idea when the Galaxy Buds 2 will launch. The Galaxy Buds Pro are fairly new, but Samsung has a bunch of things left to unpack this year, so we may see them in the coming months.

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Anthony Scarpone-Lambert, a nursing student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, created a wearable nightlight to help clinicians avoid disturbing patients at night.

During his day shift at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Scarpone-Lambert steps into a patient’s room. The lights are off, but he knows he has to change the IV without disturbing the patient.

Read more Texas A&M Researchers Develop New Device That Improves Lighting During Surgery

He has two choices: turn on the overhead lights or attempt to use some sort of hand-held light to navigate in the darkness.

It’s this dilemma that he sought to fix by inventing the uNight Light, a wearable light-emitting diode, or LED, that allows nurses to illuminate their workspace without interrupting a patient’s sleep, reports New York Times.

Scarpone-Lambert, 21, a first-generation college student, developed the $20 uNight Light with Jennifferre Mancillas, BSN, RN, a nurse at Madera, Calif.-based Valley Children's Hospital.

uNight Light is a wearable LED light made for nurses It is attachable to scrubs and completely hands-free, allowing frontline healthcare workers to illuminate their workspace while decreasing patient sleep disturbances on average by 70%.

“As nurses, we created uNight Light because we were tired of waking up our patients when we needed to turn on the intrusive overhead patient room lights to see. We are sick of using penlights, iPhone lights, and runners’ lights to try and see, so we created uNight Light,” the duo says.

Mr. Scarpone-Lambert and Jennifferre Mancillas, are calling the light a breakthrough for frontline health care workers.

“We really pride ourselves on being very specifically designed for the clinical setting,” said Mr. Scarpone-Lambert, 21, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing who met Ms. Mancillas, 36, in 2019 at a hackathon sponsored by Johnson & Johnson that encouraged nurses to collaborate on solutions to health care problems.

Scarpone-Lambert is set to graduate nursing school at the University of Pennsylvania this year.

They also point out the light can be easily disinfected, which of course is very important for healthcare workers.

More than 400 nurses have tested the uNight Light, and more than 90 percent said it was helpful, the inventors said. They have received 1,500 orders and will start shipments next month, the New York Times report said.

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

The pandemic, which has overwhelmed hospitals, underscores the need for the device, Mr. Scarpone-Lambert said, and further motivated him and Ms. Mancillas to bring it to market.

“I would say it’s been through Covid that this kind of innovation came to life,” he said. “It highlights the really important message that frontline health care workers and patients really deserve more support now more than ever.”

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The Amazfit T-Rex Pro looks like a perfect companion for everyone who likes to be outdoors: a bulky, robust watch with all the features you need to explore the outdoors.

With the Amazfit T-Rex Pro, Huami, a close partner of Xiaomi, has launched a model that is said to score with its resilience. For around 170 euros you can get a wearable that also has GPS on board. This allows outdoor workouts to be tracked without the smartphone has to be in your luggage.

Read more: Amazfit Plans to Launch Smartwatches with ECG and Blood Pressure Monitoring in the U.S.

What’s New in the Pro Version?

Externally, the Amazfit T-Rex Pro looks like the basic version. The subtle differences lie in the sensors: The Pro version comes with a barometric altitude sensor that shows the air pressure and altitude. A SpO2 sensor estimates the oxygen saturation in the blood - a function that many current wearables have on board, but which offers little added value because the measurement is not medically accurate.

The watch recognizes workouts automatically. However, this function is deactivated at the factory because it consumes electricity. It can be switched on via the settings on the watch. Unlike the basic version, the watch also records the physiological activity (PAI), a measure devised by the manufacturer for sporting activities in which the heart rate increases. It also calculates training values: the training load, the recovery and the endurance value VO 2 max (maximum oxygen uptake).

Fitness functions in a practical test

The Pro version of the T-Rex has plenty of sensors for recording training, reports Computer Bild. In the practical test, the heart rate was correct even when the arms moved a lot. The route of a bicycle tour they recorded correctly, the results showed in the app as a map, and took into account the distance covered in altitude. The watch recognizes according to the manufacturer, if you are walking, running, cycling, swimming or exercising on the elliptical or rowing machine. The setting of the detection can be adjusted to three levels of sensitivity. If the watch has noticed a training session, it indicates this and automatically records the training session. In the practical test, the watch, for example, recognized a walk after only two minutes with the most sensitive setting and also noticed when it was over. Then a countdown to the end of the training starts, which you can stop at the push of a button if the training should continue. The sleeping hours’ notice automatically recorded in the practice test sleep duration and phases reliably.

Technical data of the Amazfit T-Rex Pro

• Display:3 inches, AMOLED, 360 x 360 pixels, touchscreen with anti-fingerprint coating, always-on function
• Operating systems: RTOS
• Companion app: Zepp
• Sensors: heart rate monitor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, barometer, ambient light sensor, geomagnetic sensor, SpO2 sensor
• Sport modes: Over 100 pieces: running (indoor/outdoor), cycling, swimming, skateboarding, rowing, volleyball, soccer, and much more.
• GPS: GPS + GLONASS, GPS + BeiDou, GPS + Galilelo
• Bluetooth0 BLE
• Battery: 390 mAh
• Charging time: about 1.5 hours
• Waterproof: 10 ATM waterproof
• Material: Polycarbonate (case) / silicone (bracelet)
• Dimensions/Weight:7 x 47.7 x 13.5 mm / 59.4 g (with bracelet)
• Other special features: step and calorie counter, customizable watch face, sleep tracking, weather display, display of notifications, control of music playback, accepting/rejecting calls, PAI evaluation, automatic recording of eight workouts
• Compatible with mobile devices from Android 5.0 or Apple iOS 10.0

Amazfit T-Rex Pro battery

The battery of the T-Rex Pro is the same size as the battery of the basic version and lasts for 390 mAh. In the practical test, the watch lasted five days with a permanent time display and heart rate measurement. The manufacturer is a bit more optimistic and promises nine days of runtime with heavy use and 40 hours with activated GPS tracking.

Price, colors, and availability

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is now on sale at the official price of 169.90 euros. For comparison: the T-Rex has a recommended retail price of 139.90 euros, but is available from retailers from 90 euros. The manufacturer sells the "Pro" through its in-house shop and through dealers. The watch comes in black with a black-gray strap ("Meteorite Black"), in beige-gray ("Desert Gray") and petrol ("Steel Blue"). A smartphone from Android 5 or iOS 10 with the Zepp app is required for setup and use.

Read more: Huami Launches Amazfit Zenbuds With Sleep Monitoring

Conclusion

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a good wearable in and of itself. What’s lacking is the ability to track workouts and control music playback at the same time. There is tough competition in the form of the Honor Watch GS Pro, which (apart from offers) is a bit more expensive, but also has a microphone and loudspeaker and can control the aforementioned control of the music in parallel with tracking. Especially since their battery life is a little longer.

Mace Group, a global consultancy and construction firm headquartered in London, has deployed RealWear’s assisted reality wearable computers running voice-enabled Microsoft Teams, paving the way forward for the global construction industry. For the first time, the voice-activated RealWear HMT-1 wearable device has enabled hundreds of its workers and clients to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its carbon footprint via using the device for remote inspections during construction process.  The wearable deployment marks a first for the construction industry.

Read more: Exclusive Networks To Distribute RealWear’s Wearable Computer Across India, Southeast Asia, Australia and NZ

Mace works on a number of construction projects both in the UK and across the globe. When the pandemic hit and travel restrictions came into effect, Mace envisioned an entirely new and safer way to inspect building façades. To operate as effectively and as safely as possible under seemingly indefinite social distancing restrictions, it needed a solution that would enable inspection work to still be carried out but with minimal people onsite than normally permitted.

The RealWear headsets met Mace’s requirements for no compromises on safety, for hands-free operation, and the ability to clip to the side of hard hats. Its other requirements included durability and functionality at the right price point; two other areas where RealWear excelled, reports RealWear.

RealWear’s assisted reality head-mounted wearable computers require only a single site inspector to be physically present, while multiple others ‘view’ the site clearly and remotely from their own location, via a feed that streams from the innovative headset directly to the viewer’s handheld or laptop computer. The technology negates the need to physically travel to a site, while also delivering on Mace’s requirement for its workforce to be fully connected through remote collaboration. Furthermore, the deployment has banished the logistical and planning complexities of trying to coordinate the diaries of several site inspectors to be present at the same time on the same day. Since the completion of the deployment this month Mace has been able to reduce in-person site visits, and its Façade team has seen a 75% reduction in travel; not only has this resulted in a reduction in carbon emissions, but the time saved has freed up staff to be more productive during the course of their day.

“With its willingness to embrace the future, it’s appropriate that Mace is at the head of the curve within the construction industry with respect to deploying wearable technology,” commented Phil Sedge, Head of Facade, Mace Group. “Since the deployment, we have seen improvements in the decision-making process, and we’re able to share real-time information instantaneously. The technology has enabled us to reduce the number of staff traveling to the site, without any compromises to the quality of our work. The time saving and environmental benefits deliver further advantages.” He added: “RealWear’s reinvestment back into product development has also impressed us, which means that the foundations of this technology are future-proofed. We only wish we had deployed it sooner.”

Ross Riley, Head of Immersive, SystemActive commented:

“From a health and safety, durability, and price perspective, RealWear’s device ticked a lot of boxes. We worked with the senior teams at Mace to ensure the device was as easy as possible for everyone to use and that the bespoke operating system met Mace’s needs. We’re thrilled with the positive feedback from Mace on the deployment and look forward to working with the team in a continued rollout.”

“RealWear’s HMT-1 is purpose-built for productivity, even in extreme environments due to its ruggedness, durability, and functionality,” said Jon Arnold, VP of Sales, RealWear Inc. “With software updates to come in March that will further improve the user experience, the HMT-1 is set to be a central part of Mace’s workflow, both now and in the future,” he added.

Read more: Italgas Deploys RealWear’s HMT-1Z1 Wearable Solution Running OverIT Field Services Management Software

Based on this level of success, Mace plans to surpass the 150-unit mark over the next few months as it ramps up deployment of RealWear’s HMT-1 globally. The company has recently procured more units to go out to one of its sectors in Peru to help with monitoring of a project and its various phases, including safety inspections. It has also increased awareness through its supply chain who has started to adopt the technology.

InteliCare, a Perth, Australia-based at-home aged care tech company, has launched real-time reporting and insights of personal health metrics for elderly Australians.

Read more Remote Monitoring and Wearables are Enhancing Patient Care

Wearable smart health devices can now be integrated with InteliCare’s app, InteliLiving, to provide personal biometrics in real-time.

Those living independently can now have their health data uploaded to a cloud-based dashboard that tracks the activity and wellbeing of residents through integration with wearable devices, such as FitBit. Information captured to the dashboard will include heart rate, weight and BMI, respiration, temperature, blood oxygenation, blood glucose, and activity (steps). Additional alerts can then be set if pre-set levels are exceeded or fall below a key threshold.

Using the company’s trademarked InteliLiving app, members of a care team can view and track multiple health metrics on daily, weekly, monthly, or longer time frames. The most recent information is displayed on a dedicated page on the InteliLiving app or via the InteliCare Pro Dashboard. Users can preconfigure thresholds to easily visualize when a metric is abnormal. For example, if the weight drops below a pre-set threshold, the health metrics dashboard indicator turns amber along with the weight graph on the health metrics details page. When paired with InteliLiving passive sensors, daily routine data, and proactive analytics, InteliLiving’s health metrics provide an additional dimension to detect emerging health and wellness issues, enabling the care team to take a proactive approach to improve health journey of the client.

InteliLiving smart home-enabled analytics product already provides the elderly or health compromised and their care teams with insights and alerts based on individuals’ daily activities and routines. The Health Metrics analytics now capture and record health data by both manual and automated methods via integrated smart health tracking devices like Fitbit.

Read more Hillrom Buys Continuous Remote Monitoring Technology from EarlySense for $30 million

“InteliLivin health metrics is meeting an immediate customer need with a free offering. It is a clear example of how we are able to leverage our open architecture IoT platform to build and incorporate new products to meet a rapidly evolving market and remain ahead of the market, said Jason Waller, CEO, and Managing Director InteliCare. “It is the first step in a much deeper strategy to exploit our competitive advantage and gain deeper insights from AI to drive more efficient, better care.”

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According to the CDC, nearly half of adults in the United States (108 million, or 45%) have hypertension and only about 1 in 4 have their condition under control.

Many people do not show any symptoms of high blood pressure; that is why it’s crucial to have blood pressure checked regularly. The conventional method of measuring blood pressure is a blood pressure monitor cuff or, also known as a sphygmomanometer. However, using a blood pressure cuff isn’t convenient for many and it requires hands-on knowledge.

Read more Aktiia Raises CHF 6 Million in Funding to Market its Cuffless Optical Blood Pressure Monitor

The advent of wearable technology has made blood pressure monitoring easy. There are a number of different wearables and fitness trackers that claim to be able to use a PPG sensor to track your blood pressure. However, many of these devices aren’t certified as medical devices but instead certified as lifestyle wearables focused on tracking overall health.

Samsung’s recent update to its Health Monitor app allows users to use the PPG sensor in Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 or Galaxy Watch Active to take a blood pressure reading, reports Becca Caddy in TechRadar.

Omron HeartGuide

The cuff-based blood pressure measuring had a wearable upgrade. Omron HeartGuide, for example, uses a cuff, it’s very small and within the strap of a fairly slim wearable, which makes it look like a smartwatch. At $499/£499 (about AU$650), the price may sound exorbitant, but it’s made by a top health tech company like Omron and it can provide accurate, on-the-spot blood pressure readings when you ask it to.

Aktiia

Aktiia developed the world’s first 24-7, automated blood pressure monitoring system that easily and comfortably gathers data during the day and while sleeping. This groundbreaking medical innovation provides people and their physicians comprehensive insights into blood pressure patterns to better inform the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Available for sale in the United Kingdom, Aktiia’s device received CE Mark as a Class IIa medical device – signifying that the device has been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements in Europe.

“Our technology also analyses pulse waves traveling along the arteries to generate estimations of blood pressure,” Dr. Josep Sola, founder and CTO of Aktiia tells me. “But instead of using pressure sensors, Aktiia's algorithms leverage optical sensors that analyze the changing diameter of the arteries at the wrist.”

How accurate is cuffless blood pressure monitoring?

A wearable blood pressure monitor might feel more convenient and allow you to collect more readings, but taking these measurements from your wrist could mean they’re not as accurate, the TechRadar report said.

“While upcoming technologies may be able to eventually overcome this challenge, we need careful studies to be performed to ensure that they are consistently valid in a wide range of patients, using appropriate and rigorous methods that are developed by experts in this area,” says Dr Jordana Cohen, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in hypertension research. “Including those who do not stand to profit from sales of these devices.”

More testing, data collection, and validation may deliver more accurate cuffless blood pressure monitors.

Read more Omron’s HeartGuide Blood Pressure Watch Gets FDA Clearance

The future of blood pressure monitoring technology

Could wearable technology be the future of blood pressure monitoring?

“This is the beginning of a modernization of century-old technology,” says Dr. Ghalib Janjua, a lecturer in electronic and electrical engineering at Robert Gordon University who specializes in bioengineering and cuffless blood pressure monitoring. “It’s an area which is showing encouraging results.”

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During the launch event of realme 8 Pro smartphone, the Oppo subsidiary also announced the latest additions to its AIoT range: the premium smartwatch Watch S Pro and Buds Air 2 earphones.

realme Watch S Pro

realme Watch S Pro, belonging to the realme Watch S series, has many unique features, starting with the large 3.5cm (1.39 ") AMOLED touchscreen with the advanced Always-on Display function, which allows users to view information on the time at any time. There is also an intelligent AOD function for battery optimization, which you can activate or deactivate at will, according to your needs. The screen, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, has a resolution of 454 * 454 pixels (326 PPI) and it is possible to adjust the brightness, choosing between five different levels, up to a maximum of 450nits.

Read more: Oppo Band Now Available Outside of China, May Become Robust Competitor for Xiaomi’s Mi Band

realme Watch S Pro, with SUS316L stainless steel case, which ensures resistance without sacrificing style, has over one hundred dials to customize your look. The smartwatch integrates a high-precision GPS sensor that supports dual satellite tracking, with GPS and Glonass active at the same time. The built-in GPS also can track routes when running, cycling, or walking.

In addition to walking, cycling, and running, realme Watch S Pro supports monitoring of 15 sports, including basketball, yoga, bodyweight exercises, and features a new swimming mode. The waterproof rating of 5ATM allows you to withstand pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters for up to 30 minutes and you can record your swim data in real-time, including SWOLF and calories, reports realme.

The smartwatch also has a heart rate tracker, pedometer, inactivity and drinking reminders, sleep monitoring, and functions for meditation. In addition, it can track blood oxygen saturation.

Watch S Pro can also receive notifications from many apps, from calls to SMS, passing through messages from third-party apps.

The 420mAh battery lasts up to 14 days. In-box magnetic charging cradle can charge the device up to 100% in just two hours.

The smartwatch, with a black silicone strap, will be on sale on Amazon from March 31 at € 129.99. On March 29 and 30 on the realme website, it will be available in the early-bird promo for € 109.99.

realme Buds Air 2

The realme Buds Air 2 supports active noise cancellation (ANC) up to 25dB and can filter out most low-frequency noise, including the roar of airplanes, subways, and other means of transport. They also cancel out the noise from appliances, allowing you to immerse yourself in music or focus on work without being disturbed.

For the highest quality results, realme has exclusively developed R2 Chip, a new generation of intelligent noise cancellation chips. The chip, in addition to supporting ANC, ensures excellent processing performance, better energy efficiency, more stable connections and high call quality. realme Buds Air 2 has dual microphones for superior sound quality during calls and the ambient noise cancellation algorithm significantly reduces ambient sounds during phone calls, allowing you to converse better.

realme Buds Air 2 also supports Transparency mode. When on, you can hear conversations around you via the microphone - Transparency mode makes it easy to talk to others without having to take off your headphones.

The sound quality is high. The transient response is also exceptional; in addition, the distortion rate of Buds Air 2 has been reduced to less than 0.5%, the industry standard of excellence.

Also, present on Buds Air 2 Bass Boost + for bass optimization. Compared to the previous generation, this solution takes full advantage of the power of the dynamic coil and DLC diaphragm, giving users immersive sound and allowing them to crank up the bass for live recording, electronic music, rock, and more.

Read more: Huami Amazfit GTR 2 LTE And Amazfit T-Rex Pro to Arrive This Year

realme Buds Air 2 has the IPX5 waterproof, excellent autonomy, equal to 25 hours of music playback, a 10mm driver, and low latency of just 88ms in Game mode, which reduces the risk of lag, a lack of synchronization between audio and video, interference or other problems. Thanks to the realme Link app, you can customize your earphones, setting the touch functions to your liking to activate or deactivate active noise cancellation (ANC), enter or exit Game mode, control EQ settings, and much more. Buds Air 2 supports Google Fast Pair and have Smart wear sensors, as well as touch controls.

Starting from March 31st realme Buds Air 2 will be on sale on Amazon and on the official website of realme in the Closer White and Closer Black colors at a price of € 49.99, while on March 29th and 30th they will be available in the early bird promo at 39.99 euros.

Fitness wearables like smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart rings have become more and more prevalent in our society over the past several years. As the popularity is rising, competition among various brands of fitness wearables is forcing their manufacturers to come up with better and innovative health tracking features.

Read more Global Medical Wearables Market Size to Reach US $85.6 Billion by 2027

A fitness wearable that once provided simple steps count has evolved into a smarter machine that tracks our heart and blood oxygen saturation – features once only a lab or a hospital would provide.

“GPS and heart rate monitoring might be today’s must-have features, but tomorrow’s include ECG measurements, which are found on the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and Fitbit Sense. We’re talking about serious health tracking here that can detect medical conditions and sleep problems you don’t even know you have,” writes Jamie Carter in TechRadar.

Dr Conor Heneghan, Lead Research Scientist at Fitbit, says Fitbit is making progress in the areas of sleep apnea and Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), two of the most common health conditions worldwide, while recently published findings from its COVID-19 study suggest its devices have the potential to identify signs of illness before you show symptoms.

“As we all take a greater interest in our health the idea of illness detection will be even more in the spotlight,” says Dr Heneghan. “We believe that wearables can help bridge the gap between visits to the doctor, and facilitate conversations between patients and their doctor.”

Nicholas Kelly, co-founder of care group Axela, believes that the next generation of trackers will have more improvements on the technical side, so instead of having just an always-on display, they will focus more on providing health data like blood glucose, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pain management.

Nutrient loss and recovery tracking

The next big thing in fitness wearables will be ‘nutrient loss’ and ‘recovery tracking’ – algorithms that tell you what food to eat. Some devices now tell users how long it will take for their body to fully recover from their latest workout.

Read more How Wearables Are Helping to Improve Diagnosis and Monitoring in Healthcare

Smart clothes

Smart clothes can perform the same tasks as fitness trackers. Smart clothes can track your heart rate, and monitor stress and sleep. Juniper Research predicts that ‘smart clothing’ will contribute over $11 billion to the fitness wearables market by 2025.

Conclusion

More and more people are using wearables, whether that be for everyday use to help monitor heart rate and other daily health metrics or to motivate their physical activity. If health wearables are prescribed or recommended by people’s doctors or health insurers, more people will start using them.

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We’ve all heard about radio waves. These are signals permeated by microwaves and Wi-Fi connections. However, these are not just mere signals of energy consumed but are also sources of energy themselves. Now, an international team of researchers, led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, has developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices.

The researchers recently published their method in Materials Today Physics.

Read more: Stretchable System Can Power Wearables By Harvesting Energy From Wearer’s Breathing and Motion

According to Cheng, current energy sources for wearable health-monitoring devices have their place in powering sensor devices, but each has its setbacks. Solar power, for example, can only harvest energy when exposed to the sun. A self-powered triboelectric device can only harvest energy when the body is in motion, reports Penn State News.

“We don’t want to replace any of these current power sources,” Cheng said. “We are trying to provide additional, consistent energy.”

The researchers developed a stretchable wideband dipole antenna system capable of wirelessly transmitting data that is collected from health-monitoring sensors. The system consists of two stretchable metal antennas integrated onto conductive graphene material with a metal coating. The wideband design of the system allows it to retain its frequency functions even when stretched, bent and twisted. This system is then connected to a stretchable rectifying circuit, creating a rectified antenna, or "rectenna,” capable of converting energy from electromagnetic waves into electricity. This electricity can be used to power wireless devices or to charge energy storage devices, such as batteries and supercapacitors.

This rectenna can convert radio, or electromagnetic waves from the ambient environment into energy to power the sensing modules on the device, which track temperature, hydration and pulse oxygen level. Compared to other sources, less energy is produced, but the system can generate power continuously — a significant advantage, according to Cheng.

“We are utilizing the energy that already surrounds us — radio waves are everywhere, all the time,” Cheng said. “If we don’t use this energy found in the ambient environment, it is simply wasted. We can harvest this energy and rectify it into power.”

Cheng said that this technology is a building block for him and his team. Combining it with their novel wireless transmissible data device will provide a critical component that will work with the team’s existing sensor modules.

Read more: Wireless Implantable Devices Can Be Powered By Radio Frequency Waves

“Our next steps will be exploring miniaturized versions of these circuits and working on developing the stretchability of the rectifier,” Cheng said. “This is a platform where we can easily combine and apply this technology with other modules that we have created in the past. It is easily extended or adapted for other applications, and we plan to explore those opportunities.

The IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (ISTO), an international federation of leading industry groups and consortia dedicated to the advancement of standardized technologies for the benefit of industry, announced its newest member program, LaSAR Alliance (Laser Scanning for Augmented Reality), reports GlobeNewsWire.

Read more The Future of Wearable Computing May Be Augmented Reality – Newest Developments in AR Glasses

The LaSAR Alliance (Laser Scanning for Augmented Reality) was established to create an ecosystem of like-minded companies and organizations to foster and encourage the development and promotion of technologies, components, devices, techniques and solutions to enable the efficient design and manufacture of augmented reality wearable devices including smart glasses and head-mounted displays. The goal is to provide an environment to facilitate a marketplace for ideas where members can exchange and share information, collaborate and partner to create, build and grow effective and compelling LBS (Laser Beam Scanning) based solutions, share best practices, and to help drive the growth of the market for augmented reality wearables in general.

“The formation of the LaSAR Alliance will facilitate the growth of the Augmented Reality market,” said Bharath Rajagopalan, Chair of the LaSAR Alliance. “Laser Beam Scanning solutions show great promise to realize a number of critical requirements necessary for the development of all-day-wearable smart glasses and head-mounted-display solutions. Achieving this objective requires a tightly knit ecosystem of complementary technologies and the Alliance is set up to foster an environment of cooperation and collaboration.”

ISTO president Marco W Migliaro stated, “We welcome the LaSAR Alliance as a new member program of ISTO Federation of Programs, and the ISTO staff looks forward to helping LaSAR achieve its unique goals using laser beam scanning based solutions. ISTO has a proven track record of successfully facilitating the introduction of new technologies and innovations that improve industry competition and growth.”

Read more What Is Assisted Reality and How Does It Relate to Augmented Reality?

ISTO provides today's industry alliances and trade associations with turnkey legal and operational support. The organization is the premier trusted partner of the global technology community for the development, adoption, and certification of industry standards and technology solutions that benefit the industry. An international federation of member programs, its mission is to facilitate the life-cycle of industry standards development through a dedicated staff committed to offering vendor neutrality, quality support, and member satisfaction.

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