RayNeo, an industry leader in consumer-grade augmented reality (AR) innovation, has announced the launch of Pocket TV streaming box | Google TV. Compact and easy to carry, the innovative device combines a powerful 6,500mAh battery, and ample local content storage. Customized for RayNeo's immersive, big-screen XR glasses, the device offers unparalleled cinematic audiovisual enjoyment for users anywhere, anytime.

"The Pocket TV is a game-changer in redefining XR user experience," said Howie Li, Founder and CEO of RayNeo. "With this innovation, we're not just offering a product; we're crafting an unforgettable, on-the-go entertainment journey for users. RayNeo's mission is clear: to democratize the exhilarating experience of cutting-edge, large-screen XR glasses. This collaboration propels us forward. Together, we're poised to building a top-tier XR glasses ecosystem and redefine what's possible."

A Portable Google TV Experience on a Colossal Screen

The Pocket TV brings abundant entertainment content into XR glasses, representing a significant leap in enriching the XR glasses content ecosystem. Co-developed by RayNeo and SEI Robotics, the sleek and portable Google TV streaming device unlocks numerous entertainment options for users wherever they are.

Seamlessly integrated with RayNeo XR glasses series, the Pocket TV unfolds a big-screen personal theater experience that can slip into your bags or pockets wherever you go. With Google TV, you can enjoy everything you stream, all on one screen. With 700,000+ movies and TV episodes, live TV, and more available across 10,000+ apps, Google TV takes streaming to the next level — bringing together your favorite entertainment from across your apps and organizing it all, just for you.

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Personalized recommendations from Google let you discover new movies and shows based on what you've watched and what interests you, so you can quickly find your next favorite. And that new show your friends are raving about? No matter where it's streaming, add it to your watchlist — right from your TV, phone, or browser.

A Compact Powerhouse with Ample Local Storage

The Pocket TV turns into a massive power bank for the XR glasses. With a mega 6,500mAh battery, it's sufficient to watch 5.5 hours of videos in one go. Need a quick power-up for your phone on the go? The Pocket TV can also charge your phone with its USB-C output while you're enjoying your favorite content on the big screen. Convenience at its finest. Leave behind your small-screen tablet and portable charger, simply bring the Pocket TV to enhance your travels.

Pricing and Availability

The Pocket TV will be available on the RayNeo Amazon US store later this month at a recommended retail price of $179.

About RayNeo

Established in 2021, RayNeo has launched the world's first full-color Micro-LED optical waveguide AR glasses, achieving several technology breakthroughs in the industry. The company specializes in the research and development of AR technologies with industry-leading optics, display, algorithm, and device manufacturing. Alongside winning the "Best Connected Consumer Device" at MWC's Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) 2023 with NXTWEAR S, RayNeo also developed the innovative consumer XR wearable glasses, RayNeo Air 2, featuring top-tier, cinematic audiovisual experiences with ultimate comfort.

In a significant development for digital health technology, the atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection feature on Apple Watch devices has become the first to be qualified under a program recently introduced by the FDA. This program, known as the Medical Device Development Tools (MDDT) framework, aims to reduce the regulatory burden of evaluating new technologies and speed up the review process.

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The FDA announcement describes using it as a noninvasive way to collect the data both before and after treatment:

“Designed to be used as a biomarker test to help evaluate estimates of AFib burden as a secondary effectiveness endpoint within clinical studies intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cardiac ablation devices to treat.”

Apple has long marketed its watch as a lifesaver for its wearers. It has been said that certain features, like fall and auto accident detection, have saved lives. In its marketing, Apple frequently uses user testimonials from Apple Watch wearers who say they saw their doctors after getting heart-related notifications on their wrists, which may have saved their lives. However, added anxiety from extra data could also be detrimental, reports The Verge.

Two Apple Watch models—the Series 4 in 2018—were initially approved by the FDA to be sold directly to consumers as wearables that may provide an ECG and alert users to an irregular heartbeat. Additionally, it stated that the applications are "not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment" and that you should still see a licensed physician if you feel unwell or have any questions. According to one study, the treatments for certain disorders may not be appropriate for the average Apple Watch wearer, and the watch itself cannot diagnose ailments.

Starkey has unveiled a new hearing aid with breakthrough benefits. The result is Genesis AI, a new, unprecedented experience for both patients and hearing professionals. Completely reimagined from the inside out, it’s the only hearing technology system to feature an all-new processor, all-new sound, all-new industrial design, all-new fitting software, and all-new patient experience.

“The future of Starkey has been created by pushing the edge of what was possible,” said Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich. “With Genesis AI, we did just that. Proven through patient research and over one million hours in development, Genesis AI is the best sounding, best performing hearing aid available, offering infinite benefits to patients and hearing healthcare professionals alike. From the beginning, we have never wavered from providing exceptional service and groundbreaking innovations, creating Caring Technology.”

All-New Processor

• The all-new Starkey Neuro Processor features the industry’s most advanced processor technology which mimics the function of the central auditory system through a Deep Neural Network (DNN) on-chip accelerator and automatic functions.
• Smallest processor ever by Starkey, but also the most powerful with 6x more transistors.
• Speed – the Starkey Neuro Processor operates quickly, efficiently, and quietly and is up to 4x faster than previous processors.
• Less power, more processing – the processor is more efficient with power while delivering significantly higher processing.
• Loaded with 5X more computational memory and 10X the amount of non-volatile memory.

All-New Sound

Starkey’s new Neuro Sound Technology provides the best hearing experience for patients in all situations. The additive compression system synthesizes the signals from slow and fast compression systems for optimized perceptual outcomes, like the neural fibers that code different information for the brain.

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All-New Design

• Genesis AI features an all-new sleek, discreet and stylish aesthetic product design that’s durable and comfortable for all-day wear, and which helps break barriers and reduce the stigma of what is hearing care technology today.
• Genesis AI includes RIC RT, the industry’s longest-lasting RIC rechargeable hearing aid on the market. The battery holds up to 51 hours on a single charge.
• The new mRIC R has the second longest-lasting RIC rechargeable battery life with up to 41 hours on a single charge.
• Industry-first custom rechargeable product has the highest custom battery life in the industry with up to 36 hours on a single charge.

All-New Patient Experience

The new My Starkey App gives patients full control over their hearing aids, plus the ability to get helpful tips, track their health, and access intelligent features designed to simplify their lives.

Genesis AI’s improved streaming capabilities utilize binaural phone steaming, sharing information to both ears directly and simultaneously. This supports two-way, hands-free calling through compatible Apple and Android devices and makes it easier for patients to enjoy their favorite music with more natural results.

All-New Fitting Software

Starkey’s all-new fitting software, Pro Fit, was architected from the ground up based on input from hearing professionals around the globe. Designed for efficiency, ease of use and a seamless fitting experience — from first fit to fine tuning.

About Starkey

Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Owned by Bill Austin since 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

At the CES 2024, South Korean digital health company Luxnine’s wearable chest patch that offers real-time vital sign monitoring while simultaneously acting as a fall and emergency detection system, received CES 2024 Innovation Award.

Dubbed, Bodylog, the wearable chest patch not only detects falls and emergencies but also provides a post-incident report, assessing the severity of the incident and analyzing heart rate variability (HRV).

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and a host of other parameters can all be tracked by the Bodylog. This device is actually intended to provide some piece of mind to our elderly relatives who still desire independence and self-sufficiency, but with the confidence that their health is being monitored as well.

The Bodylog goes beyond tracking the user’s health, it offers proactive lifestyle recommendations too. Identifying posture and even emulates a controlled medical environment by linking measurements with posture status.

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Furthermore, BodyLog can detect abnormal signals such as arrhythmia, arthritis, osteoporosis, and spinal deformities in real time. It can also promptly notify caregivers of emergencies like acute cardiac arrest or falls. Lux9 has plans to enhance the solution by providing analysis reports on post-emergency condition changes and offering support for surgeries and rehabilitation treatments.

CEO Kim Inho stated, 'BodyLog's core focus is monitoring the entire life cycle of older people through crucial health indicators, including posture, activity, sleep, and physiological signal responses while providing applied digital healthcare services. It is expected to be an innovative solution that will change the paradigm of silver care in an aging society.

Demand for intelligent AI helpers has recently surged in this era of rapid technological innovation and unwavering efficiency. AI-powered chatbots for customer support as well as voice-activated assistants like Siri and Alexa have become more common.

A wearable artificial intelligence assistant called Tab, however, is a new competitor that promises to completely transform the way we engage with our everyday lives.

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Avi Schiffmann is a young tech visionary who wants to upend the tech industry once more. He created the COVID dashboard, which made headlines, and a platform for Ukrainian migrants that is similar to Airbnb. This time, he's revealing the revolutionary smart wearable Tab AI, which is scheduled to launch in the winter or spring of 2024.

Tab is a wearable AI that promises to improve how humans interact with information. This invention, which was unveiled via a video posted on X, has already drawn interest from tech fans all around the world. Furthermore, within two hours of the pre-order, the first 50 Tab units were sold.

In an exclusive interview with Metaverse Post, Avi described his future intentions for the wearable and provided detailed information about his cutting-edge AI technology.

The goal of Tab is to function as a wearable, personal AI companion by incorporating daily life data. It does this by keeping an eye on user chats, giving users fast access to a wealth of knowledge, and tailoring concise, relevant summaries to user inquiries. With its ability to gather data from many sources, the AI assistant can guarantee a productive and customized user experience.

“The last era of wearables were all centered around health data, sleep scores, etc. Personally, especially as a young founder, I really don’t care too much about what my heart rate is throughout the day,” Avi told Metaverse Post. “Basic sensors like cameras and microphones can be extremely powerful when plugged into AI, and as a result wearables can take new forms and have utility that extends far beyond just your HRV score.”

According to Avi, years of research and development in the fields of artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and data aggregation have culminated in Tab's AI model. He claims that by providing users with an omniscient experience, Tab's AI goes above and beyond traditional language models (LLMs) systems in its capacity as an information assistant.

“Tab works by building a knowledge graph of key entities and their associated facts, removing unnecessary personal information,” said Avi.

When breast cancer is diagnosed in the earliest stages, the survival rate is nearly 100 percent. However, for tumors detected in later stages, that rate drops to around 25 percent.

In hopes of improving the overall survival rate for breast cancer patients, MIT researchers have designed a wearable ultrasound device that could allow people to detect tumors when they are still in early stages. In particular, it could be valuable for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer in between routine mammograms.

The device is a flexible patch that can be attached to a bra, allowing the wearer to move an ultrasound tracker along the patch and image the breast tissue from different angles. In the new study, the researchers showed that they could obtain ultrasound images with resolution comparable to that of the ultrasound probes used in medical imaging centers, reports Anne Trafton in MIT News.

“We changed the form factor of the ultrasound technology so that it can be used in your home. It’s portable and easy to use, and provides real-time, user-friendly monitoring of breast tissue,” says Canan Dagdeviren, an associate professor in MIT’s Media Lab and the senior author of the study.

MIT graduate student Wenya Du, Research Scientist Lin Zhang, Emma Suh ’23, and Dabin Lin, a professor at Xi’an Technological University, are the lead authors of the paper, which appears today in Science Advances.

A wearable diagnostic

For this project, Dagdeviren drew inspiration from her late aunt, Fatma Caliskanoglu, who was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer at age 49, despite having regular cancer screens, and passed away six months later. At her aunt’s bedside, Dagdeviren, then a postdoc at MIT, drew up a rough schematic of a diagnostic device that could be incorporated into a bra and would allow for more frequent screening of women at high risk for breast cancer.

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Breast tumors that develop in between regularly scheduled mammograms — known as interval cancers — account for 20 to 30 percent of all breast cancer cases, and these tumors tend to be more aggressive than those found during routine scans.

“My goal is to target the people who are most likely to develop interval cancer,” says Dagdeviren, whose research group specializes in developing wearable electronic devices that conform to the body. “With more frequent screening, our goal to increase the survival rate to up to 98 percent.”

To make her vision of a diagnostic bra a reality, Dagdeviren designed a miniaturized ultrasound scanner that could allow the user to perform imaging at any time. This scanner is based on the same kind of ultrasound technology used in medical imaging centers, but incorporates a novel piezoelectric material that allowed the researchers to miniaturize the ultrasound scanner.

To make the device wearable, the researchers designed a flexible, 3D-printed patch, which has honeycomb-like openings. Using magnets, this patch can be attached to a bra that has openings that allow the ultrasound scanner to contact the skin. The ultrasound scanner fits inside a small tracker that can be moved to six different positions, allowing the entire breast to be imaged. The scanner can also be rotated to take images from different angles, and does not require any special expertise to operate.

“This technology provides a fundamental capability in the detection and early diagnosis of breast cancer, which is key to a positive outcome,” says Anantha Chandrakasan, dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and one of the authors of the study. “This work will significantly advance ultrasound research and medical device designs, leveraging advances in materials, low-power circuits, AI algorithms, and biomedical systems.”

Early detection

Working with the MIT Center for Clinical and Translational Research, the researchers tested their device on one human subject, a 71-year-old woman with a history of breast cysts. Using the new device, the researchers were able to detect the cysts, which were as small as 0.3 centimeters in diameter — the size of early-stage tumors. They also showed that the device achieved resolution comparable to that of traditional ultrasound, and tissue can be imaged at a depth up to 8 centimeters.

“Access to quality and affordable health care is essential for early detection and diagnosis. As a nurse I have witnessed the negative outcomes of a delayed diagnosis. This technology holds the promise of breaking down the many barriers for early breast cancer detection by providing a more reliable, comfortable, and less intimidating diagnostic,” says Catherine Ricciardi, nurse director at MIT’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research and an author of the study.

To see the ultrasound images, the researchers currently have to connect their scanner to the same kind of ultrasound machine used in imaging centers. However, they are now working on a miniaturized version of the imaging system that would be about the size of a smartphone.

The wearable ultrasound patch can be used over and over, and the researchers envision that it could be used at home by people who are at high risk for breast cancer and could benefit from frequent screening. It could also help diagnose cancer in people who don’t have regular access to screening.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and it is treatable when detected early,” says Tolga Ozmen, a breast cancer surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital who is also an author of the study. “One of the main obstacles in imaging and early detection is the commute that the women have to make to an imaging center. This conformable ultrasound patch is a highly promising technology as it eliminates the need for women to travel to an imaging center.”

The researchers hope to develop a workflow so that once data are gathered from a subject, artificial intelligence can be used to analyze how the images change over time, which could offer more accurate diagnostics than relying on the assessment of a radiologist comparing images taken years apart. They also plan to explore adapting the ultrasound technology to scan other parts of the body.

Moonwalkers are the world's first robotic shoes that enable you to walk at the speed of a run. Equipped with an adaptive AI powertrain, they allow you to walk to more places with more fun. Designed with an adaptive A.I. drivetrain, the Moonwalkers help you walk further and faster while you keep your feet on the ground.

Shift Robotics, the company behind these robotic shoes began as a Carnegie Mellon spin-off.

Xunjie, the company’s founder and CEO, used to live about two miles from his office. At first, he drove or took public transit to work, but the traffic was always bad, and buses were unreliable, so he ended up commuting by scooter. One day a car came out of nowhere and almost hit him.

That's when he asked himself why he never walked to work–and it wasn't just him; a lot of people don't rely on walking. This is surprising, considering it's much safer, more convenient, and better for the environment. Plus, it requires no added skill like bikes or skateboards.

Nine polyurethane wheels are powered by a 300-W brushless motor located in each boot of the Moonwalkers' adaptive AI powertrain. So if you need a real world reference, the Moonwalkers have a clever 18-wheel-drive powertrain with a 600-watt capacity.

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The Moonwalkers are available in a single size that fits US women's sizes 9 to 13.5 and US men's sizes 7.5 to 13, so they go with practically any pair of shoes.

An ergonomic hinge system allows your foot to naturally bend at your toes, preserving all of your mobility and balance.

Moonwalkers do not freewheel with our electronic multi-layer brake protection. Our two modes, Lock and Shift, move only when you do. This means you can go up and down stairs, step into mass transit, and confidently wait at the crosswalk.

The user can stop in less than 1 meter from top speed, and we automatically regulate your speed downhill.

At the heart of Moonwalkers, a state-of-the-art brushless DC motor distributes its power across eight polyurethane wheels through a precision machined gearbox. The 8-wheel patented drivetrain consists of overlapping wheels to simulate much larger diameter wheels to climb over uneven terrain.

The motor is connected, verified as a healthy part before this stage, and we run through an integrated software procedure to verify system operation. These automated box-build software and hardware integration, bespoke to Moonwalkers, allow us to build each pair of shoes efficiently and pinpoint any defects effectively.

The entire electronics compartment is sealed to protect against water and debris ingress, which is entirely composed of aluminum, to ensure a crush-proof battery compartment and assist in thermal management.

The outer body is then secured to the chassis, featuring carefully considered industrial design where form follows function.

The Moonwalkers can be ordered via their website, and the price is US $1399.

There are many new medical wearable innovations every month, but this one is something special, Clarify. Worldwide, 466 million people are affected by hearing loss. High-frequency hearing loss is one of the most common types of hearing loss and makes it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds. It can affect people of all ages but is most common in older people who have been repeatedly exposed to loud noises. This type of hearing loss can be frustrating and disabling as it can make it difficult to interact with other people, resulting in a lower quality of life.

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Neosensory's Clarify wristband is a technological breakthrough in hearing health. Clarify uses vibration and brain training to enable hearing through the skin. Equipped with Neosensory's machine learning algorithms, the band vibrates in response to certain speech sounds that are difficult to recognize for people who lose the upper frequencies of their hearing. In less than three weeks, the brain adapts to these new inputs and the wearer can interpret the vibrations as speech.

About Neosensory

Neosensory was founded by neuroscientists in 2015 with the mission to send data streams to the brain via the sense of touch. With so much unused real estate on the body, the skin presents an untapped channel for the delivery of new information. Neosensory has set itself the goal of making a significant social contribution with its sound-to-touch products.

Boston Dynamics, a firm best known for their terrifying movies of robots dancing, completing obstacle courses, or racing through forests, debuted Atlas, its newest robot, in a new video that was posted on Wednesday.

The company's newest humanoid robot, Atlas, is their first totally electric model and is "designed for real-world applications." An older Atlas model had hydraulic power prior to this one.

“This week we announced the retirement of our hydraulic Atlas and unveiled what comes next—a fully electric Atlas robot designed for real-world applications. The next generation of the Atlas program builds on decades of research and furthers our commitment to delivering the most capable, useful mobile robots solving the toughest challenges in industry today: with Spot, with Stretch, and now with Atlas,” the company said.

The goal of Boston Dynamics' redesign was to demonstrate that Atlas can maintain a humanoid form without restricting "how a bipedal robot can move." The company states that the updated model is "uniquely capable of tackling dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks" because of its swiveling joints.

“We designed the electric version of Atlas to be stronger, more dexterous, and more agile,” the company said in its press release. “Atlas may resemble a human form factor, but we are equipping the robot to move in the most efficient way possible to complete a task, rather than being constrained by a human range of motion. Atlas will move in ways that exceed human capabilities.”

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Boston Dynamics also said that in order to prepare the robot for a variety of diverse industry contexts, it is investigating “several new gripper variations” in addition to enhancing the capabilities previously attained with the previous generation hydraulic Atlas model, such as lifting and navigating things.

Hyundai will be the first company "over the next few years" to test the redesigned Atlas, according to Boston Dynamics. Similar tests are being conducted on Mercedes and BMW production lines by competitor suppliers Figure and Apptronik, respectively, with regard to other humanoid robots.

“Commercialization takes great engineering, but it also takes patience, imagination, and collaboration. Boston Dynamics has proven that we can deliver the full package with both industry-leading robotics and a complete ecosystem of software, services, and support to make robotics useful in the real world.,” the company said.

SenseGlove, a developer of force and haptic feedback gloves, has recently announced worldwide shipping of its SenseGlove Nova 2 haptic gloves.

Nova 2 uses advanced haptic technologies. Combination of force – and vibrotactile feedback, wireless compact design and successful enterprise applications makes it the most practical XR glove on the market.

Force Feedback

By applying resistance through its magnetic friction brakes, SenseGlove emulates the feeling of size and stiffness. The Nova incorporates four brakes dedicated to each finger from thumb to ring finger. Each brake delivers up to 20N of force, which is equivalent to the weight of a 2 kg brick on each finger and makes for unparalleled force feedback. The different amounts of force, transferred to the fingertips through mechanical wires, allows SenseGlove to enhance training simulations with a wide variety of virtual objects, from robust engines and tools to fragile light bulbs.

Vibrotactile feedback

SenseGlove has embedded an advanced voice coil actuator technology that allows the Nova to render the feeling of realistic button clicks, vibrations and impact simulations, which are crucial for virtual reality training with tools and dashboards. Both the thumb and the index finger have their own vibrotactile actuator, while the voice coil actuator is located in the hub of the glove.  

Finger tracking

SenseGlove Nova combines sensor-based finger tracking with computer vision hand tracking algorithms. There are 4 sensors to capture the flexion and extension of the thumb, the index, the middle and the ring fingers, plus 1 sensor to capture the abduction and adduction of the thumb. These movements are captured by measuring the extension of the cables on the Nova Glove.

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Usages during training

First responder training

Using VR and haptic gloves, trainees can physically practice procedures and interactions that involve any equipment required: from fire hoses to medical defibrillators. This allows the trainees to build their muscle memory and respond much quicker.

Installation training

Haptic feedback gloves allow for training of any difficult procedures in a risk-free environment. The force feedback feature allows for the trainees to physically feel the different shapes, while the vibrotactile feedback stimulates the handling of equipment and tools.

Maintenance training

Nova haptic gloves allow for a natural feel of hand tools: using different types of wrenches, feeling pliers resist squeezing while vibrotactile feedback enhances interactions with power tools like grinders and saws.

Assembly training

Haptic feedback gloves allow for a complex assembly simulation, consisting of multiple complex tasks. This could involve anything like drilling, screwing of fixing particular components together. They also allow trainees to feel the shapes, sizes and density of industrial objects.

MMI, a robotics company dedicated to increasing treatment options and improving clinical outcomes for patients with complex conditions, today announced that its Symani® Surgical System is now commercially available in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted De Novo Classification to the robotic system for soft tissue manipulation to perform microsurgery, a highly specialized technique that involves reconnecting tiny vessels to restore blood flow or redirect fluid during reconstruction or repair.

The FDA authorization makes the Symani Surgical System the only commercially available platform in the U.S. for reconstructive microsurgery. The technology is positioned to open the field of microsurgery to new surgeons by quickly developing their skills, as well as to empower skilled microsurgeons to confidently expand into supermicrosurgery, creating a novel category of treatments that the human hand cannot perform without robotic assistance.

“The U.S. is facing a potentially dire shortage of physicians, and that shortage acutely impacts specialized fields of medicine, such as microsurgery,” said Mark Toland, CEO of MMI. “With the authorization from the FDA, our technology will expand its reach to pioneering hospitals in the U.S. It will help those hospitals grow their open surgical programs, expand the number of physicians who can perform these highly complicated procedures, and increase patient access to the most advanced techniques for surgeries in complex disease states, such as lymphedema. Our system will continue to provoke surgeons to challenge their definitions of ‘treatable’ and ‘untreatable’ and empower them to solve cases that have historically been too difficult to treat.”

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Specific techniques used in microsurgery include reconnecting small anatomical structures, such as blood and lymphatic vessels, during open surgical procedures. Supermicrosurgery involves reconstruction or repair of even smaller vessels, typically less than 1mm in diameter, and fewer than 600 surgeons worldwide perform supermicrosurgery today.

The Symani Surgical System provides advanced solutions for a range of open surgeries, including post-mastectomy breast cancer reconstruction, extremity reconstruction using free tissue transfer, and lymphatic system repair.

“By making open surgery less invasive and more precise, we can treat more conditions and offer robotic-assisted surgical options to patients that simply do not exist today,” said Dr. L. Scott Levin, co-CMO of MMI. “Within the next five years, this expanded portfolio of addressable open surgical procedures is expected to exceed the number of eligible laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, procedures that leverage robotic assistance. The authorization from the FDA helps to solve a critical unmet need and will help surgeons perform a new category of complex open surgeries enabled by transformative technology.”

The Symani Surgical System offers surgeons entirely new capabilities because it features the world’s smallest surgical robotic wrist, called NanoWrist. The unique design enables surgeons to replicate the natural movements of the human hand at the micro scale, which encourages a flatter learning curve in the training process. The articulated wrist features seven degrees of freedom that match the human wrist, tremor filtration and motion scaling, ultimately increasing precision and control.

Surgeons have leveraged the Symani Surgical System in nearly 1,000 clinical cases in the European Union and in thousands of preclinical cases around the world. The Symani Surgical System is available for commercial use in Europe and parts of Asia Pacific. MMI plans to immediately launch the technology in the U.S.

About MMI

MMI (Medical Microinstruments, Inc.) is on a mission to advance robotic technology that pushes the limits of soft tissue open surgery and opens new opportunities for surgeons to restore quality of life for more patients with complex conditions. The company was founded in 2015 near Pisa, Italy, and its proprietary Symani Surgical System combines the world’s smallest wristed microinstruments with tremor-reducing and motion-scaling technologies to address significant unmet patient needs across the globe.

Turkey-based digital health startup h2o therapeutics announced its new Apple Watch-enabled freezing of gait-cuing feature, dubbed Foggy, designed for Parkinson’s Disease patients has received FDA listing as a Class II medical device and is available via prescription.

Parkinson's disease affects millions worldwide, presenting unique challenges to both patients and caregivers. Freezing of gait is when someone may have temporary episodes of an inability to step forward. This abnormal gait pattern, in particular, significantly impacts mobility and independence, often leading to falls and decreased quality of life, according to a press release.

Foggy uses the Taptic Engine in Apple Watch to provide vibrotactile stimulation for individuals experiencing freezing of gait, a debilitating symptom of Parkinson's disease. Users can simply tap a complication on their Apple Watch to initiate haptic feedback that helps with the condition.

"Cueing strategies hold immense promise in aiding individuals with freezing of gait," says Yagmur Selin Gulmus, founder of h2o therapeutics. "However, the key to their effectiveness lies in accessibility, individualization, and ease of use. Our introduction of Foggy marks a significant advancement in the field, offering patients a non-invasive solution by simply wearing their Apple Watch, designed to assist without adding cognitive load."

h2o conducted two clinical studies to explore different cueing methods, including audio and visual cues using augmented reality. By collaborating closely with the Parkinson's community, the company gained valuable insights into patients' specific needs and preferences. In response, h2o developed Foggy, a user-friendly app tailored to the unique requirements of people living with Parkinson's disease.

"We're excited to launch Foggy on World Parkinson's Day, highlighting a major step in our fight against the tricky problem of freezing of gait, a condition full of unknowns," explains Gulmus. "Foggy is a starting point towards tackling this issue that only a wealth of real-world data can clarify. Besides haptic cue generation, Foggy also acts as a data platform. This allows us to better understand freezing of gait and individualize our technology to meet the specific needs of those experiencing it."

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In 2022, h2o therapeutics obtained 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its prescription mobile app, Parky, designed for monitoring Parkinson's Disease. Integrated into Parky is the new Class II feature, Foggy, enhancing the app's capabilities with a holistic approach to manage Parkinson's symptoms. Parky app enables real-time monitoring of symptoms like tremors and dyskinesia through integration with Apple Watch using the Movement Disorder API; with the addition of Foggy, it now offers even more comprehensive support for patients. This innovation is a valuable tool for facilitating the exchange of meaningful and reliable data between patients and medical professionals, aiding in a better understanding and management of the disease.

The human hand is a complex and versatile organ that enables humans to interact with the environment, communicate, create, and use tools. The control of the hand by the brain is a crucial aspect of human cognition and behavior, but also a challenging problem for both neuroscience and engineering.

From an engineering perspective, understanding the brain mechanisms of hand control can inspire the design and control of robotic and prosthetic hands. These devices aim to restore or enhance the functionality and appearance of the natural hand, enabling users to perform daily activities and interact with objects. For people who use prosthesis, the device is a way to recover what they have lost, i.e., the hand.

The iLimb Quantum, a myo-electric prosthetic hand developed by Ossur, is the only upper limb prosthesis on the market with gesture control, which allows you to change grips with a simple gesture.

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Using a patented i-mo technology, the i-limb quantum has 24 pre-programmed grips and 12 additional custom grip patterns that are specific to the user’s individual lifestyle, allowing huge versatility and flexibility. And in addition to that, the i-limb™ quantum’s five independently articulating digits with individual stall out ability gives arm amputees a level of independence and capability that few other prosthetic hand solutions can offer. With 36 total unique grip options, extended battery life, a Speed Boost feature, and a durable, lifelike design, the i-limb™ quantum is a new standard for powerful and adaptable myo-electric prosthetic hands.

Key features:

• Electronically rotating thumb, with manual override, automatically switches between lateral and oppositional grip patterns for optimum grip

• Select from up to 36 different grips, both pre-programmed and customized to suit users' daily activities

• Vari-Grip feature provides additional grip strength when applied

• Auto-Grasp – anti-drop safety feature to prevent objects from slipping out of a user's grasp

• Touch Care package offers warranty support for up to five years

• Biosim and My i-Limb Apps for set up and personalization of grips and features

• Available in four sizes – extra small, small, medium and large

• Multiple covering options available to suit individual lifestyles

VR training firm Osso VR announced the launch of Osso Health, a medical training app on Apple Vision Pro. Leveraging the power of Apple Vision Pro to seamlessly blend digital content with the physical world Osso Health brings the operating experience to life via detailed, clinically accurate workflows of common procedures.

Osso Health's simulated surgical environment for Apple Vision Pro represents a major milestone in democratizing access to procedural education. With this launch, Osso VR is extending its technology to a broader audience, making procedural education accessible to healthcare professionals, patients preparing for surgery, and individuals interested in medical innovation. The Osso Health app is designed to simulate medical procedures at the highest fidelity, seamlessly integrating the operating room into physical spaces and providing on-demand access to hands-on learning from anywhere. visionOS features a brand-new three-dimensional user interface and input system controlled entirely by a user's eyes, hands, and voice, so Osso Health users can seamlessly and intuitively explore procedures, according to a press release.

The Osso Health app currently lets users engage with surgical workflows for two common orthopedic procedures: Carpal Tunnel Release and Total Knee Replacement. The user can walk through the key steps of each procedure using Apple Vision Pro's novel approach to spatial computing. Spatial computing has opened up new possibilities for medical professionals to explore complicated medical procedures in a secure, controlled, and real-world setting. Osso VR's proficiency in medical artistry overlayed onto the real world enhances the authenticity of the training, making it an indispensable tool for medical students, residents, and practicing physicians alike.

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"Osso Health for Apple Vision Pro opens up exciting possibilities for the future of immersive procedural education," said Justin Barad, MD, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Osso VR. "Apple Vision Pro unlocks new opportunities to scale spatial computing in healthcare with groundbreaking display quality and virtually lag-free learning experience, helping solve important challenges to education in healthcare."

To experience the next generation of medical training on Apple Vision Pro, visit Osso Health on the App Store.

About Osso VR

Used by the world's leading healthcare institutions and medical device companies, Osso VR is a clinically validated medical training and assessment platform. Using award-winning VR content, Osso's scalable platform provides a collaborative, risk-free, hands-on training environment that drives performance and outcome improvements.

Co-founded in 2016 by UCLA and Harvard-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeon Justin Barad, MD, Osso VR has been the most celebrated virtual reality company in healthcare, earning multiple industry awards, including TIME Magazine's Best Inventions, Fast Company's Most Innovative Healthcare Company, and the SXSW Innovation Award for VR. Osso VR covers multiple medical specialties and is available in several languages in over 40 countries.

Researchers have created a humanoid robot that can predict whether a person will smile a second before they do and mimic the smile on its own face.

Although artificial intelligence can now mimic human language to an impressive degree, interactions with physical robots often fall into the “uncanny valley”, in part because robots can’t replicate the complex non-verbal cues and mannerisms that are vital for communication.

Now, with the use of high-resolution cameras and AI models, Hod Lipson of Columbia University in New York and his colleagues have developed a robot named Emo that can recognize and attempt to mimic human facial expressions. About 0.9 seconds before someone else does, it can predict if they will smile and smile in time with them. Lipson responds, “I’m a jaded roboticist, but I smile back at this robot,” says Lipson, reports TomorrowsWorldToday.

Emo is a face with cameras in its eyes and pliable plastic skin that is driven by 24 individual motors that are magnetized to one another. It makes use of two neural networks: one for analyzing and forecasting human facial expressions, and another for learning how to make its own facial expressions.

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While the second network was taught by having the robot watch itself make faces on a live camera feed, the first network was trained using YouTube footage of people making faces.

“It learns what its face is going to look like when it’s going to pull all these muscles,” says Lipson. “It’s sort of like a person in front of a mirror, when even if you close your eyes and smile, you know what your face is going to look like.”

Lipson and the research team expect that ultimately, Emo's technology will enhance and add realism to human-robot interactions. In addition to teaching the robot to copy human expressions, they hope to expand its expressive repertoire and teach it to respond to spoken cues.

poLight ASA confirmed that Vuzix Shield AR smart glasses have been released for general availability in the industrial enterprise market. Besides being the world’s first binocular waveguide smart glasses implemented for industrial use, Vuzix Shield also uses TLens in its two front-facing stereo RGB autofocus cameras. With Vuzix Shield, workers can stream their view remotely, taking advantage of AI workflow optimization tools, accessing work instructions, and utilize its advanced cameras to capture photos and video, and scan barcodes.

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“Building our position in the AR/MR space is very important for the company,” said Dr. Øyvind Isaksen, CEO of poLight ASA. “Vuzix is a veteran in the industrial, enterprise AR market, and the Vuzix Shield product boasts state-of-the-art stereo AF cameras leveraging our TLens technology. We are very proud to be selected as an AF camera technology partner for Vuzix.”

“The poLight TLens® has enabled robust, fast, low-power consumption and constant field-of-view autofocus functionality in our HD cameras, a critical function in our revolutionary ultra-compact 3D smart glasses for the connected workforce,” said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix® Corporation, a leading supplier of smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) technology and products.

About Vuzix Corporation

Vuzix is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the enterprise, medical, defense and consumer markets. The Company’s products include head-mounted smart personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality, as well OEM waveguide optical components and display engines. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company with offices in Rochester, NY; Munich, Germany; and Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan.

About poLight ASA

poLight ASA offers patented, state-of-the-art tunable optics technology, leveraging its proprietary polymer and piezo MEMS technology. Founded in 2005, its first product TLens® replicates "the human eye" experience in autofocus cameras used in applications such as AR/MR devices, smartphones, wearables, webcams and other consumer devices, industrial barcode scanners and machine vision systems, and healthcare applications. poLight is based in Horten, Norway, with employees in Finland, France, UK, US, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Packages can be tracked using a variety of techniques such as, barcodes, RFID, and other technologies. But printing Bluetooth-enabled labels is a great way to make tracking packages and other items easier.

After perfecting this technology, Reelables is already distributing millions of these smart labels. The London-based firm created a smart label that is easy to affix to things and can be automatically tracked via a mobile application. Initially working with CPI on the original concept using lithium, their smart label now allows a zinc coated battery to be fabricated directly alongside the wireless tracking circuit on a thin plastic film.

“Today, millions of Reelables’ labels are being printed and deployed around the world tracking point-to-point visibility and giving businesses a single source of truth for where their cargo is that is consistent and reliable across different modes of transport and transportation providers,” Brian Krejcarek, co-founder and CEO of Reelables, said. “Reelables’ key customers are large Fortune 500 companies. Customers are mainly logistics providers and cargo forwarders using our product for better visibility and accountability for the supply chain.”

The pandemic put a great strain on the supply chain and demonstrated the need for better visibility to prevent fraud, loss and missing items. In 2022, a global report indicated that nearly one in 10 consumers suffered parcel theft or loss during a 12-month period, equating to more than one billion packages.

Until now, tracing goods as they move through the supply chain has largely been a black box. Barcodes require manual scanning, and shipment information may need to be entered by hand at various points in the supply chain, both leading to potential human error. The result is often a mismatch between the record of information and reality. A worker could simply miss a scan or steal a package. If that’s a box of pharmaceuticals, or high-value goods, it becomes a very costly problem. Legacy GPS tracking devices are not a great alternative either as they are expensive, necessitate out-of-process workflows, and require reverse logistics.

Reelables labels automatically collect actual location data from the cellular network data and trigger events the moment a shipment arrives or departs a warehouse or waypoint, or an exception is detected. They also generate inventory counts, providing a complete warehouse audit nearly every minute or less. With Reelables, logistics providers and end users, such as retailers and manufacturers, know in real time where every piece-level item is in the supply chain with 100% accuracy.

For manufacturers or retailers who are shipping time-critical, high-value goods, and don’t control the infrastructure along their logistics corridors, Reelables 5G smart label solution is ideal. These businesses are accountable for demonstrating to their customers that items are arriving when they’ve promised.

“This is a major breakthrough when it comes to supply chain visibility and automation,” said Brian Krejcarek, CEO and Co-Founder of Reelables. “Achieving mass production and pervasive deployment of these thin film wireless smart labels will change how businesses track items, reduce theft and loss, and demonstrate accountability to their customers. We are excited to bring this to market now so retailers and manufacturers can start printing these labels at scale and lighting up under-utilized LPWAN network capacity with a killer application: tracking the billions of shipments that are made every year around the world.”

About Reelables

Reelables makes the only printable 5G label available in the world. It is the first company to achieve mass production of a brand-new category of thin film, wireless smart labels with coated batteries that are flexible enough to be printed on in off-the-shelf barcode printers and fully disposable after use. Offering both paper-thin Bluetooth and 5G smart labels, Reelables automates supply chain and logistics visibility at scale for logistics providers, retailers and manufacturers, providing exact shipment location and inventory counts for each item without the need to manually scan barcodes or read RFIDs. Its ability to track shipments and inventory at the item level helps companies reduce theft and loss and increase accountability. Reelables is headquartered in London and backed by Y Combinator and 500S.

The English Premier League has announced a four-year partnership with Rezzil, the virtual reality (VR) software developer.  

Rezzil, a Manchester-based VR software firm, specializes in the production of sports gaming software for athlete training and game analysis within virtual reality. Rezzil applications are widely used in professional football and by many Premier League clubs as well as other leagues and sports.

The Premier League and Rezzil will work together on the development of a VR game, which is expected to be launched later this year. The game will place users on the pitch and in the boots of their favourite Premier League players, offering fans a unique opportunity to recreate iconic Premier League goals and moments from within the perspective of virtual reality, reports Rezzil.

Rezzil software integrates directly with Premier League match data allowing clubs to adapt the software to re-create match scenarios and replay them through a VR headset. The software also has groundbreaking applications for broadcasters and the wider gaming market who can use the match data to bring viewers and gamers closer to the action on the pitch.  

Will Brass, the Premier League’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are excited about the ongoing development of VR technology within football. Rezzil are highly respected in the field and have developed an excellent reputation with training products that are being used by many Premier League clubs alongside leading sports teams and leagues around the world.  

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“The applications for this technology are expanding quickly and this partnership will see the Premier League working with Rezzil on products that can help redefine player, fan and viewer experiences.”  

The partnership will also see the Premier League take an equity stake in Rezzil. This investment will place Rezzil and the Premier League at the forefront of exciting new developments in VR and XR (Extended Reality) technology. Andy Etches, Rezzil Co-Founder, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this new partnership with the Premier League. By combining our expertise in VR technology with the unparalleled excitement of Premier League football, we are looking forward to supporting the Premier League’s fan and player engagement ambitions. Working hand in hand together, we’re poised to bring VR technology to football in ways never seen before.”

A researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign created a robot inspired by the wheel-bodied battle droids from Star Wars. The robot can roll along on one big wheel, using extendable legs to steer. Dubbed Ringbot, the robot created by Assoc. Prof. Joohyung Kim and colleagues at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, could one day used for making deliveries.

What inspired Kim was not just Star Wars, but he took ideas from the various full-size monowheels that have been created over the years.

In a monowheel, the rider is seated on a motorized platform that is supported by a ring-shaped rail that encircles the interior of a single, large wheel. The wheel rolls around the platform, keeping it level with the ground and propelling the vehicle ahead.

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Actually, Kim also drew inspiration from "wheeled-foot" robots, such ANYmal from ETH Zurich, which has motorized wheels attached to the tips of all four of its legs.

In fact, Kim also took inspiration from "wheeled-foot" robots such as ETH Zurich's ANYmal, which has motorized wheels on the ends of each of its four legs. Those wheels allow the robot to travel like a car, rapidly and effectively, on smooth surfaces. But while the robot is walking on rough ground, the wheels lock together to act as feet.

The Ringbot has a 515 mm-diameter wheel with a solid elastomer tire wrapped around a nylon/carbon composite rim. There are two motorized driving modules located inside the rim one-in-front-of-the-other.

A stretchable curly cord connects those modules with one another, and the modules hold the surface of the rim through small cog wheels of their own. Each module also has an articulated robotic leg on top, which can extend out to the side pointing up or down, reports NewAtlas.

Described as being like two hamsters running in an exercise wheel, the Ringbot's wheel start to rotate around the modules when they start to spin up their cogs.

They automatically modify their distance from one another to alter the robot's lateral center of mass as necessary to keep it balanced when moving at various speeds. When it's time to turn left or right, one or the other module will extend its leg outwards to shift the bot's balance to that side.

In addition, the legs can be deployed down to the ground in order to hold the Ringbot up when it's stopped, and to turn it around on the spot before it restarts travel. Like a motorcyclist placing his foot down on a road, the legs also prevent it from toppling over in the event of an imbalance. If the robot ends up flat on one side against the ground, the legs can even raise it back up.

The Ringbot was operated by a human operator via remote control in indoor tests, reaching a maximum speed of 5 km/h (3 mph).

"In big cities, many bikes and motorcycles navigate through traffic to fulfill delivery needs, thanks to their ability to maneuver through narrow spaces," said Kim. "We plan to enhance Ringbot's capabilities specifically for last-mile deliveries in congested settings, aiming to automate and optimize delivery processes."

Imagine a sneaker that illuminates in interesting patterns in response to music. As futuristic as that may sound, adidas AG and Infineon Technologies AG have actually made shoes just like that.

The Infineon Lighting Shoe is a prototype that illustrates and brings to life the effect of state-of-the-art semiconductor technology in a fashion product. Thanks to the high-quality XENSIV MEMS microphones, the shoe can hear the finest acoustic signals. An integrated PSoC microcontroller processes the audio input. The EZ-PD Barrel Connector Replacement (BCR) solution allows the shoe to be charged using USB-C Power Delivery (PD) in combination with high-efficiency OptiMOS power MOSFETs. The adidas originals NMD S1 offers the perfect fit and enough space to place the highly sensitive technology components inside without compromising comfort.

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With this prototype, Infineon and adidas illustrate how technology is combined with style. "Contextual Awareness through Intuitive Sensing makes it easier to use IoT gadgets – when the devices can hear, see or feel through technology. The Infineon Lighting Shoe is a unique example showing how technology and digitalization can be brought closer to people. We are proud to have worked with adidas to implement this innovation collaboration," said Adam White, Division President Power & Sensor Systems at Infineon.

“When we create innovations, they must be mind-blowing, go beyond the normal, surprise and above all: be fun,” said Burkhard Dümler, director innovation at adidas. “With the Lighting Shoe prototype, we have succeeded in this in our collaboration with Infineon. We show that technology and style complement each other to create a digital product, reports Printed Electronics.

“The Infineon Lighting Shoe is based on high-tech effects – the combination of microphones, microcontrollers and LEDs – it is the only shoe that can ‘hear’ music and react with light effects according to the beats,” Manuel Hollfelder, senior manager solution & applications synergies, Infineon Technologies AG, said. “With this prototype, we illustrate how technology is combined with style.”

“With the Lighting Shoe prototype, we show that technology and style complement each other to create a digital product,” added Alexander Wisgickl, director of global partnership and ecosystem management, Infineon. “And we are proud to have worked with adidas to implement this innovation collaboration.”

If you want to buy the Infineon Lighting Shoe, you will have to wait bit.

“The shoe is a prototype, so it is not for sale,” Hollfelder said. “We are showcasing it at different events or tradeshow. The shoe has already travelled from Germany to Singapore to the States and back to Infineon headquarters in Munich.”