Google 'Lens'

Google's Contact Lenses are coming.

But right now, they're in the concept stage. At least, to a degree.

Google unveiled a contact lens that could measure glucose  levels for patients with diabetes. The announcement was exciting, because for the longest time have we been promised technology that actually looked simple and relatively easy (if you don't mind putting contacts on your eyes).

It's expected that, with Google's prowess in the market and vision to dominate their competition, that these will be marketed to the average consumer in five years' time. First, Google needs to release the Glass--which will most likely hit retail stores in the fall. However, only time will tell if the market will want this technology.

A big concern is privacy. Google recently patented miniature camera's that are expected to be placed on the contact lenses. Not only is that notion completely awesome, but it's also terrifying. Imagine a world where no one has privacy. You can be hanging out with a friend, and all of a sudden, your friend posts your entire hangout online for the world to see. Meanwhile, you had no clue he/she was even recording. It's going to be interesting following this rumor.

Only time will tell if this piece of technology will benefit us, or seek to cause more problems.

Heapsylon Sensoria Socks

We all know about those smart watches and fitness trackers that can collect various information such as heart rate, calories burned, and number of steps taken. But one company has taken it one step further. Being that sensor technology is the future of the our world, let me introduce the smart sock, made by Heapsylon. The sock is able to collect and transmit data through the the electronic sensors that are woven into the sock itself. But not only do they have this patent-pending technology made into socks; they also have t-shirts and sports bras that have the electronic sensors woven into them.

The sensoria socks, shirts, and  sports bras are able to collect and transmit info such as heart rate, activity type, activity level, pressure forces on the body, and more. The sensoria technology itself can be embedded in garments and pieces of clothing or used stand-alone for a wide range of applications, such as clothing, liners, bedding, and accessories. The technology is safe for the skin, machine washable and dryable, and is quite soft and comfortable.

The socks will transmit info by attaching an anklet to it and sending the information to your smartphone application via Bluetooth. The other types of clothing and garments that have this sensor technologywoven into them will work the same way the socks do. But I wanted to highlight the technology in the form of the socks because it has a sizeable potential impact on runners, athletes, and everyday people in our society.

According to Heapsylon, the company that has this patent-pending sensor technology, over 60% of all runners are injured at least once every year. Additionally, a staggering 70% of all people who run have a foot problem that requires attention. This technology can help improve their biometric performance, in terms of how they run and exercise. Sensoria will allow them to reduce the risk of injury and shorten overall recovery time if an injury occurs or is still present. Fitness fanatics will be able to improve their stride cadence and even their specific foot landing technique. Data is needed to improve performance, and sensoria technology does just that. It can do what smart watches and fitness trackers cannot do, and that is why this may be a game changer in the fitness and apparel industry.

The Lumo Lift

Earlier this year, at the 2014 International CES show, Lumo BodyTech showed off it's new gadget called the Lumo Lift. Essentially, what it does is it monitors your body position and movement. It clasps onto your clothing, and when your body starts to slouch or close off, the Lumo Lift senses it and will vibrate. The vibration it sends is meant as a warning/reminder that you should correct your body positioning by keeping your shoulders back and have generally open body language throughout the day.

The small gadget, which comes in numerous colors, can provide feedback and rewards through the use of the mobile application that goes with the product. Through the mobile application, you can track your consistency of good body language and positioning throughout the day, week, or even year.

The Lumo Lift is currently being crowdfunded on the company website, and it has been said that the product will officially launch and be available for purchase in late spring of this year. The Lumo Lift will retail for between $59 and $79.

The Lumo Lift has potentially huge impact on consumers and society. Many people, without even knowing it, give off poor body language. Having poor body language is a major communication mistake that affects every area of your life, and it has been said that body language provides up to 90% of all communication with others. This product is a small, but effective gadget that will improve every area of your life through a simple vibration. It can improve people's careers, relationships, health, and overall quality of life. The Market has not seen a product like this before, and it definitely has the potential to make some noise.

The Muse Headband

The Muse Headband, created by a Toronto-based technology company (InteraXon), is a futuristic product that uses brain-sensing technology to help you improve you improve in different areas of your life. The Headband itself, which is around $270 for pre-ordering, features seven EGG sensors that come into contact with your forehead. The consumer version is more flexible and has rubbery cushions. In addition, there is separate software that is compatible with IOS and Android.

The app, in which you see the results that the headband measures, starts with some calibration exercises. The most simple exercises are simple to make sure that the headband is fitted properly and all sensors are registering brain function. It also features some exercises that ask you to simply think about some topics in order for it to gauge what your noisy mind looks like. The last exercise features a beach scene that reacts to your state of mind. Then, a soothing voice asks you to close your eyes, concentrate on your breathing, and relax as much as you can.

The concept is simple: the more you are able to zone in with your mind, the calmer the beach scene will become, such as lighter winds and birds standing still. Your session gets timed, and it stops when you get into a certain level of relaxation. In addition, there is a game-like element in this process in which you can get points for how long you can stay in a relaxed and concentrated state. The more points you accumulate as you go along, the more features you can unlock in the app. In essence, you must achieve a certain level of success before you can move onto further stages.

This new technology product is like a fitness tracker for your brain, and its ultimate goal is to help you improve your cognitive function, memory, and stress levels. Now, in terms of its impact on consumers and society, it is definitely a type of technology that can have huge implications in the future. Most people do not specifically try to enhance their mental capacity. In fact, we only use a small percentage of our brains to begin with. We have untapped potential in terms of focus and controlling our state, but we have not taken advantage thus far. It remains to be seen how popular this product will get in the consumer market, but the technology itself is a look into the future. The ability to analyze our brains and calibrate it in such a way in order to be an improved version of ourselves is a must-have so that we can become a better society; a society in which productivity is greatly increased and stress is at a minimum.

Carrot fit app

For those of you who need a little motivation to get into better shape than you currently are, then the carrot fit app is for you. However, we must warn you, it can be a very judgmental app. So, if you are the sensitive type, this may not be a good choice for you. On the other hand, many people will find it quite humorous.

The fitness app, which is available on iTunes for $1.99, has you type in your weight. If your weight is higher than your original weight when you started, it will insult you n a very blunt way. Conversely, if your weight improves, it will compliment you. For example, if you lose weight, the app will deliver a line such as, "You are officially my favorite meat bag". The apps developer, Brian Mueller, says that the apps personality is based on the characters of HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey and Glados in the Portal Video Game. He also mentioned that the apps character has a combination of his mom, sister, and wife. He exclaimed, "we make fun of each other a lot". However, not everyone is amused with the apps "wise-cracking" ways.

Some people view this application as doing nothing except weight shaming and discriminating against those who are overweight. Well, in terms of its impact on consumers and society, I only view this as a humorous app that can possibly have effective results in getting people to work out and exercise more often. As a consumer, if you do not agree with the how the app works, you can simply not purchase it. This is a not a game-changing piece of technology. Rather, it is simply another arsenal that you can have in your hunt for a healthier lifestyle. Some may view the app as misguided, but it has already been downloaded tens of thousands of times since becoming available on iTunes. In terms of its impact on our society, I feel that this is a good app. We are the second fattest country in the entire world (thanks Mexico), and maybe this app is a step in the right direction. We need a society where, although looks aren't everything, being unhealthy is not embraced and looked at as a reasonable way to live.

Amazon Dash

Well, by each passing day, it looks more and more like Amazon is poised to dominate the new emerging food delivery and grocery delivery service market. Already with Amazon Fresh up and running, they have now come out with the Amazon Dash, that makes it simple and easy to add food to your electronic shopping cart.

The amazon dash is essentially a new front-end device for Amazon's same-day grocery service. The Dash, which looks like a little wand, has a barcode scanner built in it, so that you can just wave the wand over the food that you are running low in your household. The Dash also has a voice button, in which you can just say the food that you want to order. When you scan a food product or use the voice button on your dash, it automatically puts the item in your Queue on your Amazon Fresh account. So, basically, it does not automatically order the food for you, but rather just puts it in your cart for ease of purchase when you log into Amazon Fresh.

Amazon Fresh, which right now is only available in three major US cities, looks poised to take over and dominate the grocery business. The Amazon Dash can only enhance the experience of current and future users of Amazon Fresh. And although most of us still travel to Stop & Shop or A & P for our food needs, I suspect we will all be using Amazon Fresh and Amazon Dash at some point in the near future. This is mainly because food shopping is a pain. Most people hate having to go to the food store every week. You have to deal with crowds, long lines, and even some difficulty in locating exactly what you want inside the grocery store. Moving this process online, and having the food delivered right to your house takes steps out of the process. It will make consumers lives just a little bit easier, and for that convenience, I suspect people will be willing to pay the $300 yearly to be a member of Amazon Fresh.

Lyft App

Lyft, the new ride-sharing app that is only a mere twenty months old, has already expanded into thirty cities nationwide, and is currently going international as well. The app, which is rivaling the other companies such as Uber, has just received more than $250 million in funding from various investors. In total, the app has received over $330 million in funding over its lifetime.

The new app is trying to take advantage of the revolutionary new concept that helps people avoid traditional public transportation and get from point A to point B in a more comfortable and convenient way. Essentially, passengers looking for a ride link up with lyft drivers through the smartphone app. The lyft drivers are essentially taxi drivers, but use their own vehicles to drive the passengers around. The main difference between Lyft drivers and taxi drivers is that Lyft drivers have no set price for their services. Additionally, Lyft drivers usually have other full or part-time jobs. Whereas Taxi drivers make their living off of driving people around, Lyft drivers become involved when they just want to make some extra money for their savings or just disposable income.

Lyft drivers, who distinguish their vehicles as Lyft cars by the signature pink mustache on the front of their cars, have angered and upset Taxi drivers who depend on passengers to make money. The taxicab industry is highly regulated, and they want the same to be done for ridesharing apps, such as Lyft and Uber, as well. For example, In Seattle, legislators are close to passing a bill that would cap the number of Lyft vehicles that can be on the roads at one time. Lyft, along with the other ridesharing companies, will have a long fight with regulators and the taxicab industry. But either way, Lyft is one company that can change the way we get around for good.

Aside from having your own car, this is perhaps the best option to get around town or the city. Cabs and other forms of public transportation such as the bus and train are uncomfortable, and also inconvenient. Lyft is fast and efficient. And although these ridesharing companies can put a strain on taxi drivers, the benefits are plenty. It allows people to make some extra money in their free time, and also allows people to get around comfortably without having to drive themselves. We have yet to see if these companies become highly regulated like the taxicab Industry, but they seem to have bright futures ahead at the moment.

Facebook Acquires Oculus Rift

 

Ten years ago, the entire concept of virtual reality was laughed at. Most people knew it as the awkward and pointless act of strapping on clunky goggles for the sake of playing an arcade game. It was pretty embarrassing…and not to mention, tiresome.

But now things have changed.

Facebook—the social media giant—has acquired the Oculus Rift. Here’s why it’s important:

1) Facebook’s influence will help Virtual Reality

If Facebook (a multi-billion dollar industry) decides to get behind a company, then they plan on doing big things. We once knew the social media company as a simple page where we’d post our pictures and comment on our friend’s walls. But now, Facebook has become an information hub. As a company, they press forward in the hopes of dominating everyone and everything in its sight.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But, it might not be so good either.

It’s no secret that Facebook sells your information to the highest bidder. And if that’s something you were never aware of, then I’ll say it again:

Facebook sells your information to the highest bidder!

So then what does this mean for Virtual Reality—especially the Oculus Rift?

In essence, nothing changes. At least for now that’s what it seems like. Virtual Reality is an immersive experience. It doesn’t necessarily translate into information gathering. In a way, I guess it can. But honestly, it’s not as intrusive as scanning your wall, the things you ‘like’, and your conversations for the sake of selling information. The bottom line is—Facebook will help speed up the virtual reality process.

2) Facebook continues to dominate

Companies hope to climb the leaderboards—the ranks that define who is doing well in the market, and who isn’t. Facebook is no exception. In fact, they want to conquer everything in their path. And, they’ll do just about anything to achieve that. This means that since Facebook is in the VR game, you can expect a bigger push of the Oculus brand. Microsoft, Sony and other competitors are rumored to be releasing their own versions of the Oculus Rift, so the market will be heating up.

3) Oculus and Kickstarter

The Oculus Rift began its life as a Kickstarter project. Of course, now that the startup company has ‘sold out’ to Facebook, they are no longer funded by regular people alone. The precedent set by the Oculus Rift has opened up a number of opportunities for small projects hoping to make it big.

But not everyone backing the project on Kickstarter was happy about the acquisition. In fact, many voiced their harsh opinions across various sites on the Internet. People begged for their money back, shouted profanities, and vowed to never back another Kickstarter again.

It’s not unreasonable. But it’s called ‘Kickstarter’ for a reason. The site’s primary purpose is to allow companies and ideas to prosper by inviting people to invest. By investing, you’re offered a reward, and are thanked for your participation.

In the future, you can expect more projects funded by Kickstarter to flourish in the market. And many will be bought out by much bigger companies.

The Oculus Rift Developer Kit 2 is available for purchase, and a mainstream model is expected to be released this fall.

 

 

Apple iphone 6

Although it seemed like the 5s and 5c just came out, the iphone 6 is already being hyped up. Specific details are not final yet, but there is a general consensus on what Apple plans to roll out to consumers later this year. The biggest speculation about the iphone 6 is centered around the rumored size of the screen. The iphone is the smallest smartphone out of the biggest players in the market. The android, HTC, Samsung Galaxy, and windows phones have much larger screens than even the iphone 5s. It now seems like Apple is going to follow the trend of larger screens. The general consensus among Tech insiders is that the iphone 6 will boast either a 4.7 inch or even 5.5 inch screen. This will be a major increase from the 4 inch display that the iphone 5s has. Although consumers must wait until September of this year to get their hands on an iphone 6, lets look at the rumored specs of the device.

According to MacRumors, analysts have suggested a that apple will implement a 4.8 inch retina+ IGZO screen that is made by Sharp. If this screen is used on the iphone 6, it will provide a thinner, brighter, and clearer display that will produce resolution that is better than HD. Additional, the latest reports coming out have suggested that Apple will launch the iphone 6 in two available sizes. Chinese Analyst, Sun Changxu, has said that he is banking on the release of a 4.7 inch screen option that will quickly be followed by a much larger 5.7 inch display. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has previously said that he will refuse to sacrifice attributes like resolution, power consumption, and app quality for a larger display. However, there is growing pressure from competitors and consumers to increase the size of future iphone models. This is a very interesting trend in the market, because rational thinking would suggest that consumers in todays age would like a smaller, more compact phone.

Apple is also rumored to be considering a different type of glass for the new iphone, possibly switching from corning gorilla glass to sapphire crystal, which is more expensive but also very durable. The design of the new iphone is probably going to be very similar to the 5c, although some have hinted at a possible curved display. There are also indications that Apple could adopt an edge-to-edge style, along with the rounded back-edge design that is present on the 5c model. Also, the Iphone 6 will most likely have an upgrade in processing power, with the introduction of a 20 nanometer A8 chip that will create even better performance than the A7 chip that is present in the 5s. Additionally, all indications point to no change in the camera, and the iphone 6 will definitely ship with IOS 8 software upgrades.

The effects of this phone on consumers may be huge. The iphone 6 will most likely be the most advanced smartphone ever produced, and it will possibly have features and capabilities that might totally blow away the competition. Advances in smartphone technology is definitely a good thing in general, but how much more addicted can we get to our phones? This new smartphone by Apple just might make that problem worse, if it is even possible.

Roku Streaming Stick

The future of entertainment is going towards streaming services, and this means I deviation away from regular cable or satellite television. Many people are now cancelling their cable, and solely using their laptops or tablets to view their favorite shows or movies when they want to relax. However, what if you want to watch your streaming videos from your TV? There are a couple options you can choose from. Either, you can purchase a smart TV in which you can surf the internet and find streamed videos, or you can buy a streaming stick like Chromecast. Chromecast was widely popular in 2013, and had record sales, but there is now a better option out there for those who want to switch over to streaming on their televisions. The Roku streaming stick will give you all the entertainment you need, and for a reasonable price.

The Roku streaming stick, which retails for $50, is a device that you can plug into the HDMI port in your current TV. Once its plugged into your TV, you can stream all the shows, movies, and music you want. The Roku stick gets its streams from subscription services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and Spotify, just to name a few. The Roku streaming stick is comparable to the Chromecast stick, with a few minor differences. The Roku stick is a little more expensive than the popular Chromecast one, but that is because its content selection is more expansive, being that it has over 1,000 channels.

Streaming devices that allow you to turn your TV into an interactive device is the future of home entertainment. The effects are going be huge in the next 5 to 10 years. Most of the Channels we have on our cable or satellite subscriptions are total crap. I myself probably watch only 5 different channels during a normal week. But the ability of streaming services on your TV is that you can take out all of the unnecessary shows and movies, and just watch your favorite stuff. Also, a TV in which consumers can interact and control like a regular computer are the future. All entertainment is going towards digital, meaning no more DVD's. However, if a consumer does not have the ability to purchase a brand-new smart TV that has internet and streaming capabilities built-in, the Roku streaming stick is a perfect fallback option. Even though its only the size of a pack of gum, it offers a large amount of entertainment and satisfaction that cannot be matched by regular cable.

The Secret App

Silicon Valley, as we all know, is the hub of tech innovation. It has produced a lot of the top technology products that we use today, and especially regards to applications. There is now a new app, that is a mere five weeks old, that is something like we have never seen before in the market. Unlike Facebook and twitter, in which people want you to give up any and all information about yourself, the New Secret app does so without anyone knowing who it was from.

We all have secrets, and we all have secrets that we want to share to people really bad sometimes. But, for whatever reason it may be, you do not want people to know that you said it or that you did it or was thinking it. The new application, called Secret, is pushing the limits on what is acceptable is and what is not. Yet, it has been gaining traction in the industry, and it may blow up in the near future. Although not well-known yet, Secret connects people through their address books on their smartphones, and any messages that are made on the app are anonymous, meaning that you have no idea who sent it. The only facts you know are that it was sent from one of your friends, or even from a friend of a friend. Additionally, if there is a really interesting or juicy post made on the app, you will be able to see it even if it not from friends or friends of friends. That type of message will only show what city or state that it originated in, providing a mystery of who-said-it that you will never figure out.

It is way too early to tell how popular this app will become with consumers, as well as the impact that is has on the social media realm in general. We are used to having people put a name behind messages or comments, and we have not seen something like Secret on a large scale. Some say that it has a great impact on people, believing that they can be themselves and speak freely and honestly about things or topics. In a society where people are afraid of being politically incorrect, this app may do wonders in establishing a platform where "the air can be cleared". However, the app also has many criticizers. These people say that it will only increase the amount of negative things being said about people, and that a lot of it may be dishonest. They say it may just become another outlet for people to attack one another. We will not see its true impact for quite a while, but I have a feeling that it will make a mark on society, whether it be good or bad.

Habu mood music app

I'm sure that everybody has the experienced the problem of not being able to find that exactly right song to fit your current mood or the mood that you want to be in. We use music to get ourselves into a certain state, whether it be music to help us get through a workout, music to play on a late night drive, or just music to relax and chill out after a long day at work. Some people create their own playlists on their Ipods or mp3 players, but it is a hassle trying to pick out all of the songs that go together. It can also be a time-consuming process that many of us do not want to go through. But now, Gravity Mobile has restructured their mood music app, and it is now available on IOS.

The great thing about this app is that it works with the music that you have already uploaded onto your device. It does not just suggest songs for you to buy. It then takes the songs already on your device, analyzes them, and then creates mood-based playlists that make it easy for you to play a solid list of songs that all fit that one mood you are trying capture or engage in yourself. It analyzes your songs by tapping into Gracenote's store of music information in order to determine exactly which mood the song belongs in. The app is very simple, as it shows a cluster of circles with a color that represents a certain mood well. Whether you are looking for easygoing, empowering, intense, or brooding, it will give you any mood you want, provided you have the songs on your device necessary to fill that moods playlist. In addition, the app has a discovery tab that can help you skim through new music you may enjoy, and it will bring you into the iTunes store to see that specific song.

The app has big plans for the future, as it wants to get into more types of data, as well as having the app be capable of predictive modeling. Now, in terms of its impact on consumers here in America, I believe that it can achieve a moderate level of popularity. There are many people that already have their playlists on their devices. If they do not, some of them just know what songs they want to play in order to get into a certain mood or state. However, I believe that it saves consumers time and frustration, and I certainly has its place in the overcrowded app market. Its not necessarily a ground-breaking app that will change lives, but it provide simplicity and ease of use that is much needed for the task of creating proper playlists.

The Zubie Key

There are many bad drivers out there, and they need to learn how not be as a bad as they currently are. Don't you agree? Well, we now have a gadget that will not only make us better drivers, but also keep track of your cars condition. The Zubie key and accompanying smartphone app for it are able to track the diagnostics of your car, as well as trip data. Additionally, it can help you figure out how much the repairs on the car would cost if there are problems that it detects. The Zubie key can tell you your vehicles current location, trip history, and events such as hard breaking, rapid acceleration, or for when your kid makes his or her first drive). Not only does the Zubie track your trips, but it also sends you alerts to your smartphone when it needs any type of repair.

To make people better drivers, the Zubie Key gives you a score, which you can improve upon. The score is derived from metrics such as acceleration, speeding, hard braking, and others. Additionally, the great thing about the Zubie Key is that it gets smarter as you use it, because it can learn your habits and give you advice on becoming an overall better and safer driver.

The Zubie Key, which retails for $100, offers other services such as Onstar, albeit at an additional cost added on to the retail price. The Zubie separates itself from the competition through its cellular connectivity capability, meaning that it does not need to be manually plugged in to a computer to get the data and analysis that you want. You can seamlessly get the data when the key sends the data to the Zubie app on your smartphone.

In terms of the impact that this will have on the consumers and society, I believe that this is a great step forward in terms of being able to monitor your car better. There are so many instances where people get a light that comes up on the dashboard, and they have no idea what it means. And when we do not know what it means, we have to look in the car manual. So, in effect, the Zubie Key solves numerous problems for drivers. It lessens the frustrations that drivers all across the country encounter on a daily basis. It takes out steps and makes things simpler, which is what we all want. So watch out for the Zubie key, because it just might be a home run in the consumer market.

The Skulpt Aim

When most people try to track their fitness and health improvements, they usually judge all of their progress by the scale. They want to see that number go down, especially if they have been working out hard. To see that their weight hasn't changed, or even that it might have gone up after the first few weeks of training, many people are fooled into thinking that they have made no improvements. If the number on the scale has not changed, they are not satisfied, and some even quit. However, the scale is not a proper measurement of fitness and health improvement. Many times, there will be no initial weight change because they are building muscle, which actually weighs more than body fat. So, in effect, people need a product that will measure their true progress. Throw away the scales, and let me introduce Aim.

Skulpt, which recently had a successful crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo, has developed the first wireless device that determines the health of your muscles. The product, called Aim, works by simply pressing it against some of the major muscles of your body. You can use your biceps, triceps, abs, and thighs among others. It collects the data necessary to determine your body fat percentage by measuring how a current flows through muscles, rather than fat. The data that is received from the device will then be synced to a dashboard that is online. From there, you can accurately track how your body is changing when you are training. The data can be shared with others, and you are also able to set goals in the device before you start a new regimen or program.

At $149, it is a good investment for anyone that is serious about tracking their fitness and health goals. It takes time to see visual results, but the Aim will assure you that you are improving, and that you should keep up with your workout program. This product will have a positive impact on our society and the consumers involved. While there are so many products that track various fitness stats for you, the Aim is truly unique. Maybe this product will be the one to help more Americans get in shape. In the best case scenario, this product will replace the scales in households all across the country. Maybe that's just a pipe dream, but why not at least hope for that outcome. America needs to get healthier, and this product may help bring about a long lasting solution.

Avegant Glyph

The Avegant Glyph is coming.

But more importantly...it's revolutionary.

The device works much like the Oculus Rift, serving as a head-mounted display that puts you into the media--whether it be a movie, videogame or pictures. However, where the Glyph begins to separate itself from the rest of the pack is in the type of display it offers. Avegant decided to utilize a VRD display, which stands for 'Virtual Retina Display', and in essence--we're really excited. A VRD display is unique, because instead of providing a screen with an average pixelated display, the Glyph just beams the image directly into your eye.

Yep, you heard it right.

Say for instance, you're sitting on a train, or maybe even an airplane. If your friend motions for you to see something on his/her phone, you can just look over and see whatever it is. The Glyph offers a level of freedom unseen in the current market. With the Oculus Rift, you'd need to take the mask off and maneuver. But since the Glyph only beams the image into your eye, it works out perfectly.

As it currently stands, the Glyph only lasts for about 3 hours at a time, which is a bit of a disappointment. But, in this case, it's the thought that counts. Avegant is opening up another realm of possibilities in the wearables market. And in the coming year, things are going to explode.

2015 is predicted to be a big year for wearables, and by December, you're going to be seeing a lot of tech related to this. In the future, instead of looking at a screen, images will be natural--a part of you. Glasses and retina displays are only the first step. Once these devices begin to catch on...there will be no going back.

And that's just exciting.

Withings Aura

From time to time, we all have trouble sleeping. We toss and turn, wondering why cannot fall asleep. And the more you think about trying to sleep, the awake you become, thus losing even more sleep. Many people in our society have sleep problems. It is a major problem, especially when people only get a few hours of sleep per night as it is. Without a good sleep, it is hard to perform well during the day and have the energy needed to do our daily tasks. Suffer no more, because the Withings Aura is here.

The Withings Aura uses a combination of light and sound to help you fall asleep and wake up. To help you fall asleep, the Withings Aura helps trigger melatonin release, which calms you down and relaxes you. It will use vey soothing sounds, along with a glowing red or orange LED lighting, in order to help you fall asleep. The lighting system they have put into this product is scientifically proven to aid in sleep. Then, when its time to wake up in the morning, the lighting will change to a soothing blue color that will gently wake you up (along with the alarm clock). In addition to the sounds and lighting, the Withings Aura tracks data when you are in the middle of your sleep.

The Withings Aura has two parts to it. It has the main part that produces the lights and sounds, and then it has the sleek pad that fits under your mattress. Once you lay down on the mattress, the sensors in the pad will start recording numerous amounts of data that include your body movements, your heart rate, and your breathing patterns. It collects, analyzes, and uses this data to produce specific tweaks that will aid your overall quality of sleep. So now you no longer have to worry about tossing and turning through the night. No longer will you wake up and feel like you got no sleep. Just get the aura, and all of your sleeping problems will drift away.

 

Samsung's 'Unpacked' event

Samsung's Unpacked 5 event is drawing near... and for those who don't know... it's going to be BIG. In late February, Samsung visited the MWC event in Spain to announce their next flagship phone, the Galaxy S5. However, they also announced an entire line of new tech to go along with it.

The Galaxy S5 was the most anticipated product at the event, and in Samsung's words, their highly popular phone line was going to be heading "back to the basics." After reviewing some of the S5's specs, it certainly looks that way. A slightly larger screen (though not by much), a better front-facing camera (for those selfie pics you'll put up on Instagram), and a few software changes that will surely make navigating the phone much easier than its predecessors.

The S5 is going to be a solid phone. However, something else stole the show. Something that was very unexpected, but a pleasant surprise.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and the Samsung Gear Fit.

The Gear 2 is simply a better, more attractive version of the standard wristwatch than its original. It now operates on the Tizen software instead of Android, opening up a number of possibilities as far as functionality is concerned. But perhaps what was even more exciting than the Gear... was the Gear Fit.

Curved OLED screen. Heart-rate monitor. Fitness tracker. Alarm. And it can tell time.

The Gear Fit is, for all intents and purposes, Samsung's Next Big Thing. It's going to be interesting to see how the fitness tracker will be accepted in the mainstream market. Chances are it will be received with praise and many will opt for the Fit over the regular Gear 2 watch.

Though, only time will tell.

The Samsung S5, Gear 2, and Gear Fit will launch in April of 2014.

Motion Phone Charger

You've all experienced what I'm about to talk about. You need to charge your phone, but there is no outlet that near you or it is just inconvenient. Maybe you are on the go, so you cannot stop to plug in your phone. Also, many times during the day, you are praying that your phone will not die, and so you try to conserve its energy by not using as much. Its 2014, and people want a solution to this problem, especially when people are so busy and have hectic lives. Well, a new device that has been built by Georgia Tech Researchers has potentially solved this problem.

The device is comprised of four layered discs, and is built to charge your smartphone while the body is in motion. The discs are laid on top of one another, and they are composed of different materials. One disc is made up of copper and rotates. The second disc is made of polymer and does not move. The third disc is gold and is divided into multiple sectors. The fourth layer is made up of acrylic.

The lead researcher, Zhong Lin Wang, explains that the device will generate power whenever the copper disc is able to rotate. He goes on to explain that this new motion charging device is using the same principle as static electricity. For example, when you walk on a rug with socks, and you proceed to touch a doorknob, you may feel a shock. This is from the build up of electrons in the socks and yourself, and they jump from your finger. The shock is not enough to kill you, but the voltage is powerful. Wang explains, "The phenomenon has been around for 1000 years. But its rarely been utilized for power." Wang says that the device is much more efficient than the traditional generator, and can be thin and flat, which is optimal for putting in your pants pocket or even just swinging in your hand. Now, the implications here for the consumer and our society is obvious.

People are addicted to their smartphones these days. If you are walking down the street and pass somebody, chances are that they are staring at their phone. People's lives are their phones, and people want them to be running constantly. This device can possible take out the need for the chord chargers that we currently rely on in order to charge our smartphones. Yes, there are portable chargers that can attach to the back of your phones, but even those have to be charged prior to use. This device will allow people to have their phones charged and ready when they need it most, especially when they are out or are in foreign places. Whether this product takes off has yet to be seen, being that it hasn't hit the consumer market yet. But keep your eye on it, because this might be a game-changer.

EyeLock Myris

We all know what a pain it is to have to constantly keep typing in passwords, whether it be to get on our phones, access our emails and social media accounts, or checking our bank accounts online. Theres have been some attempts to stray away from this hassle, but none have been able to be successful. The new iphones have the fingerprint-sensor option, but even that is inconsistent and not very secure at all. But now, it seems as though 2014 has brought new technology that is a potential game-changer. Let me introduce, Eyelock's Myris.

The Myris, developed by Eyelock, is a futuristic type of software that can scan and recognize your iris (eye) with uncanny accuracy. Statistics have shown that, unlike the average fingerprint sensor that is fooled one in every 10,000 tries, the iris scanner is fooled only once every 2.25 trillion attempts. The Iris scanner by Eyelock is consumer friendly and is powered by USB. For each individual myris dongle (scanner), five people can create accounts. The authentication and creation of a unique account takes only about 20-30 seconds, and you would then create a profile through Eyelocks software. Once you have created the profile, you would input all of your passwords from your various accounts (social media, banking, etc..) into your Eyelock account. Once you have done that, you only need the Mryis to access everything instantly.

If you're one of those people who is skeptical of new technology, don't worry. The Mryis cannot be fooled, so anyone who thinks they are clever and tries to use a picture or digital image of your eyes will not get into your accounts. It can recognize live eyes from other forms such as pictures. All you have to do with the Myris is hold it up at eye level and slowly bring it close to your eye. When you are cleared access to your accounts, a green light will show on the myris. This entire process take a matter of seconds. The Myris will be available sometime during the first half of this year, and will retail for $200-$300 dollars. Now, what impact will this have on consumers and society alike? Will this product even be a hit? Or will it quickly fade away like all of the other past technologies that have tried to replace passcodes?

All things considered, I strongly believe this technology will spread like wildfire. The Myris not only provides unmatched security, but it also provides the kind of convenience that we all crave on a daily basis. I cannot even count how many times I have forgotten a password. When you do forget a password, you either sit there for forever trying to guess it right, or you have to reset the password. I am sure that I am not the only one fatigued by this routine, and most people's passwords are not even strong. A decent hacker can crack most people passwords in a relatively short amount of time, so I believe a technology such as the Myris kills two birds with one stone. It takes away steps in the process, letting you access accounts very quickly. On the same side, it also provides much added protection. I truly believe that world's future is largely going to be shaped by sensor technologies such as this, and it is for our own good in a dangerous and unsafe society.

The Goji Smart Lock

Throw away all of those keys that you have on your keychain. Coming in June, the process of going in and out of your house will be keyless. The Goji Smart Lock, which was initially launched through a crowd funding campaign, has set itself up to become to first major player in this new emerging market. For those of you who believe that the Goji only has one function, think again.

While the main function of the Goji Smart Lock is to let users lock and unlock their doors with their smartphones or electronic fobs, it also has the ability for you to give time-controlled access to other people who may need to enter the house. In addition, the Goji lets you see who is at the door even if you are not there. This function is probably one of the best in the eyes of the average consumer, being that we are currently in a heightened state of paranoia in general. We crave security, and the Goji provides the added comfort that makes society's consumers a little more relaxed when going away on a business trip or on vacation.

Guess what else is beneficial about the Goji; it lets you know when the door is locked if you leave and second-guess about doing so. We all have that moment, and this function is another great selling point that will play to the worries and doubts of the average consumer here in America. Now, Lets get back to the other functions in some more detail.

When you want to give restricted access to people to enter your home, Goji lets you set a specific time and date for provided access. Once the time and date are set, and you allow the person to have access during that period through a simple text message. Now, if a someone comes to the door, and was not provided prior clearance, you will be alerted by smartphone if your doorknob twists. The Goji will also provide you with a snapshot of the individual trying to gain entry, provided by the 1-megapixel camera that is on the Smart Lock.

 

The Goji, which retails for $278, works with IOS and android platforms, and goes right over your current doors existing keyhole. Now, the question is, how will this new device actually be received by the public? And what are its impacts on societies around the globe? Objectively speaking, I believe there will be a slow turnover to this type of home technology. One of the main reasons I believe a lot of people will be slow to convert is because technology always has a flaw, and there will always be the chance that the technology will malfunction. There is also the possibility of hackers gaining access to your account and therefore gaining unlimited entry into your home. Technology is a blessing, but it can also be a curse in disguise. However, it is hard to not be so optimistic about a product like this because it has some fantastic functions.

 

Overall, it would definitely provide us with more security and a greater sense of calmness when we are away from. It is more convenient for letting people get in if they have to, or just avoiding the annoying task of having to dig through all of those keys on your keychain. This will eventually be the norm in the future, but we will just have to find out how quickly the American consumer adapts to it.

2017...The Year of The Smart Watch

 

It’s no secret that the smart watch is taking over.

However…we might have to wait until 2017.

 

The wearable wristband market has been heating up the past few months, but most forecasts expect more than 17 million wearable devices will ship throughout 2014. This slightly disappointing number includes both smart watches like Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, and fitness wristband trackers like the Fitbit.

The research firm Canalys has estimated that smart watch shipments alone will reach 8 million in 2014, and then will grow to more than 23 million units by 2015. In 2017…45 million.

So in other words, the market is expected to grow.

But is the era of the smart watch just a fad? Or can we really expect the wearable tech trend to last?

2013 was the year of the Fitbit, when the wristband fitness tracker became the market leader, capturing 58% of the market share. The current trend in fitness tracking and wearable tech points to an even greater increase in Fitbit’s market share. Though, only time will tell if their success is short-lived or not.

 

One thing is for certain: with an awareness in personal health and multiple campaigns aiming at a cleaner Earth, Fitbit, it seems, has tapped into a lively and active market.

As far as the Samsung Galaxy Gear is concerned, Canalys is estimating that Samsung has made up the majority of smart watch shipments, with a 54% market share in the second half of 2013. Competitors rank significantly lower—Sony (19%), Pebble (16%) and others (11%). As much as the market would love to see Apple join the ‘smart watch arms race,’ we have yet to see anything from them. Most suspect that Apple will make an announcement in the coming months, but for now, not enough information is available to make a proper prediction.

Samsung, though, has been making a significant ‘push’ to market their Galaxy Gear. And recently, they’ve discovered just how much their efforts are paying off. On the flip-side, some critics may view Samsung’s latest installment to the wearable tech race as petty and desperate. Their smart watch was released this past year, and in an effort to secure market share in opposition to Apple, they sacrificed quality. Though, with numerous software updates and improved functionality, Samsung has proven to be serious about the smart watch craze.

But one must ask a very important question…

Where will this lead us as a society?

Wearable tech in the past had always been a fantasy—like something out of an episode of the Jetsons. The concept of being connected to technology in past years had been ludicrous. The ‘real world’ had nothing to do with technology and all of its ‘pointless’ and ‘trivial’ nonsense. But fast forward to the current moment and we’re looking for more.

More smart watches. More cell phones. More tablets.

If it connects to the internet in a reasonable amount of time and displays an attractive interface, then it’s labeled as ‘good’. Because really, when we use these devices, we’re looking to stay connected. We want to harness a level of knowledge that was previously unavailable to the world. Ten years ago, if I wanted to know who held the world record for any given activity, I had to go to a library, pick out a book, and then search through countless pages until I found whatever I was looking for.

How about telephones? Remember when they used to be attached to a cord? When caller id became a ‘thing’ shortly after, then it was like everything changed. Soon, cell phones were introduced—and then after years of innovation and progress, we’ve reached the current moment. Now, the market demands unification. We want to know when we’re being contacted, by whom, by what…it’s like we’ve become information brokers. The smart watch combines everything we appreciate into a single, attractive product, that will sync with your phone. It’s current, and according to analysts…they’re here to last.

 

Nest Home Automation

Home automation is now going to a whole new level. Nest, Which started as a Kickstarter project, sells smart thermostats, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms. Now, you may be wondering, what is so different about these thermostats and detectors from the ones we have been using for as long as we can remember in our homes? First off, the Nest thermostat is programmable, and it has the ability to quickly learn what temperatures you like. When you are away, it will automatically lower the temperature in your house, and it can be controlled from virtually anywhere. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection. From their accounts, users can look at and change the thermostats schedule , as well as see how much energy you are using. Impressed? We are just getting started.

The smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are just as impressive, if not more. The detectors will always keep you informed about potential risks, and it will do it without being annoying. The detectors have a human voice and politely let you know if anything out of the norm is happening. If you wave in front of the detector, it gets the hint and stops talking. Much better than the piercing beep noise from our old detectors, huh? Additionally, the detectors have the knowledge to tell exactly which room the smoke is coming from. What if you aren't home? Don't worry, Nest has got you covered. If the detectors go off and you are away, it will automatically send a message to your smartphone.

Nest has only had their home automation products on the market since 2011, but they have achieved massive success, especially since they have just been bought out by Google. The masterminds behind Nest, Tony Fadell and Matt Rodgers, who previously were a couple of the earliest engineers at Apple, recognized the potential of the market they were targeting. The new Google employees did not hesitate to tap the home automation market, which is said to be as large as $48 billion by 2018.

 What does this mean for our future as a society? And what was Google's reasoning behind this purchase? First, these new smart products created by nest confirm that we are headed into an age where just about everything will be connected to the internet. This connecting of devices to the internet is called "the internet of things", and it has major implications for the rest of our lives. The positive side of this development is that, in terms of Nest's thermostat and detectors, our lives will be made easier and less stressful. With products like these, we will be safer. The downside is the possible and eventual increase in consumer data that is being captured and stored by tech behemoths such as Google. Google has said that data is the most valuable commodity on earth, and through products like these, they will collect even more from us than ever before. However, only time will if they will be able to use the data gained from Nest's products, since Nest has a strict privacy policy. Either way, Google is intent on being the future of anything connected online, whether it be smartphones, cars, and now homes.