There’s a new entry in the rapidly expanding wearable tech category of "Who Would Buy This?": a patch that sends your phone a text when you’re “too drunk.” What’s your phone going to do, call a cab? If you’re that drunk, you probably can’t even focus on a text message. And chances are pretty good that you know you’re drunk, although “too drunk” is a relative condition unless … [Read more...]
About Pugi Kohl
Wearables Moving from Tracking Fitness to Fighting Chronic Disease
At a time of rumors that the fitness wearables market might be slackening, there is a continuing increase in the use of the technology in helping people with far more serious problems than getting their 10,000 steps. Intel and Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva, for example, have recently agreed to collaborate to develop a wearable to track disease progression in people with … [Read more...]
Managing Runway Stress with Style
British fashion designer Hussein Chalayan recently partnered with Intel to give the clothes in his new show that little added something—electronics that monitor stress levels. This can only have been for both companies to show off a little, especially for Intel to make a fashion case for its Curie module, an itty-bitty computer. Chalayan has previously commented that “Only … [Read more...]
Is That a Computer on Your Jeans or Are You Just Glad to See Me?
Spoiler alert: This product is under development, but does not yet exist in the way that most people understand "existence." The Dutch design group Nieuwe Heren (New Gents), basically Erik de Nijs and Tim Smit, have announced a new, well, concept: controlling your laptop by means of a keyboard, mouse, and speakers imbedded in an apparently ill-fitting pair of jeans. OK, … [Read more...]
Female Runners Rejoice: OMbra Smart Bra Now Available
We were impressed with Montreal-based Omsignal’s smart running bra when it first surfaced at CES 2016. It’s well designed, both as clothing and technology, and you can’t help believing that something hugging your chest is going to get a more accurate breathing and heart rate data than something on your wrist. OMsignal recently completed a $10 million funding round, and the … [Read more...]
Flexible Thermocell Battery Brings in the Volts
Batteries are the one part of your wearable device that still seem old school. Although we’ve seen improvements in size and endurance, the chemistry and physics of batteries are just plain hard. A lot of scientists are investigating the alternative of energy harvesting or scavenging; that is, producing usable energy from natural sources, such wind, sun, or human … [Read more...]
Pokemon Go Plus Reappears
Pokemon Go Plus, the wrist-worn device that notifies Pokemon Go players when they’re around Pokemon or Pokestops, and allows capturing without a visual cue, originally sold out before its official release date. Now Niantic Labs, the developer, has announced the $35 gadget will be back on the market “in most countries” on Sept. 16. Pokemon Go Plus communicates with both Apple … [Read more...]
Samsung’s WELT: A Terrible Thing to Waist
Samsung, while it's not putting out fires, recently announced that the WELT, the company’s e-belt product, has met its Kickstarter goal and is ready to go to market. What, one might reasonably ask, is an e-belt? The WELT is basically a fitness tracker in a (men’s) genuine leather belt, with at least one unique feature. Like wrist-based trackers, WELT tracks data such as … [Read more...]
AmazFit’s New Tracker: Fitness as a Fine Art
AmazFit, manufacturer of the Equator and Moonbeam fitness trackers, is owned by Huami, one of the top wearable companies worldwide, and has sold 24 million fitness trackers in China through the company’s partnership with Xaiomi. Xaiomi’s Mi Band, originally sold only in China, is second only to Fitbit in global market share. The AmazFit Equator marks the company’s expansion … [Read more...]
Dubai Runners Will Move to the Light
Athletes wearing LED-enhanced gear seem to be trending since Team Britain’s shining shoes at the Olympic closing ceremony. Now they are about to light up the wrists of runners in the 5K nighttime. In the Electric Run 2016 in Dubai on Nov. 4, 10,000 race entrants will receive Pixmob Electrobands as part of their registration packets. Electrobands are like technologically … [Read more...]