News

CSR Set to Release SiRFusion SDK Kit for Android in First Quarter of 2015

2015-01-01

Recently, CSR, who is mostly recognized for their GPS chip technology, has announced a software development kit (SDK) for Android to integrate the SiRFusion library into mobile apps running Android 4.4 or later to enable indoor positioning.

According to Dave Huntingford, director of product management of CSR, the company realized around four years ago that even though the demands for outdoor positioning using their technology were mostly met, indoor was the next frontier. So, CSR began focusing on the problem by utilizing technology currently found inside mobile devices which would not require the installing of extra infrastructure to buildings. These types of technologies included the Wi-Fi radio and the micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors such as the gyroscope and accelerometer. The end result was to attain approximately 5 meter location accuracy.

Here’s how SiRFusion gets the job done. Upon the detection of Wi-Fi access points inside a building, the SDK is designed to capture their SSID or MAC address, determine their specific location and store the points in a database. Trilateration of Wi-Fi access points is one technique to identify position. Limitations include variations in signal strength and quantity of access points available. MEMS sensors provide momentary, inertial measurements such as dead reckoning. The mobile device can identify, for example, the number of footsteps by the user.

According the the CSR press release from today:

The system automatically crowd-sources a venue’s indoor Wi-Fi signatures as consumers walk through the location, and it has also been designed to accommodate future proximity and location technologies such as Bluetooth Smart beacons, Wi-Fi Round Trip Time (RTT), and Indoor Messaging System (IMES).

And so, as Huntingford made clear, the quest when it comes to ever-better positioning is never ending, hence the desire for an architecture that is versatile enough to support new technology as it comes online. The Android SDK for SiRFusion will be released in the first quarter 2015; incorporation of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology will most likely be available by Q2 2015.

Wearables TechCon, March 9-11, Santa Clara

2014-12-03

Wearables TechCon, March 9-11 in Santa Clara, expands beyond its DevCon roots to include a focus on both the hardware and software behind the coming generation of wearable technology.

Classes and tutorials in the TechCon tracks will focus on embedded computing, hardware design, sensors, and physical technology, while tracks in the DevCon portion will focus on programming apps and mastering the SDKs of the next wave of computing devices. With over 2,000 attendees, you can see a list of the amazing classes on offer here. And the roster of who’s conducting the talks and classes at Wearables TechCon is top notch, with representatives from Plantronics, Bluetooth SIG, HTC, Hewlett Packard, Freescale, Epson and more. Check out the complete list here.

Use code WEARIT for a $200 conference discount off the 3-day pass. www.wearablestechcon.com

Here are some scenes from last year’sWearables TechCon event:

5 Great Reasons to Attend Location and Context World

2014-11-10

Need 5 Great Reasons to Attend Location and Context World on December 2-3 at the JW Marriott, San Francisco?

This will be the first conference fully dedicated to location based services and contextual applications.
Hear from a variety of industry leaders during the 2-day program, including speakers from companies such as; NFL, Google, LinkedIn, Los Angeles World Airports, Ford Motor Company, Golden State Warriors, GE, Verizon Wireless, Walmart and many more.
Learn from successful CIO case studies from the biggest brands and how to apply those lessons within your business
Discover how your business can profit from a $38.9 billion opportunity. Don’t miss out – your competitor’s won’t.
Access a variety of networking opportunities, including speed networking and one-to-one meetings, to discuss future projects and share best practice.

Click here to download the full agenda.

Who Should Attend?

Location and Context World is the meeting place for innovators driving the new revolution of personalized services, with discussions and talks around proximity and beacons and the future of privacy. Meet and connect with the game changers driving contextual applications into the new age.

Here are two quick “5 Question” sessions posed to two of the scheduled speakers at Location and Context World:

Speaker Interview: Steve Hegenderfer, the Director of Developer Programs, Bluetooth SIG

1. What topics do you expect to cover in your presentation/panel position?

I expect that the panel will focus on beacons and how they are being used in the real world, but I would also expect that we’ll talk about the ‘freaky line’…this is what level of privacy that most people feel shouldn’t be crossed, but that line is in a different place for everyone.

2. What have been the biggest milestones for your company over the past year in regards to location and context?

The biggest milestone was probably the announcement on the iBeacon program from Apple; it generated great awareness for Bluetooth within the beacon space.

3. What/who do you see as the current drivers for location based services?

I think initially, retail is pushing location via beacons, but that will soon move to the commercial side of the house as there are a LOT of great scenarios for beacons/proximity in that sector as well.

4. In your opinion, what would you say are the main challenges for the implementation of location based services and contextual applications?

With regards to beacons, it’s really a policy thing. How much is too much? When do you become annoying/spam? When does beaconing technology become ignored because the value exchange with users isn’t high enough?

5. What do you think you will get out of Location and Context World, San Francisco?

I’m hoping to meet a lot of new people in the space and see what interesting things they are working on, as well as get a different take on the industry in general.

Speaker Interview: Jeff Richards, Managing Partner, CIO Professional Services LLC & CIO of the YMCA

1. What topics do you expect to cover in your presentation/panel position?

The Evolving role of the CIO with location based services (4:50 on Day 1) – The advent of location based services allows us to better tailor the member experience at our branches. As the CIO in a not for profit organization I need to build the business case and act as educator/enabler for executives tht are focused on the mission of the Y not new technologies that might make delivery of that mission better.

The transformation taking pace in the CIO suite is one of becoming more business centric, enabling access to new revenue streams and generally defending their relevance in an age of SaaS applications and cloud providers that can be engaged without involving the IT team.

2. What have been the biggest milestones for your company over the past year in regards to location and context?

We are just getting started on the journey and are putting the case together. We have not yet settled on architecture or hardware.

3. What/who do you see as the current drivers for location based services?

We are the the ‘YMCA of Silicon Valley’ and we need to present ourselves as such. Meaning that we need to be more on the forefront of using the available technology. Our members our staff would value easier interactions and more personally relevant offerings.

4. In your opinion, what would you say are the main challenges for the implementation of location based services and contextual applications?

We are in the midst of replacing aging applications across the board, CRM, ERP and Finance. We need to get the internals right in order to be able to fulfill the services. Otherwise we are just putting nice sensors on a paper based fulfillment model. I would liken it to putting racing wheels and tires on a 1985 Camry.

5. What do you think you will get out of Location and Context World, San Francisco?

A better understanding of what others are doing, what is real and implementable versus marketing hype and where the industry is headed.

Can you afford to miss out? See Below for Discount Tix Opportunities…

Also featured among the speakers will be Robert Scoble, the author of “Age of Context: Mobile, Sensors, Data, and the Future of Privacy” who will be kicking off the event with his keynote. Robert will be sharing his thoughts on this fast growing billion dollar market

Michelle McKenna-Doyle, the CIO of the NFL will be joining us as our day two keynote speaker to discuss how the NFL is leading the way with location based services and providing fans with the next level of engagement and fan experience.

Location and Context World will feature 30+ industry leading speakers including Miguel A. Gamiño Jr, the CIO of San Francisco, Wendy Bergh, the VP of Walmart eCommerce, Kenny Lauer, the VP of Digital Marketing for the Golden State Warriors, Henry Bzeih, the CTO of the Connected Car at KIA, Monisha Perkash, the CEO and Co-Founder of Lumo Body Tech, and Peter Yared, the founder and CTO of Sapho.

QTOOTH is delighted to provide you with a 15% discount code off the price of your pass. Please use code I8K3C/DIS15 when prompted.

Book your pass today.

Fast Approaching: RE.WORK’s Internet of Things Summit 2014 November 6-7

2014-09-25

INTERNET OF THINGS SUMMIT 2014

Internet of Things Summit 2014 is being held at Broadway Studios in San Francisco November 6-7 in San Francisco, CA. Presented by RE.WORK, this event gives attendees the chance to discover cutting-edge technologies from the world’s leading innovators. Now more than ever it is important for developers and businesses of all sizes, from startups to the well-established, to stay on top of the quickly evolving world of the Internet of Things, or IoT.

So whether you are an inventor, entrepreneur, or business professional, you may want to attend a conference like the Internet of Things Summit 2014. Learn from the experts how sensors, big data, open data, connectivity and M2M will impact the future of cities, healthcare, transport, business and infrastructure. There will also be focuses at the summit that cover technology under the skin, computers without batteries, and a smart interconnected world.

Although the Internet of Things holds incredible promise to improve many areas of our lives, it also opens up new areas for security threats. How will IoT technologies affect the future of the global community? What challenges do we face by integrating them in both our businesses and our society?

RE.WORK provides a unique opportunity to interact with business leaders, influential technologists & entrepreneurs leading the internet of things revolution. With over 200 industry innovators sharing best practices to advance the smart, interconnected world and prepare for the industrial internet, the summit is a great opportunity to get answers. Plus, QTOOTH has a line on getting a significant discount on tickets (see below).

Sessions will include:
The Smart Connected Home
The Infrastructure Behind the IOT
Technology Under Your Skin: Printed Sensors & Embeddables
Cybersecurity & Privacy
The Evolution of Design, UX and the Internet of Things

The speaker line up so far includes:

Megan Smith, VP of Google[x]. Megan is an entrepreneur, tech evangelist, engineer, catalyst and connector. At Google[x], Megan works on a range of projects including co-creating/hosting SolveForX to encourage and amplify technology-based moonshot thinking and collaboration. Can you add in white house announcement

Joshua Windmiller, CEO, Electrozyme, is an internationally-recognized expert in printed biosensor technology. Electrozyme, a startup that he co-founded, is devoted to the development of printed biosensors and biofuel cells for application in the personal wellness and healthcare domains.

Brooks Kincaid, Founder of Imprint Energy, has designed a new type of battery that uses zinc and can be screen printed. This innovation could enable entirely new types of wearable electronics. The industry could reap the most benefits from the novel and thin shapes of the batteries, as well as the safe and less toxic materials.

Pierre-Alexandre Fournier is Co-founder and CEO of Hexoskin, a wearable health technology company that focuses on smart clothing design and intelligent algorithms for health management. His work at Hexoskin involves the development of new wearable sensors for remote health monitoring during space missions, physiological modeling for health analysis, and smart clothing design.
Abe Gong, Data Scientist at Jawbone. Abe was the first data scientist at Jawbone, where he builds data systems to nudge people to form good habits and live healthier, and has previously worked as as a data scientist and statistical consultant in education, health, and public policy for over a decade

Nadeem Kassam, Founder, BASIS Science. Nadeem is a serial entrepreneur and a passionate, savvy angel investor. Over the last decade he has led Zynik Capital into new industries like Healthcare, Entertainment and Social Media. As Founder and Chief Alliance Officer of Basis, Nadeem is a tireless champion for making wellness more engaging.

David Merrill, VP of Product, 3D Robotics. David, a TED speaker and human-computer interaction expert, was formerly president and co-founder of Sifteo, a San Francisco startup spun out of his research at the MIT Media Lab.

Lance Donny, Founder & CEO of OnFarm, is known for crafting strategy and pioneering new innovation and trends in agriculture. Lance’s exploration of the trends and possibilities of technology, the IOT and big data in agriculture has won him numerous awards including IBM’s North American Entrepreneur of the Year.

David Albert, Founder of AliveCor. David is a physician, inventor and serial entrepreneur who has developed life-saving products over the last 30 years and turned a number of those innovations into startups. AliveCor makes smartphone cases that double as heart monitors, allowing users to easily record their own electrocardiograms, and then share it with their physician.

Tickets & Registration
Tickets for startups, students and academics are also available for reduced rates. And… use the discount coupon code QTOOTH20 to receive an additional 20% of the the ticket price!

By the way, the QTOOTH20 promo code also works for for the rest of us to receive the 20% off.

For further information and to register, go to: re-work.co/internet-of-things

About RE.WORK
RE.WORK is a platform of summits bringing together breakthrough technology, cutting-edge science and entrepreneurship shaping the future of business and society. For more information, view the full line-up of events here: re-work.co

The Place to Be? The Bluetooth Europe 2014 Conference!

2014-09-05

Attention fans of all things wireless: The Bluetooth Europe 2014 Conference is less than two weeks away. Held on September 16-17 at the Hilton Amsterdam Netherlands, this promises to be one of the most rewarding events for anyone involved or interested in the future of Bluetooth wireless.

We were fortunate enough to attend the US version, Bluetooth World, last April in San Jose, CA. It was one of the most rewarding things that we could do as fans of Bluetooth wireless technology. Check out our full review of the event here, but let us just say that if you are an engineer, developer, inventor, entrepreneur, or just a fan of the technology, you owe it to yourself to get there. And don’t be intimidated by the amazing roster of companies and speakers that will be there! Everyone is very friendly and extremely helpful at these events.

The main point of Bluetooth Europe 2014, besides wowing you with new technological advances and revealing bold concepts for the future, is to make sure that Bluetooth has mass adoption in the marketplace and that it becomes ever more the best viable choice for wireless devices. With the advent of Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Mesh it looks like Bluetooth will be with us for the foreseeable future.

Of course there will be ample networking opportunities at Bluetooth Europe 2014, and the schedule makes for a very full day. One of the things that impressed us from the event we attended was that there were endless opportunities to have hands-on experience with much of the technology on display. Not only that, but the person performing the demonstration was the often same person that actually developed the product or concept.

Bluetooth Europe covers it all, from concept to prototype, from fundraising to bringing a product to market and beyond.

Below is a video with a few highlights from Bluetooth World 2014. Bluetooth Europe promises even more, get there if you can!

AnDevCon San Francisco 2014 Coming in November – Come Get Your Android On!

2014-07-04

AnDevCon San Francisco 2014 is coming November 18-21. If it’s anything like the one they held in Boston earlier this year, and you are either an app developer or an aspiring one, you are going to want to be there.

What is AnDevCon San Francisco 2014? AnDevCon is the technical conference for software developers building or selling Android apps. It will offer one day of intensive tutorials, followed by three days of technical classes. More than 1,000 software developers, engineers and entrepreneurs are projected to attend AnDevCon and choose from 70+ classes.

QTOOTH was proud to be a media sponsor of the one in Boston and the event was quite a success. They had some incredible speakers who really are at the top of their game and provided not only great insights into the industry but also some incredible hands-on instruction for getting from concept to real world app as quickly as possible. We hope to see you at AnDevCon San Francisco 2014!

If you happen to be in the area but are unable to attend the full conference, keep in mind that the Exhibits admission is free. You will have the opportunity to visit more than 40 exhibitors, check out their latest developments, and ask questions!

Receive a $200 discount off the prevailing rate of either the 4-day or 3-day pass by inserting the code ANDROID when prompted on the eRegistration page linked from www.andevcon.com.

We’ll post more as the event gets closer, especially when AnDevCon San Francisco 2014 announces their full agenda listing all of the talks, classes and tutorials that are part of the event, as well as the complete list of speakers and instructors. Check back soon!