Wearable

Jabra adds headset support for Siemens’ OpenScape

2013-06-03

Here’s a development that we here at QTOOTH have been hoping for for sometime: more seamless switching between devices on our Bluetooth devices. Wireless device maker Jabra and Siemens’ Enterprise Communications arm seek to solve this by partnering to support the latter’s OpenScape Mobile Call Swipe feature, which allows you to switch devices without losing connection or switching headsets.

Here’s how it works: with a swipe, you can move a voice conversation from an office phone or laptop to a mobile device. It’s all part of the “unified communications” trend that essentially aims — through technological cooperation — to make conversations about who you’re talking to, not how you’re talking to them.

Jabra’s Holger Reisinger says that the feature is “solving a longstanding, low-tech challenge for mobile workers, moving from the office to the car without having to interrupt the call to change device.” In a news article on ZDNet it was asked, “Is seamless device switching a nice-to-have feature, or is it really solving a productivity-killing issue at the office?” From our perspective? Absolutely critical. In fact, we’d prefer not to have to do the “swipe”. We want our Bluetooth enabled devices to seamlessly, and intelligently, switch from one device to another, from one wireless environment to another, automatically. And we want it now! (Yeah… we know, it’s coming. But hopefully sooner than later.)

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00BWG4TUI’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00AQUO5RI’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B004MCJBJI’]

Mickey Mouse Part of the ‘Internet of Things’ – Goes Wireless with MagicBand

2013-06-02

Walt Disney to go Wireless with the MagicBand News from the All Things D Conference, otherwise known as D11: Walt Disney reveals the MagicBand, a wrist band that will wirelessly tailor a visitor’s experience as they move through their theme parks. It is basically a re-working of the growing field of proximity marketing.

Tom Staggs, the chairman of Walt Disney theme parks and resorts division, said Wednesday his company is working on technology that would let costumed Mickey Mouse speak for the first time ever. The talking Mickeys, and other Disney characters, may even be able to greet little Jimmy by name, thanks to Disney’s MagicBand, a new Internet-connected wristband that will serve as tickets and data repository for Disney park visitors.

“The more their visit can seem personalized, the better,” Staggs said at the D: All Things Digital technology conference.

The MagicBand technology is part of a growing wave of wearable wristwatches, eyeglasses and other emerging Internet-connected that are the talk of the tech world.

But Staggs was quick to say the technology allowing Mickey and other characters to know children’s names will be entirely optional.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B009XVELAC’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B009Q08WC8′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B008EQ30Z4′]

Body Monitors Help Drive Healthy Behavior Change

2013-06-01

Body tracking systems are demonstrating their value in successful interventions for weight management and other potential health applications, according to many studies being presented at the American University of Sports Medicine’s 60th Yearly Meeting and Fourth World Congress on Exercise and Medicine, opening today in Indianapolis. The studies, using the BodyMedia armband body monitoring system. recommend that technology can be utilized to help urge healthy and balanced habits and achieve successful health outcomes while also reducing the necessity for in-person consultations for therapy support.

One study, Effect of a Lifestyle Intervention Prior to Bariatric Surgery on Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Severely Obese Adults, demonstrated a six-month weight-loss amongst people in the intervention team participating in enhanced light and moderate-to-vigorous strength exercising verses those in common treatment. The research featured a pre-surgery diet plan and exercising program accompanied by a mix of in-person sessions, phone consults and using physical body monitors to gauge the changes in levels of activity.

In another study, The Comparison of a Technology-based System and In-person Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention in the Severely Obese, researchers looked at methods of weight-loss interventions that can be provided either by face-to-face meetings or through tech-based procedures, including Bluetooth-enabled activity monitors. The research team enlisted Class II and Class III obese people, and found that a three-month program utilizing the BodyMedia armbands and its web-based system to track dietary consumption and physical body weight, both with or without using a smartphone, in addition to one 10-minute intervention phone conversation each month resulted in weight loss similar to typical in-person behavioral interventions. The findings suggest that considerable short-term weight-loss in the significantly obese can be attained with less in-person interaction than today’s traditional support programs.

BodyMedia spearheaded the development of wearable body monitors that gather physical information for use in enhancing fitness, health and wellness. The data captured by BodyMedia’s tools is used by customers as well as health and wellness experts to lead behavior modifications to aid in regulating weight and promote an energetic lifestyle, two aspects that are consistently mentioned as tricks to combat and manage severe health care problems. The BodyMedia innovation has been made use of in hundreds of medical research studies covering health and wellness issues such as weight problems, diabetes, COPD, cancer, cystic fibrosis, bariatrics, intensive care, and sleep.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0049POHK6′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0052KONSI’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B005PUONIK’]

Plantronics – Legendary Dad Sweepstakes on Facebook

2013-05-29

Plantronics is holding a sweepstakes on Facebook honoring Legendary Dads. Sign up is easy, no purchase necessary, and the giveaway is for 2 of their Voyager 2 Legend headsets. You know we here at QTOOTH are all about it! Click below for more info.

Plantronics – Sweepstakes | Facebook.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0092KJ9BU’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B009UNGYHG’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B009ZJ3MSY’]

BBC News – Google Glass – will we love it or hate it?

2013-05-05

Google’s smart glasses project has been causing excitement in the tech world for months as speculation about what it will finally look like and be able to do reaches fever pitch.

Prototype devices are being tested by around 1,000 so-called Glass Explorers and are expected to go on sale to the public next year.

While some see such wearable computing as the obvious next step for the digital age, others regard the idea of even more intimate connections with the network quite scary.

The BBC has garnered the views of those who have tried Glass and others who have strong views about the project to see what a smart-glassed future might look like.

Read what their conclusions were via BBC News – Google Glass – will we love it or hate it?.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0050R67U0′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00B78MT44′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00BR3O4CE’]