A few weeks ago, I
received my badge and tickets to attend the International CES (Consumer
Electronic Show) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 6-11, 2013 as a credentialed
member of the Press. This is because I am a columnist of Asian Journal USA and
a Blogger of Google BlogSpot.
Correspondingly, I have booked my flight and reserved my hotel room. I am now filling out my CES Planner and prioritizing which innovative and new technology companies that are exhibiting I should visit at the conference.
Almost all these companies have a PR representative who issues press releases to the media arranging for meetings with its company’s CEO or to have a hands-on look at their new products. Some even offer sample products for review.
Among the major events at the CES are Digital Health Summit, Silvers Summit, Fitness Tech Summit, HigherEd Tech Summit, and Kids@Play/Mommy Tech Summit. Living in Digital Times (LIDT) whose founder is Robin Raskin produces all these summits. The latter has been reviewing and writing about the most innovative technology and gadgets to hit the market for the past 30 years.
I plan to meet with Robin Raskin at the CES for a more detailed view of the technology trends but for the holidays and prior to the event, I thought that I should share with you LIDT’s Holiday Gift Guide for the Digital Age.
Through its PR representative Karen Pineman of LKPR, Inc. I obtained permission to publish LIDT’s guide in my column.
Holiday Gift Guide for the Digital Age
Lifestyle Technology Experts at Living in Digital Times Offer Hot Picks for Every Family Member
Digitally
Connected Kids
GeoPalz - The first pedometer for tracking a child’s daily activity. The more steps kids take, the more pedpoints they earn. There are 26 unique designs that kids can trade in for prizes or time in the online arcade. Ages 5-12, $25.00
Wanderful Interactive Storybooks (Wanderful) - Educational storybook apps based on the classic LivingBooks titles, where every word and every page is interactive, enriching the reading experience and engaging kids for hours. There are six apps in all, $4.99 each.
Tablets - The hottest trend in kids gifts this year. An explosion of durable kid-oriented tablets that offer parental controls and family-friendly content have hit the market. Examples include LeapPad2($99) from LeapFrog, a first tablet for preschoolers, and the Kurio7($149.99) from Techno Source, an Android family tablet that allows parents to create up to 8 user profiles with custom settings.
Apptivity - Have fun while learning. Apps promote educational and social skills but the interactive features make them a lot of fun to play. Companies such as FingerPrint Digital offer 15 free engaging apps and Scholastic Apps, which offer a variety of book, reading, and gaming apps all under $10.
Students’ Campus Cravings
IZIP™ Electric Bikes (Currie Technologies) - A cool new alternative for commuting, getting around campus or having fun. A safe, reliable and emission free ride. $999 and up.
BookRenter™ - Make college a little less expensive. Open an account and let your student rent, buy or sell books with ease, while saving up to 80% off the costs of books at the campus book store.
SkyTM WiFi Smartpen (Livescribe) – Studying enters the digital age. This smartpen wirelessly records written notes and audio, digitizes the information and sends the notes to an online account. $170.
AfterShokz™ Sportz M2 w Mic - The next generation of open ear sport headphones. They sit comfortably in front of the ear and use bone conduction technology to keep ears open to ambient noises. Safely keeps co-eds connected to their music and social life while remaining active. $79.95.
Mom’s Digital Makeover
Samsung Galaxy S® III – Large easy to read screen, great sound and camera makes sharing memories and keeping up with to dos easier than ever. Preloaded AllShare® Play allows content to be sent instantly to friends and groups of devices. From $549.99.
AboutOne – Easily organize a busy family. An online family organizer that automatically organizes, stores, and shares family memories and household paperwork. The go to place to keep families running smoothly. Affordable $5 and $10 monthly plans available.
Agloves Sport - Thicker, warmer touch gloves will touch her heart and let her keeping typing at the same time. Comfortable, snug fit and 10-finger touchscreen functionality. Works on all smartphones and tablets, $25.99.
ZIP™ Wireless Activity Tracker (FitBit) – A boost for the active mom. Tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and syncs stats to computers and select smartphones. The new Zip™ will encourage mom to set goals and challenge friends, turning everyday life into a social and achievable path to fitness. $59.95.
Dads Deserve a Digital Upgrade
Nexus 7 - This 12 oz. Android tablet is designed with 32GB of storage, and the ability to connect to most mobile data networks. It’s the perfect on the go companion. From $199.
BodyMedia® FIT - 2013 is the year to get fit. An on-body monitoring system that consists of the Armband monitor ($149), online Activity Manager ($6.95/month), an optional display and free downloadable apps for mobile device users. The Armbands automatically track the calories burned during daily activities and works as a fitness monitor to measure the intensity of workouts. It also monitors sleep quality.
WorkFit (Ergotron®) - An exciting line of sit-stand desks and mounting devices for the wall, ceiling and desk that adapts technology to dads’ physical needs, creating a healthy and comfortable work environment at the office or at home. Wide range of price points.
vFree Headphones (Velodyne) - Removes the constraints of wired headphones. Velodyne skins offer unique artistic designs and can be easily changed depending on mood or style. Offers Bluetooth connectivity compatible with iPhones, iPod Touchs, and iPads and apt-X® coding for true wireless sound reproduction. $299.
Seniors: Cloud to the Rescue
5Star Urgent Response System and Medical Apps (GreatCall) – A personal emergency system to help keep your loved ones feel safe and in touch, even when they’re out and about. Press the button and the service connects you to a GreatCall operator trained to help in emergencies. Enter your doctor’s name, family members and medical advice into their database and you can rest easier. $49.99 for 5Star device; $14.99/month for service.
PhotoBucket – A great way to keep close. Share your family photos with the whole family. Provides an easy way to upload, edit and share videos and photos from any device. Free sign-up. Manage remotely to update every occasion. Costs vary by storage space.
Biscotti™ TV Cam – Check in on loved ones from the comfort of your living room. The sleek, small device is easy to use and turns televisions into a giant, videophone - no computer required. $199.
Netflix - Instantly watch unlimited movies & TV show episodes streaming over the Internet to the TV via most internet connected devices. Service can be set up and managed remotely. $7.99/month.
New “miracles” at the Sin City! These I have to see! So do you.
GeoPalz - The first pedometer for tracking a child’s daily activity. The more steps kids take, the more pedpoints they earn. There are 26 unique designs that kids can trade in for prizes or time in the online arcade. Ages 5-12, $25.00
Wanderful Interactive Storybooks (Wanderful) - Educational storybook apps based on the classic LivingBooks titles, where every word and every page is interactive, enriching the reading experience and engaging kids for hours. There are six apps in all, $4.99 each.
Tablets - The hottest trend in kids gifts this year. An explosion of durable kid-oriented tablets that offer parental controls and family-friendly content have hit the market. Examples include LeapPad2($99) from LeapFrog, a first tablet for preschoolers, and the Kurio7($149.99) from Techno Source, an Android family tablet that allows parents to create up to 8 user profiles with custom settings.
Apptivity - Have fun while learning. Apps promote educational and social skills but the interactive features make them a lot of fun to play. Companies such as FingerPrint Digital offer 15 free engaging apps and Scholastic Apps, which offer a variety of book, reading, and gaming apps all under $10.
Students’ Campus Cravings
IZIP™ Electric Bikes (Currie Technologies) - A cool new alternative for commuting, getting around campus or having fun. A safe, reliable and emission free ride. $999 and up.
BookRenter™ - Make college a little less expensive. Open an account and let your student rent, buy or sell books with ease, while saving up to 80% off the costs of books at the campus book store.
SkyTM WiFi Smartpen (Livescribe) – Studying enters the digital age. This smartpen wirelessly records written notes and audio, digitizes the information and sends the notes to an online account. $170.
AfterShokz™ Sportz M2 w Mic - The next generation of open ear sport headphones. They sit comfortably in front of the ear and use bone conduction technology to keep ears open to ambient noises. Safely keeps co-eds connected to their music and social life while remaining active. $79.95.
Mom’s Digital Makeover
Samsung Galaxy S® III – Large easy to read screen, great sound and camera makes sharing memories and keeping up with to dos easier than ever. Preloaded AllShare® Play allows content to be sent instantly to friends and groups of devices. From $549.99.
AboutOne – Easily organize a busy family. An online family organizer that automatically organizes, stores, and shares family memories and household paperwork. The go to place to keep families running smoothly. Affordable $5 and $10 monthly plans available.
Agloves Sport - Thicker, warmer touch gloves will touch her heart and let her keeping typing at the same time. Comfortable, snug fit and 10-finger touchscreen functionality. Works on all smartphones and tablets, $25.99.
ZIP™ Wireless Activity Tracker (FitBit) – A boost for the active mom. Tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and syncs stats to computers and select smartphones. The new Zip™ will encourage mom to set goals and challenge friends, turning everyday life into a social and achievable path to fitness. $59.95.
Dads Deserve a Digital Upgrade
Nexus 7 - This 12 oz. Android tablet is designed with 32GB of storage, and the ability to connect to most mobile data networks. It’s the perfect on the go companion. From $199.
BodyMedia® FIT - 2013 is the year to get fit. An on-body monitoring system that consists of the Armband monitor ($149), online Activity Manager ($6.95/month), an optional display and free downloadable apps for mobile device users. The Armbands automatically track the calories burned during daily activities and works as a fitness monitor to measure the intensity of workouts. It also monitors sleep quality.
WorkFit (Ergotron®) - An exciting line of sit-stand desks and mounting devices for the wall, ceiling and desk that adapts technology to dads’ physical needs, creating a healthy and comfortable work environment at the office or at home. Wide range of price points.
vFree Headphones (Velodyne) - Removes the constraints of wired headphones. Velodyne skins offer unique artistic designs and can be easily changed depending on mood or style. Offers Bluetooth connectivity compatible with iPhones, iPod Touchs, and iPads and apt-X® coding for true wireless sound reproduction. $299.
Seniors: Cloud to the Rescue
5Star Urgent Response System and Medical Apps (GreatCall) – A personal emergency system to help keep your loved ones feel safe and in touch, even when they’re out and about. Press the button and the service connects you to a GreatCall operator trained to help in emergencies. Enter your doctor’s name, family members and medical advice into their database and you can rest easier. $49.99 for 5Star device; $14.99/month for service.
PhotoBucket – A great way to keep close. Share your family photos with the whole family. Provides an easy way to upload, edit and share videos and photos from any device. Free sign-up. Manage remotely to update every occasion. Costs vary by storage space.
Biscotti™ TV Cam – Check in on loved ones from the comfort of your living room. The sleek, small device is easy to use and turns televisions into a giant, videophone - no computer required. $199.
Netflix - Instantly watch unlimited movies & TV show episodes streaming over the Internet to the TV via most internet connected devices. Service can be set up and managed remotely. $7.99/month.
New “miracles” at the Sin City! These I have to see! So do you.
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