Tech IT From My Barber: LAST GADGET STANDING CES 2013

One of the most attended events in the International CES is the “Last Gadget Standing”. I never miss the event as I always enjoyed the demos performed by the contestants. I also participate in judging the eventual winner.

The top nine finalists for this coming event are:

1.         Misfit Shine = “an elegant, all-metal activity tracker that you can sync with your smartphone just by placing the device on the screen. It’s tiny so you can wear it just about anywhere anytime. Simply tap the Shine and a halo of lights appear to instantly tell you how you’re tracking to your daily activity goal. The Shine’s proprietary sensor algorithms can track cycling and swimming in addition to just steps so you’ll get more credit where credit is due. Carved out of a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum, it was built to last a lifetime and is super strong and waterproof. The Shine comes with a clasp so you can easily wear it.”

2.         eFlow E3 Nitro = “establishes a new class of electric bikes for North America; a performance oriented, urban bike that is fast, powerful and nimble handling.The Nitro looks fast, even when it’s standing still. Street legal under the US Federal law, it’s fast and efficient with a top motor powered speed of 32 kilometers per hour (20 Miles per hour). You can decide if you want to pedal or not with our dual-mode controls and our powerful 500-Watt silent rear cassette hub motor.

Every aspect of the design says it’s quick. With clean, aerodynamic lines, an integrated battery in the seat post, internal cable routing, and a 20- speed drive train so you always have the right gearing to add your own human power to soar to new heights.”

3.         Telcare = “the world’s first FDA-cleared product to seamlessly combine state of the art cellular communications technology with leading edge diabetes monitoring technology. Since product launch, doctors and patients have recorded significant health improvement and parents have reported far less anxiety in helping children with diabetes. 

30 million Americans have diabetes and must test their blood sugar level multiple times a day. Telcare’s wireless-enabled blood glucose meter seamlessly transmits every result to a secure cloud server and returns immediate guidance and coaching to the user. From Telcare’s FDA- cleared privacy-protected server, the information may be transmitted to doctors, parents, and other caregivers of people with diabetes. Telcare’s suite of smartphone apps enables users and caregivers with any iOS or Android device to graph and track the information, combine it with weight, exercise, diet and medication data, and even join with others in social networking/gaming activities designed to improved control of diabetes.”

4.         Looxcie Inc. = “makers of the first ever wear and share camera, has taken another step forward in elevating the video capture and sharing experience by offering full 1080p recording, built in Wi-Fi, and direct-to-Facebook live streaming with the Looxcie HD.

Now anyone can simultaneously record razor- sharp video while sharing a live broadcast – with a single person, small group, or public forum. Connecting wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet, the inherently mobile nature of the Looxcie HD is supplemented by a broad range of mounting options for ball caps, helmets, bikes and more. Additional new features of the Looxcie HD include: low-light camera sensor, weather resistant casing, expandable micro-SD video storage, and a replaceable, rechargeable battery. So whether you are biking through the woods or ziplining through the rainforest, Looxcie HD will enable you to share life as you live it!”

5.         SecuraPatch™ = “a wireless adhesive sensor built to monitor a broad range of vital signs and activity. The “band-aid-like” patch gathers and transmits data on pre-determined intervals as often as every second to a “relay” and/or to the “cloud” for action or further analysis. If pre- defined changes in condition occur, the SecuraPatch can notify the wearer and their caregivers (doctors, nurses, family members, friends, etc.) via email and/or text message. These notifications can be set for high and low threashold by the wearer or the caregivers and also can be seen via a secure portal from any connected device. SecuraPatch can also be tied into 24/7 monitoring services to provide near- immediate emergency response to health events.”

6.         Samsung Galaxy Note® II = “enables unique experiences in personalized and expressive content creation with its superb viewing experience, enhanced S Pen™ functionality and multitasking capabilities, making it the ultimate smartphone for on-the-go creativity and productivity.

At the heart of the Galaxy Note II is the ability to create and collaborate using the S Pen™, which has been ergonomically redesigned to provide a more precise and natural writing and drawing experience. The new S Pen can sense 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and provides the ability to capture ideas, inspiration and information instantly. With the Galaxy Note II, you can combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen, such as adding new calendar appointments by writing event details directly on the day of the week, signing a document with your own signature, or adding handwritten notes to an email.”

7.         DROID DNA by HTC = “offers the first true HD viewing experience with its industry-leading 5- inch super LCD 3 1080p HD display and the highest pixel density available at 440 PPI. Designed to accentuate the incredible display is a curved, soft-touch back that tapers to a mere 4mm which feels comfortable in your hand or pocket. DROID DNA by HTC is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 quad-core 4G LTE- enabled processor, 2 GB of RAM and HTC Sense 4+ paired with Android Jelly Bean for smooth multitasking, gaming and video watching. HTC ImageSense sets a new standard by bringing improvements to every part of the smartphone’s 8 MP camera. DROID DNA by HTC also boasts a 2.1 MP front-facing camera with an 88 ̊ wide-angle lens. Featuring Beats Audio, a 2.55v built-in headset amplifier and dedicated rear-speaker amp, DROID DNA by HTC delivers crystal clear sound.”

 8.        LuminæTM = “a stylish, modern, clean, light-driven Keyboard+ and Touchpad+ that allows for customization to meet your every need. 

-       By using custom skins and software, you can move buttons, trackpad areas or use the entire clean glass surface for all ‘Type & SwipeTM’ functions.

-       Customize LuminæTM with sound, light and color to custom functionality:

-       Visible light LEDs allow for 16 million custom color options.

-       Speaker within the base allows you to control the auditory feedback with each stroke.

-       Type & SwipeTM Technology allows user’s gestures to be interpreted as input for both a Keyboard+ and a Touchpad+ without changing settings or skins.

-       Pre-order LuminæTM today by visiting translusense.com. You’ll be the first to experience the sleek, clean, state of the art design – and make your desktop a landscape of art and glass.“

9.         The Galaxy Camera™= “is the perfect combination of photo technology and mobile device – a completely new kind of camera that doesn’t just capture smiles, it also lets you use voice commands, share images and videos instantly and take full advantage of the Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean platform. It’s a powerful camera with a familiar, intuitive user interface and access to all your favorite apps from the Google Play™ market. First and foremost, this is a serious camera designed to capture amazing images in almost any situation. The Galaxy Camera features a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD screen, boasts a 21x optical zoom lens and a super-bright 16MP BSI CMOS sensor for shooting high-quality images close up and in low light conditions. But more importantly, Galaxy Camera is the beginning of a brand new product category. In addition to being able to share to social networks and cloud services over Wi-Fi®, consumers can harness the speed and connectivity of AT&T’s wireless network, making the Galaxy Camera the world’s first camera to work on a wireless carrier’s network.“

The 10th finalist will be announced at the show itself. I look forward to witnessing the wonders of these new gadgets.

Display of Mankind’s New Creations

In order to maximize the benefits of attending the International CES on January 6-11, 2013, as a credentialed member of the Press, I am now starting to fill up my Pre-Show Planner.

So far, I have received about 400 and counting email invitations from consumer technology companies who are launching new products and/or technologies at the conference. The invitations are for press conferences, press interviews and demos. Many include social-gatherings or receptions in chosen hotels in Las Vegas.

Effective and efficient prioritization and scheduling is necessary.

The enormity of this event is mind-boggling. I am publishing the latest relevant press release of International CES to prove my point.

2013 International CES To Feature Record Amount of Exhibit Space

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^® today announced that the 2013 International CES^® will feature a record amount of exhibit space, with the show floor totaling more than 1.87 million net square feet. The previous record was 1.862 million net square feet at the 2012 CES. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2013 CES, the world’s largest innovation event, is scheduled Tuesday, January 8-Friday, January 11, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“With the largest show floor in history, more innovative technologies and services will launch at the 2013 CES than anywhere else in the world,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “From cloud-based services, advancements in digital health, connected vehicle technologies, the latest apps, flexible devices and beyond, the innovations unveiled at the 2013 CES will create new jobs and further economic growth around the world.”

The 2013 CES will feature 3,000 exhibitors spanning the largest show floor in the event’s 45-year history. A record number of eight automakers will exhibit at the 2013 CES, including Audi, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus and Subaru, across more than 100,000 net square feet of exhibit space.

The iLounge Pavilion returns to the 2013 CES with a combined total of 120,000 net square feet of i-related products and technologies. Showcasing more than 440 exhibitors, iLounge has quadrupled since its launch in 2010 and will be located in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) North Hall and the LVH.

A must-see destination at the 2013 CES is the expanded Eureka Park, featuring 140 exhibitors including entrepreneurs, start-ups and small companies showcasing the next-generation of technology. New to Eureka Park for 2013 is the Startup America stage, which will bring together startups, investors, large companies and media to highlight the amazing innovations unveiled at the 2013 CES.

Digital health and fitness technology has expanded by 25 percent within the FitnessTech TechZone, with more than 220 companies showcasing devices beyond weight, body mass index(BMI), exercise and calorie tracking. The next-generation of health and fitness devices and apps on display will offer access to patient’s complete medical histories, comprehensive biometric data and remote access to medical professionals. The 2013 CES will feature more than 25,000 net square feet of digital health and fitness exhibits.

Some 20,000 new products will launch at the 2013 CES with major product trends including cloud-based services, gesture and sensing technologies, connected vehicles, the latest smartphone and tablet innovations and Ultra HDTV.

“We are always proud to be the world’s largest consumer technology event, but even more important is the significance of the International CES as the launchpad for new innovations and products and our role in bringing the global industry together to meet with the best and brightest movers and shakers from across the technology ecosystem, to network, make deals and exchange ideas,” said Shapiro.

The 2013 CES conference program will feature 300 robust sessions and 800 speakers, including keynotes from the leaders of Qualcomm, Panasonic, Samsung and Verizon, as well as a Brand Keynote panel with executives from American Express, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Salesforce.com, Samsung and Unilever.

Additionally, the Entertainment Matters program, sponsored by Variety,is back for its third year with exhibits, conference programs and special events for professionals in the entertainment community and will feature actress Felicia Day as the program’s ambassador.

For more information on the 2013 CES, including registration information, conference sessions and a complete list of CES exhibitors, visit CESweb.org.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $206 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CES at www.CESweb.org and through socialmedia:  http://facebook.com/InternationalCES,http://twitter.com/IntlCES, http://blog.ce.org/.

LITTLE “MIRACLES”

These newly invented or created products are so amazing that I call them little “miracles”. They would be on display ironically in the “Sin City” of Las Vegas.

If you live in Nevada, Southern California or anywhere, it is worth the drive or the trip to go, attend and witness the unveiling of these new creations.

You will not regret it!

mHealth Summit 2012

During the last few weeks, I had the privilege of attending several conferences and expos. Almost all of them involved information technologies, but many also focused on the utilization of mobile technologies.

The latest one is the mHealth Summit which I am currently attending as I write this column. It is the largest of its kind and “brings together leaders in government, the private sector, industry, academia, providers and not-for-profit organizations from across the mHealth ecosystem to advance collaboration in the use of wireless technology to improve health outcomes in the United States and abroad.”

Dubbed as one connecting Technology, Business, Research and Policy, the Summit is actually a global meeting by virtue of the participation of 54 countries spanning different parts of the world.

The list of the countries as provided to me by the organizers include:

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WHY GO MOBILE? Let the numbers speak for themselves.

In 2012, there are over 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions for a world population of 7 billion.  In fact, in the United States, 297 million people own cell phones. That is 94% of the total population.

Chuck Martin, a Best-Selling Author and Moderator of one of the sessions, now calls the mobile device the 3rd Screen – with the TV and the PC Screens being the 1st and 2nd respectively.  There are 2 billion TVs and 1 billion PCs today.

In his book, “The Third Screen”, which I received at the Summit, he stated that, in the United States, 23 million people let go of their landlines within a 5-year period. Globally, there were 57 million fewer landlines within the same period but 1.9 billion mobile cellular subscriptions were added.

In China, 9 out of 10 mobile users text on the phones. In fact, worldwide 7 trillion text messages were sent last year with each Texter sending an average of 3200 texts monthly.

In 107 countries, cell phones exceed the population. In Japan, consumers swipe cell phones rather than credit cards for payment. In South Korea, free mobile television has been around for 5 years. Broadcasters there say almost 30 million people watch TV regularly from their phones.

After mentioning the mobile data to my barber he said: “There are now more people TYPING with their THUMBS than with the normal way (all fingers).”

As of March 2011, over half of U.S. consumers carry a smartphone, and 90% of them say they use their device every single day.

Juniper Networks also reports the following interesting Smartphone user behavior and expectations: 89% of business users access critical work data from their personal mobile device; 41% business users use personal devices for work without company permission/knowledge; 30% of IT pros belong to companies that experienced security threat due to a personal mobile device; 41% of IT pros are concerned about security breaches due to lost or stolen mobile devices; there will be a 1.19 billion worldwide mobile worker population by end of 2013; 35% of the world’s workforce are expected to be mobile by the end of 2013;  and 32% of IT pros are concerned with personal mobile devices introducing malware.

At the Summit, separate sessions were conducted dealing with obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Healthcare for the aging population was also a concern.

Again, I chose to tell the story by looking at the numbers as I obtained in the sessions.

Over 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese and 79 million are pre-diabetic.

Cancer and heart disease now cause 1 out of every 2 U.S. deaths. Spending on these chronic conditions account for a staggering 75% of the $2.6 trillion annual U.S. healthcare budget.

At the current growth rates, healthcare costs will consume 1/5 of GDP by 2018 and over 1/3 by 2030.

Starbucks spends more on employee health benefits than coffee.  GM, Ford, and Chrysler spend more on employee health expenses than on the steel they use to make cars.

According to the mHealth Alliance, by 2015 there will be more people over the age of 65 than children under 5. By 2050, there will be an estimated 1.5 billion people age 65 or over.

In a survey of older people in 36 countries, 61% of older people have access to a mobile phone.

GOOD NEWS

Fortunately diabetes, obesity, hypertension and their downstream complications including cancer and heart disease are largely preventable. Studies also show that 40% of cancers (prostate, breast, lung and colon) and 75 % of all cardiovascular disease can be prevented by healthy behavior.

The Promise of mHealth

More than 4000 participants composed of “leaders in government, the private sector, industry, academia, providers and not-for-profit organizations from across the mHealth ecosystem” precisely gathered in one place to exchange data, information, knowledge, expertise as well as to demonstrate new mobile technologies with the goal of improving health outcomes worldwide.

Indeed, the use of mobile information and communication technology and applications for health is the promise of mHealth. As described by the mHealth Alliance, it “is the ability to assist in preventing the onset of debilitating, chronic diseases, and to assist in the management and treatment of existing conditions toward a society of citizens who are more productive, functional, and healthier.”

I feel proud and lucky to have participated in this large and very informative event!