Wearable Computing & Fashion News - Page 35

The latest and most important Wearable Computing & Fashion news - Page 35.

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Google rumored to unveil its own smartwatch very soon

Anthony Garreffa | Feb 22, 2014 9:26 PM CST

We reported about Google working on its own smartwatch all the way back in August of last year, but it looks like the Mountain View-based search giant is reaching the launching point of its new smartwatch.

TechCrunch is reporting that Google will "officially" begin shipping its smartwatch sometime in the second half of next month, but members from within Google's smartwatch team say that the date will be pushed back until June. Alternatively, Google could launch the smartwatch early, without its full feature set, which would be unfortunate.

According to people familiar with the matter, an early version of Google's smartwatch featured a metal band, square face, colorful digital display with a gradient background where colors gently fade from one to the other. Google will reportedly ship its smartwatch with a plastic band versus a metal band, like the Pebble Steel, but it is just one of the many prototypes the company is working on.

Continue reading: Google rumored to unveil its own smartwatch very soon (full post)

Wearable price, form factor need to drop to spur consumer attention

Michael Hatamoto | Feb 21, 2014 11:51 PM CST

Wearables have tremendous potential for the enterprise and consumer markets, but the industry still has multiple challenges to overcome. Companies are focusing more on the enterprise wearable market at the moment, but technology breakthroughs should trickle into consumer markets as familiarity and stability increase.

(From right to left: Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO; Paul Travers, Vuzix CEO; Fred Ishii, Iron CIty Micro Display founder; Mark Spitzer, Google X Director of Operations; and Jessica Lessin, moderator)

During the recent Kopin Wearable Technology Launch Event in Santa Clara, California, panelists spoke during a round table discussion and shared their views on what needs to change for the future of wearables to accelerate even faster.

Continue reading: Wearable price, form factor need to drop to spur consumer attention (full post)

Broadcom unveils new energy efficient GPS chip for smartwatches

Charles Gantt | Feb 20, 2014 6:48 PM CST

With the 2014 Mobile World Congress just around the corner, some of the major players behind the scenes in the mobile device world are beginning to release info on what can be found under the hood of the next-generation devices we will see showcased next week. Broadcom has just unveiled its newest System on Chip (SoC), that is designed for the smartwatch segment of the market.

The new BCM4771 GNSS System on Chip is designed to fix some of the power-hungry issues with GPS on current SoCs on the market. Built on a 40nm process, the chip features a new GPS sensor hub that us designed to not only shrink the component size, but greatly reduce the power draw of the device when used in applications where a small battery may be the only option. This comes in quite handy for devices like smartwatches and smart glasses, where batteries are typically in the 300-500mAh range. Broadcom says the device will launch in late March and will arrive in retail devices by the end of the summer.

Continue reading: Broadcom unveils new energy efficient GPS chip for smartwatches (full post)

Google guiding Glass users on social etiquette while wearing Glass

Anthony Garreffa | Feb 19, 2014 5:27 AM CST

Google is trying to stop people from making Glassholes of themselves in public with its wearable Glass device, so the Mountain View-based giant is now offering a list of "Do's" and "Dont's" of wearing Glass.

Google specifically asks Glass users: "Don't be creepy or rude (aka, a 'Glasshole')". Yes - Google even refers to "Glasshole", something I was quite shocked - but amused - to see. In the list of "Do's", Google wants you to take in the world around you, use Glass' voice commands, and Google wants you to "Ask for permission" while using Glass.

How so? Well, Google explains: "Standing alone in the corner of a room staring at people while recording them through Glass is not going to win you any friends (see Don'ts #4). The Glass camera function is no different from a cell phone so behave as you would with your phone and ask permission before taking photos or videos of others".

Continue reading: Google guiding Glass users on social etiquette while wearing Glass (full post)

Japan thinks smart Bras are the future of tech for women

Charles Gantt | Jan 28, 2014 9:50 AM CST

Back in 2013, we saw wearable tech really take the center stage and bloom into an entire new industry, with smart watches, exercise bands, and even smart glasses launching. 2014 is poised to take wearable technology to the next level, and if a new product being developed in Japan is any indication, wearables are going to get much more personal in the very near future.

Pictured above is the "True Love Tester" bra, a piece of smart lingerie that is designed to thwart off sneaky companions who might try to unhook its clasps covertly while its wearer is distracted. Unfortunately, that task is much harder with a smart-bra than it is with traditional underwear. The True Love Tester bra features sensors that feed back information on its wearers heart rate to a smartphone which analyzes the data and will only release the clasps if the heart rate signature indicate "true love."

The accompanying app is able to discern from other strenuous, heart rate elevating activities such as running, shopping, eating spicy food, or even getting frightened while watching a scary movie. While this all sounds cool, the app does not simply release a locking mechanism on the bra, it apparently flings the cups open with much gusto, which means that technology like this could provide for some interesting scenarios when worn in public with ones significant other near by.

Continue reading: Japan thinks smart Bras are the future of tech for women (full post)

Is the future of the porn industry Google Glass?

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 26, 2014 4:44 AM CST

Digital media experts who met in Hollywood late last week talked about the future of the porn industry, where movies and clips could be shot on wearable devices, such as Google Glass.

Thousands of people from multiple industries met at the W Hollywood Hotel for the XBIZ 360 conference, an event focused on the behind the scenes of the adult film industry. Owners from production companies were able to meet from people all across the world, where many of them agreed that the adult film industry has evolved into a corporate culture.

Miles Long, a director and cinematographer, was at XBIZ 360 on a panel to talk about the adult film industry, and whether it should embrace Ultra HD technology. He said: "It was great to have an intellectual conversation about this. I like this more than the tradition-style conventions".

Continue reading: Is the future of the porn industry Google Glass? (full post)

Man removed from movie theater and detained for wearing Google Glass

Charles Gantt | Jan 21, 2014 10:31 AM CST

Everyone reading this knows that both the MPAA and Hollywood studios are quite nuts when it comes to piracy, and today we are finding out just how crazy they are. While attending a showing of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit at an AMC movie theater in Columbus, Ohio, a man wearing Google Glass was removed from the theater and detained by the FBI for allegedly recording the movie.

The pair of Google Glasses were fitted with prescription lenses and the electronic side was completely switched off during the movie, but that did not stop a badge wielding official from removing the pair of glasses from the mans face followed by escorting him out of the theater. Once outside the man was met by several mall cops and the FBI who detained him and his wife in separate rooms and began demanding answers as to why he was recording the movie.

"About an hour into the movie, a guy comes near my seat, shoves a badge that had some sort of a shield on it, yanks the Google Glass off my face and says 'follow me outside immediately'. It was quite embarrassing and outside of the theater there were about 5-10 cops and mall cops," the man said in an interview.

Continue reading: Man removed from movie theater and detained for wearing Google Glass (full post)

Vuzix adds voice recognition to growing line of smart glasses

Michael Hatamoto | Jan 8, 2014 10:43 AM CST

Video eye company Vuzix will beef up its M100 smart glasses by including the company's proprietary Nuance Communications voice recognition software. The M100 Google Android-powered wearable display glasses won't need a data connection or software update for the new embedded voice software. Simple voice commands can be used to control and navigate the M100 menu system, opening the door to better user interaction. The software will be available with the Vuzix M100 2.0 OS release set for later this year.

"Vuzix is focused on delivering powerful wearable technologies to the industrial, medical and prosumer markets," said Paul Travers, Vuzix CEO, in a statement. "By integrating Nuance's voice technology into our M100 platform, we've given our customers even greater flexibility in the way they can use our smart glasses to solve issues that challenge their business."

The consumer market is seeing tremendous interest in wearable electronics, such as smart glasses, but it's the enterprise that could lead to wider adoption. Companies now realize the importance of staying on the technology forefront, so don't be surprised to see wearable electronics everywhere.

Continue reading: Vuzix adds voice recognition to growing line of smart glasses (full post)

Notch, a motion tracker that captures all body movement

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 6, 2014 6:08 PM CST

CES 2014 - Not to be confused with the guy who created Minecraft, but Notch is a new motion tracker that takes motion tracking to an entire new level.

Every single sensor in Notch collects accelerometer data, with 10 sensors pushing back the data to a user's smartphone at all times. The data collected is enough to allow skeletal tracking, as well as a much more detailed analysis on how your body is moving. Walking isn't a problem, but for physical movements like swinging a tennis racket, or a fly-kick, it will offer much more data into how the mechanics of the body are at that particular time.

Stepan Boltalin, CEO and co-founder calls it "symbolic muscle memory", which is a way of quantifying the motion of the body in a way that most professional athletes only know by physical feel. Boltalin explains: "Martial artists want to know the height of the kick, the amplitude, all of that."

Continue reading: Notch, a motion tracker that captures all body movement (full post)

Samsung to skip the smartwatch? Move to the Galaxy Band fitness band

Anthony Garreffa | Dec 24, 2013 7:36 PM CST

After the truly ridiculous train wreck of an ad for the Galaxy Gear, which you can watch below, it looks like Samsung could change its tune and release a fitness tracking band known as the Galaxy Band.

The South Korean-based giant released its Galaxy Gear smartwatch earlier this year to lackluster reviews from critics and consumers, announcing a successor to it very shortly after it hit wrists across the world. It was a preemptive move from the company, something that has hurt its image to consumers in the smartwatch space.

Korean language site Digital News Daily has said that Samsung is going to strike the fitness tracking band market next with the Galaxy Band. Samsung's Galaxy Band would be similar to that of the Jawbone UP and Nike's FuelBand, but would be compatible with its S Health application that is available on the Galaxy S4.

Continue reading: Samsung to skip the smartwatch? Move to the Galaxy Band fitness band (full post)