Sensors and transducers are a necessary component for for wearables and other Internet-of-Things devices - creating one that can stretch has been a goal for many trying to incorporate this technology into fabrics.
Korean scientists have just published their research on a stretchable speaker (that can also be used as a microphone) for use in wearables.stretchable.jpg
The transducer that they call a "Stretchable Acoustic Device" (SAD) uses a liquid metal coil, fabricated by injecting galinstan (an alloy of gallim, indium and tin) into an elastic form with a powerful neodymium magnet.
The speaker/mic could be sewed into clothing or applied to backpacks, hats, gloves, flexible phones, etc. In addition to traditional acoustic signal use, it could also be used for sensing biological signals (say a heartbeat or muscle contractions) or in hearing aid systems.
Here’s a link to the research paper and a video that shows the speaker/mic in action.
Interesting stuff!
I use Chrome for most browsing on Macs and PCs, it’s relatively fast, doesn’t have a lot of fluff and works well with Google tools. But I haven't used it a lot on iOS devices. This may change.
Google just released version 44 of its iOS browser to support the Physical Web standard that connects smart devices directly to Chrome (this feature has been available in Android for some time.)
How would it work? A bus stop might send a URL directly to Chrome’s Today widget to tell you when the next bus is scheduled to arrive or to make a payment. Or, you could pay vending machines or parking meters using Chrome.
This release of Chrome also provides a new swipe feature to go forward and backward in browsing history.
As more and more devices come on line, they need a way to communicate quickly and easily in order to be used effectively. Google Physical Web could help.
Panasonic recently announced that they would sell a commercial version of an exoskeleton that their subsidiary, ActiveLink, has been working on.
It’s designed to increase its wearer’s carrying capacity by 15 kg/33 lbs. This suit uses carbon-fiber, a number of sensors and motors and weighs just 13 lbs. It attaches to the wearers back, legs and feet. They’ve been testing it in warehouses in Osaka and with forestry workers.
ActiveLink is working on a larger version that will enable the operator to carry an additional 100 kg/220 lbs.
Here’s a link to a video of their big exoskeleton in action: http://activelink.co.jp/common/images/powerloader.wmv
I'd bet, at the right price, big box stores, commercial warehouses and the folks over at Weyland-Yutani would find this useful.
Here’s an odd but interesting little device. It’s a tiny printer called droPrinter that you can use to print from your smartphone.
The printer automatically pairs with your phone and allows you to “screen print” anything on your smartphone screen, iOS or Android. It’s rechargeable and will print continuously for 7 hours (5 days in standby.) The droPrinter uses thermal paper – the kind you use on a printing calculator - so there's no ink to deal with. And it’s small – about the size of a smartphone, but considerably thicker (see picture.)
Good for printing grocery lists, to-do lists, theater tickets, etc.
It’s a fully funded Kickstarter project and should be available spring 2016 for around $100 ($50 Kickstarter pre-sale.)
How would you use this device?
Windows 10 will be out by the end of the month and HP has some cool products coming out that support it.
On the hardware side is their HP Pro Tablet 608. It's an 8” tablet with an Intel Atom-Z8500 processor, 4 GB memory, 128 GB of storage and a USB-C port. Should be out in August for $480.
Several of their newest PC’s support “dual-array microphones” with improved noise-cancelling software for better voice control with Cortana.
On the software security side is a cool feature called Sure Start. It checks the BIOS before boot time and if it finds that the BIOS has been modified, it replaces it with the original. A similar feature is available in Windows Secure Boot – but that just refuses to boot if it detects a problem. Sure Start will be included with Elite notebooks and ZBooks.
If you're looking for a new PC for home or back-to-school, several of the new Windows 10 HP's will be available for purchase ahead of the July 28 release date so that they can be delivered by July 28.
Apple has been using iBeacons in their stores for some time now. Beacons provide a low power signal that identifies them to smartphone applications. Basically, all they send is an identifier via low-energy Bluetooth and it’s up to the application on the smartphone to do something with this identifier. It might look up the ID and then, based on its proximity, display some location-specific information – maybe a special deal on a product that’s nearby, or perhaps offer more information on something you’re standing in front of. The beacon is usually battery powered and very cheap (~$10 or so.) Currently iBeacons only work with Apple devices.
Now, Google is getting into this business, with Eddystone. However they’re basing their beacons on open standards – if you have a Bluetooth Low-Energy smartphone, it should work with their product.
This should open up this space to some competition and provide a platform for retailers, museums, restaurants, public transit and other venues to provide more targeted marketing information to smartphones in these places.
A differentiator for Eddystone is that it can send different types of data, beyond just an identifier - say a URL. This could be used to open a website in a browser window, similar to a QR Code, but without having to take a picture with a QR app. Another possible application might be for restaurants where a menu could be displayed when you’re waiting in line, or at your table.
Another type of data that could be transmitted is telemetry data including battery charge remaining, beacon health, etc. These could be used to manage “fleets” of beacons.
Radius Networks, a supplier or technology, can update their beacons to run the new Eddystone protocols with a simple firmware upgrade.
Is there a potential for using a similar technology at our facilities? What business applications could you envision for this technology?
I did an Apple Watch demo yesterday and one question that several people asked was "Does it work without an iPhone?" The answer is yes & no... I thought I'd provide some details here.
Most Apple Watch apps are really just a front-end for apps running on your iPhone. For example the watch uses GPS on the phone to know where it is. So, while the health app on the watch can track your heart rate and steps, without an iPhone, it couldn't track your course. Also, the watch doesn't have a cell radio to make or receive calls without an iPhone attached. Finally, you need an iPhone to set up the watch in the first place.
So, what can the watch do without your iPhone nearby?
- One feature I couldn't demo in 3D was the ability of the watch to be used for Apple Pay. Once it's configured, you don't need to be connected to an iPhone to use Apple Pay.
- You can use your watch to board airplanes (if the boarding pass has been previously downloaded from your phone.) Electronic tickets can also be used for theaters, etc. if you have previously downloaded them.
- You can listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks previously stored on your watch using a Bluetooth headset. 2GB is reserved on the watch for this kind of thing.
- If you have a Bluetooth-enabled smart lock or PC lock you should be able to use the watch to unlock it.
- You can track your workout on your watch - then sync it up with the Health app later.
- You can control your AppleTV or iTunes on your Mac or PC using the "Remote" app on the watch.
- The watch, stopwatch, timer and the alarm functions all work without being connected to the iPhone.
- You can read previously downloaded emails and text messages without the iPhone connection.
- You can view your calendar without your phone connected.
I hope this helps - if you have other questions, just ask!
