What’s new in glucose monitoring?
Glucose monitoring technology is rapidly changing, and could soon impact the way your customers track their patients’ glucose levels. Integrated Device Technology, Inc. has received government approval for its Eversense® Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system, an implantable long-term glucose sensor using IDT’s sensing technology. For now, approval is limited to EU-member countries. The system features an implanted glucose sensor that lasts up to 90 days, or about six times longer than non-implantable systems currently on the market. The IDT® sensing solution incorporates an LED driver, temperature sensor, photodiodes and other components in a compact package to drive glucose measurements, which are wirelessly communicated to an on-body wearable transmitter. Roche recently announced it will market the Eversense CGM System in Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.
Hedge your loss
A new online reporting tool, Report My Loss, is designed to make it easier for people to report lost property, including cellphones, jewelry and more. Because it is part of Recipero’s Crime Reduction Ecosystem, many police and other agencies that recover property reportedly search Report My Loss records as part of their property investigation processes. A single report costs $5.95.
Good for the environment
Reusable bags are a great way to recycle. But, who has them when they need them? Burgans Enterprises, LLC, announced the release of Bagit!, a reusable bag reminder app for iPhone®, iPad® and Android devices. The app, available at www.howtobagit.net, is designed to help busy consumers ensure that reusable shopping and grocery bags are where they need them, when they need them. Bagit! allows users to customize a list of up to 20 stores and locations, including farmers markets, that they visit most frequently. When a user arrives at one of the stores on their list, the app sends a notification to their mobile device reminding them to take a reusable bag in with them. Users can also search for stores near them, by city or zip code, using a single tap in the app. Over a trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year, according to the Earth Policy Institute, which points out that plastic bags break down into smaller, toxic plastic and contaminates the environment. Over its lifespan, a single, reusable shopping bag is estimated to replace an average of 700 plastic bags. For more information visit www.howtobagit.net.
Smart glasses making healthcare smarter
Vuzix® Corporation, a supplier of video eyewear and M300 Smart Glasses products, has partnered with Silicon Valley-based Sensory to deliver TrulyHandsfree™ voice recognition on the M300, designed to improve the efficiency of workflows in telemedicine, as well as other areas. The partnership enhances voice recognition functionality, navigation and control of the next-generation Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses, enabling physicians to dictate and create medical records electronically while conducting examinations. The voice trigger, command and control operations with Sensory utilize embedded speaker ID and speaker verification technology based on deep machine learning technology. The M300 integrated with Sensory technology enables hands-free voice navigation of the user interface and is highly accurate even in high-noise conditions, allowing the user to speak commands such as, “go to menu,” “turn on camera, take picture, turn off camera,” “confirm pick,” and many others.
Living smarter
Advances in technology have impacted the way your customers care for their patients, as well as how you communicate with your customers. Technology has also made a difference in the way you live your life. Smart home appliances are next-generation home appliances that can receive, process and transmit information and communicate with devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops to enable the user to get real time information on the appliance, along with remote access and control. In the face of rising global energy demands, smart home appliances could facilitate real-time communication, enabling users to operate the appliance at lower frequencies or shift the operating time to off-peak periods.
Wireless charging
Your cell phone has died, your charger is at home and there’s no outlet in sight. In the near future, this may no longer be an issue. For instance, Hotel Technologies, a partner company of iHome, has selected an IDT® transmitter to deliver wireless charging for iHome’s newest products targeting the hotel market.
Safer cellphone
Distracted driving reportedly is one of the leading causes of road accidents, often due to cellphone texting. In fact, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have revealed that for drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 15 percent of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones. Figgers Communications has introduced the Figgers F1 Cell Phone with a built in mechanism that prevents texting and driving. The F1 detects motion on the driver’s side of an American vehicle when the car is in motion over 10 miles per hour, and puts the phone into a safe mode. The F1 is available for $399.99, and the company offers cellular service – including unlimited 4G LTE data and unlimited talk and text time to over 100 countries – for $50 per month. For more information visit http://www.Figgers.com.
Photos, videos and more
Western Digital Corp. has introduced the My Passport® Ultra portable hard drive, with up to 4TB capacity, reducing users’ need to carry large personal collections of videos, photos and other content with them. The device is roughly the size of a smartphone and offers WD Backup™ automatic backup software and password protection, coupled with USB 3.0 connectivity. My Passport Ultra 4TB portable hard drives have a 3-year limited warranty and are available from the WD store or at select retailers and distributors. The MSRP cost is $159.99.
Awake and alert
Avantechs Inc. has introduced Sleepman, a wearable gadget designed to help prevent drowsiness associated with driving or manage cat naps. Sleepman monitors electromagnetic bio-signals around the clock, providing visual insights into the user’s sleep patterns and daily activity to help improve sleep and wellbeing. Features include:
- Doze-Off Alert, to warn drivers at the earliest signs of concentration loss
- Bio-Smart Alarm, which monitors the user’s bio-signals and wakes him or her up in the optimum sleep stage, at the end of a night’s sleep
- Power Nap, to help users take a perfect power nap by waking them up before they fall into a deep sleep
Accessories include:
- Sleep Enhancer, which emits a series of micro-current impulses to the user’s palm to help sleep quality
- InsomniZap, designed to help the user fall asleep faster, using relaxing self-training procedures
- Heart Rhythms Monitor to warn of dangerous arrhythmia