Hold the phone!
The Robocall Blocker from Hammacher Schlemmer blocks nuisance calls on your landline and prevents your phone from even ringing. It connects to any landline and is pre-installed with a database of 5,000 numbers of the most notorious telemarketers and spam callers. If a nuisance caller not on the list gets through, the device has a red “Block Now” button that automatically ends the call and adds the number to its database of blocked callers. It has a 3-inch display, stores up to 6,500 numbers, and lets you edit the list in the event of an accidental block.
The Techruptors
Meet the Techruptors, that is, the group of consumers most likely to bring disruption to the technology industry. They tend to be young, digital natives who both understand technology and use more tech products and services than the general population – including ride sharing, entertainment streaming, wearable technology and virtual assistants. At the same time, they wish they were born in a time of less technology. These potential disruptors represent more than a third of the population (38 percent), according to the Social Permission and Technology Study, conducted by Ketchum. Techruptors are concerned about how fast technology is developing (67 percent). They also are at least somewhat worried (92 percent) about new developments in technology affecting their privacy. Similar to the general population, Techruptors are most concerned with protecting their personal identification (56 percent), their financial data (44 percent), and their health data (30 percent) from technology.
Bad to the bone
Lucyd Loud is the name of prescription-compatible Bluetooth smart glasses from Lucyd Pte LTD (Singapore). They are said to use bone conduction technology to deliver clear, open-ear sound to the wearer, and bring the functions of a Bluetooth headset to a normal sunglass form. The glasses are equipped with a microphone, speakers and a trackpad, allowing users to answer and control calls, listen to music, and access voice assistants like Siri, all without their smartphone ever leaving their pocket. A number of popular apps such as Whatsapp and Venmo can also be accessed via Siri with Lucyd Loud.
Hiring?
Engage, interview and hire better candidates faster and without bias – that’s what Montage promises with its Montage Intelligent Recruiting Assistant, or MIRA. The technology uses artificial intelligence to help hiring managers and interviewers avoid unconscious bias and discrimination, and drive more consistency into their candidate review and selection process. Candidates will be informed of how the hiring experience works, and the solution allows them to submit their on-demand interviews when it’s most convenient for them. When the interviews are completed, a notification will be sent. The candidate’s identity and voice is concealed until after the hiring manager enters feedback and a yes or no decision to advance the candidate is recorded in the platform. Visit https://engage.montagetalent.com/mira.
Help for overextended volunteers
MomClone™ announced its continued growth as the busy volunteer’s answer to managing school, sports, community, and personal activities and sign-ups. The company has added a Team Tool and Signup Tool to join its existing Gatherings Tool. These tools allow users to organize sports teams, volunteers, and invitations – all in one place with a single login. MomClone is said to eliminate annoying reply-all emails, banner ads, and upselling. Sign-up is free for the first 30 days.
Feel the music
Not Impossible Labs (Venice Beach, California) debuts “Music: Not Impossible (M:NI)” an applied Vibrotextile™ technology that translates sound onto the skin through vibration, allowing users to feel the nuances of a music-listening experience. Inspired by deaf music fans, M:NI’s use during a concert produces a dramatic effect for all participants, regardless of their hearing, delivering a shared ‘surround body’ experience, according to the company. Music: Not Impossible is a combination of wearables, hardware, software and wireless tools. The battery-powered wireless wearables include two wristbands, two ankle bands, and a harness; each element receives complex polyphonic musical expressions across the skin. Wearers may adjust the intensity of vibrations, which are visually represented via LED lights. An M:NI activation can scale the technology to any size arena or audience, and the signal may be broadcast across significant distances without interference.