IOT, will you marry me ?

After the connected glasses, the connected watches : NEW ID.IOTS presents you the new trendy thing : the connected ring.

 

 

As the other connected objects, this type of ring is « internet friendly » thanks to your smartphone. Its uses are similar to those of the bracelets or watches : read emails, time, call management etc. Nothing very innovative for a very high price (between 200 and 300 dollars).

 

 

 

But the « Fin » ring can change this connected objects landscape.

 

 

Presented at CES 2014, this ring placed on the thumb controls all surroundings screens with the movements of your hands. It could be the end of touchscreens in a near future ! Actually, the release of the Fin is for the end of 2014 and at a competitive price : 100 dollars.

 

 

Don’t you think these connected rings bring a little bit more of internet in fashion  ?

Sarah BOURGEL

Sleep day and night with NeuroOn

This week I come back with a connected object in order to improve your health. The mask which I’ll talk about is really necessary for insomniacs like me! Connected objects most preferred are those of quantified self. What better than a thorough analysis of our health? It is certain that it must delight hypochondriacs which are stressed about their health! Results posted on our smartphones are like conversations between our body and our mind. Our body indicates any problem we have in datavisualisations through our smartphone, and our minds will do anything to change our behavior in response to this problem.

 

So NeuroOn, what is it? NeuroOn is a sleep mask connected via Bluetooth to user’s smartphone, in order to measure sleep to finally sleep more effectively.

Sleep is something difficult to control. Some people are tired even after 8 hours of sleep because they do not know their sleep is irregular at night because they are unconsciousness. With a powerful bluetooth (Bloothooth 4.0) and electronic sensors, NeuroOn saves our sleep and transcribed it on our smartphone. The mask analyzes brain waves, muscle tension and eye movements.

But then? What do we do with all this datas to improve our sleep?

The mask allows us to transform our monophasic sleep into polyphasic sleep.

 

Sleep a lot does not necessarily mean that you sleep better. You have to change your sleep mode to improve your night. This requires spread of hours of sleep over the day instead of sleeping every night in one go. Naps are good for our health. According to clinical studies, it is better to sleep several times a day that once. I think that employers must obligate their employees to do nap after lunch. They will be more effictive at work after that.

The best :

–       The mobile application is suitable for iOS and Android

–       NeuroOn’s battery takes 10 days

Cons:

I do not imagine myself sleeping with as large a mask on the face. It must not be practical because it prevents me from sleeping! That’s the last straw!

 

The NeuroOn masks transforms our dreams into reality, and we will be never tired! But if you want that really happens to you, you must help this young Polish company on Kickstarter!

Oh but wait! The company has received all the money its needed to sell their connected object on the market (more than $ 438,000 for an initial target of $ 100,000). Great! A little patience, Neuron will be available very soon for $ 230!

So… will you be ready to shorten your nights to feel great throughout the day?

Marie NEBRA

The Event Social Messaging !

When events want to be connected to the virtual world, they may use inevitably social networks as a link between these two paradoxical universes.

But which event connected to twitter did not come up against a problem of real time updating to follow the tweets of the participants. There is also the problem of the Facebook page which is only use before the event to inform about it and after to talk about it, but which is not useful during it. The As You Like agency tries to find answer to this problematic.

Events can nowadays enjoy the interactivity between social network and the real world. For example questions of worldwide send by text on a specific number during the event can be used and projected under a digital screen. We all know tweets that are commented by a presenter. But our favourites example is the connected laser projector…

This participative invention allows the guests to share messages with all the assembly in different kind of event: cocktail, award ceremony or party… Consequently, finish the applications, the SMS numbers or the ultras-equipped control rooms. You just need a smartphone equipped with the 4G or connected to the WiFi of the establishment, to like the fan page Facebook of future-event, and then to publish your impressions and your messages on the event’s wall. One more time, a moderator hidden behind the social network, select the messages that will be projected immediately to the screen of the event thanks to a powerful laser system.

A message to pulling another, the mass effect creates a huge animation for the guests. But, in case of lack of energy during the event, the community manager can reboot himself the debate.

 

That is a very good solution to create a proximity relation with our guest and arouse the membership on Facebook.

Moreover, the frames and logos published can be also projected.

An idea among others to connect yours events on the socials networks.

Léo DAILLY

Ninja Blocks, a connected object created for a hawk problem !

Ninja Blocks is an Australian start-up whose project is to generalize and make easier the home automation. The principle is to use a connected object and control different sensors in order to make your home connected. This is a crowdfunding project and the product was delivered for the first time at the end of 2012. The Ninja Blocks system is different thanks to the interactions with social networks.

The engineer and product’s creator Marcus Schappi decided to work on this project because he discovered that a hawk tried to eat his chickens: « I decided I needed motion sensors to detect when predators were sneaking up on the coop », he says.

 

The setting of each sensor is realized thanks to the « Ninja Cloud », this is a personal online space. Furthermore, Ninja Blocks is compatible with Facebook, Dropbox, Twitter, Google Docs, phones, Xbox Live…

The « Ninja Rules App » is a simple way to connect devices and web applications.

Owners of Ninja Blocks can create rules:

-to turn on the lights and increase the temperature when they get home,

-to get an alert when the washing machine is done,

-to turn on or off their appliances,

-to send a message to their mobile phone when someone is at the door…

– They can create a security system that sends them a message when a motion is detected, or if a door or a window is opened. Images are sent and saved to their Dropbox.

– Thanks to the remote control app, they can control and monitor their appliances anywhere. For example, they can make sure that electric machines are turned off or if their family is at home.

– They can use the « temperature and humidity sensor » to monitor the wine collection or use the “Ninja Rules Engine” to create a great thermostat.

– The included wireless doorbell can notify them when someone is at the door. Being informed is very convenient to know when a guest or the deliveryman is arrived.

– The Ninja block is compatible with Arduino.

– They can control their Ninja Block’s « RGB LED eyes ». For example, they can change the color of their Ninja Block’s eyes depending on events.

– The included wireless motion sensor permits them to have a security system and to know if somebody is in the house.

– The wireless « window and door sensor » reinforces the security system too. They just have to stick the sensor to the door and window, and then the sensor will notify if they are opened.

 

The Ninja Blocks dashboard:

 

In the Ninja Blocks Kit, there are:

– a Ninja Block.

– a wireless motion sensor.

– a wireless door/window contact sensor.

– a wireless button.

– a wireless temperature and humidity sensor.

– an Ethernet Cable.

– a 5VDC 3 Amp Power supply with connectors (for US, EU, UK, and AU).

– a Temperature Probe.

 

Price of the Ninja Blocks Kit: $ 199

Click on the link below to discover the website: http://ninjablocks.com/pages/home

 

Today, the company is creating a new product, called the « Ninja Sphere », that will be more interesting. With this product, owners will access to more advanced functions such as learning habits, gesture recognition… You will discover it in a future article.

Alexie BONNEFOND

When Google becomes fashion…

In our last « fashion » article, we presented you ewatches. Obviously, Google could not pass up the trend of connected watches & clothing !

Last week, Google launched Androïd Wear, a new Android OS for wearables.

What is it ?

How does it work ?

 

Why an extending version of Android ?

Simply in order to catch this new market and become a key player of the wearable connected objects. For example, your little company wants to create a new smartwatch. Development of the software can take a long time and cost you a lot. With Google Android Wear, you have a simple solution, which you can easily integrate in your object for the cost of a simple licence (if Google don’t give it for free). Thereby, Google capitalize (like with the normal version of Android and GooglePlay) on the exponential potential of this growing market.

We should learn more about Android wear in the next Google I / O at the end of June.

 

However, several partners are already announced like: Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung.
The possible future of Android Wear

It’s just the beginning of what is possible to do with mobile technology. That’s the reason why Google is so interested in the wearables: a thriving new market. Android Wear’s project will extend the Android Operating System to clothes. And it ‘s a revolution! Imagine if, with that OS, you can monitor your health with captors placed in your shirt for example? And that, just with a touch on your watch and some few words like « OK Google »? Uses could be infinite and varied. Chatting, texting, do search on the Internet: Everything your computer do and so many more! Google is now on a gold mine of development.

 

And what about advertising?

 

Selling advertising is the main business of Google. And what if this new version of Android was just another way for Google to know even more about you, your habit, the place you like to go, the food you eat…?

 

By putting Android (wear) in object that are always with you, always on you, monitoring you (accelerometers, heart rate monitors, etc.), Google will be able to now more, with your help and all the manufacturers associated with it.

The Mountain View’s firm wants to become a reflex for all the contractors in connected objects. After putting on your eyes the Google Glasses, Google is now putting on your wrist a little innovation you cannot live without…  So in the (near) future, Android Wear will pass and democratize technology in clothing. Google is a key player and the most innovative and malignant 21st century company 😉

Sarah BOURGEL

Tame the sun with June by Netatmo !

This week, we will talk about June by Netnatmo. Summer is coming closer and closer and the sun has been shining all week so we want to prevent you about sunbeams over your skin.

French companies are in honour again: This article is dealing with the bracelet June by Netnatmo.

What it is June? How can we use this bracelet?

June was discovered at the CES 2014 in Las Vegas and was rewarded in two categories : « Wearable technologies » and « Tech for a better world ». It is like a jewel on your wrist that gives you advices about your level of sun exposure. It prevents you at any timeof what your daily sundose is directly  on your smartphone. Thanks to solar cells that are hidden in the facets, June can avoid you sun damage and prevent you from premature skin ageing. June is especially directed to women because of its design with its leather bracelet. Its imitation gem is designed by Camille Toupet.

Concerning the free application for smartphones, all the information are transmitted by the little facets of the imitation jewel on the bracelet. UV rays are detected by these facets and a message will appear when there is a risk for your skin. To prevent sunburn, the application indicates if we have to put some sunscreen on our skin, or sunglasses or even a hat.

We can say that Netatmo had taken the good shift of the rise of Internet of Thing in proposing a connected object which is dealing with fashion and beauty.

The June’s bracelet price is about $95, so that is affordable. But we can notice that this connected object is not for men because of its feminin design. Moreover, the application is only for iPhone 4S. To finish, June is not waterproof and that could be seen as a problem when spending an entire day at the beach in summer.

Marie NEBRA

The connected party : lanching of Audi e-tron

We can’t talk about connected event without coming back on the party of launching of Audi e-tron sportback. The gasoil and electric hybrid car with PHEV: plug in hybrid-car.

This is 5 months that Audi electrified Paris, the 23th of September 2013 in Porte de Versailles to eletric Paris. It’s 1000 square meters of pure design, a balcony of 400 square meters and an esplanade of 22000 square meters to admire Paris in 360 degrees.

This unique place was designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, rising figure of French design.

The event gathered more than 1000 guests and VIP like Pascal Elbe, PhilippeLellouche, Axelle Laffont, Vincent Perez, Fred Testot and Zoé Félix.

The animation was assured by 2manyDJs (Stephen and David Dewale, two belgiums brothers (“mash up”’s leader) and Gesaffelstein (énergic techno’s figure, black and haunting, dancefloor and emotional).

Audi knew how play with surrounding elements like gigantic bay windows of the place which permitted to guests admire wonderful animated light projections. This for give birth to the robot “e-tron”, the new Audi technologic representative.

An event plenty connected :

Influents Bloggers are selected (directly contacted by phone and after by mail in order to present them the technology and the event and at last by sms) by the brand, was invited on the roof of the hall 7 at Porte de Versailles. They borrow the red carpet and have easily flashed a QR code for allow the image rights (movie during the party) and get a RFID bracelet as a VIP pass.

With the connected bracelet guests interacted with social networks  all the night with animation, connected terminals, photo boots in increase reality…

Guests publications on social networks, in wich the hachtag “#e tron” was, were automatically shown in real-time on giant screen and on the website.

The bracelet permitted too to get back the party’s pictures and publish instantly.

The negative point, Wifi was absent during the party, surprising for a party who talk about a new Wifi technology

At last, downstream the event, guests received their pictures and videos of the party to thank them for their presence.

Clearly, the event made thé buzz with thé efficiency of thé social networks animation, and thanks to thé event-driven communication agency Double2 and thé agency multi canale WEAD.

Léo DAILLY

The South Korean group doesn’t joke !

« The connected home » is definitively a real thing.

LG introduced new ways to communicate with smart appliances at the CES 2014 in Las Vegas.

Many new products were presented by LG during the CES 2014, but the most impressive was the « HomeChat » system.

Thanks to LG HomeChat, users can monitor their appliances without efforts even if they are far from their house. They can start up their washing machine, download files, and check what is missing in the refrigerator… just by sending text messages.

LG HomeChat did it by associating the Natural Language Processing (NLP) and the mobile messenger « Line » with the smartphone. The « Line » messenger application is required for the good working of the system. This application is available on main smartphone platforms: iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows.

– Owners of LG’s smart washing machine can start a load of laundry at a distance away. They can receive notifications when their laundry is finished.

– Owners of LG’s automatic Hom-Bot Square vacuum can program it to clean their house when they want. They can know when the last clean has been done by requesting to their vacuum cleaner.

– Owners of LG smart appliances can manage their refrigerators by receiving messages on their smartphones. They know in real time if they have to buy something, and they know what they have to buy. Furthermore, they can know if products are reaching their expiration date and discover recipes based on products they already have.

– Thanks to HomeChat and « Recipe Search », owners of LG’s smart oven can have advices for everyday meals. They can program their oven with an auto-select mode in order to avoid doing it by hand.

Announcing the launch of HomeChat, Seong-jin Jo, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Home Appliance Company said: « Always at the forefront of innovation, LG is continually striving to inspire smarter consumer lifestyles in meaningful ways. We’re excited to be able to bring to CES our smart appliances with the newest communication and intelligence capabilities. »

For the moment, HomeChat system only works with LG products. LG spent a long time researching and creating this system, the most complicated was the implementation of language, particularly a quantity of simple phrases into this software. LG analyzed how users could communicate with their appliances. This new technology is only available in English and Korean but other languages will be introduced in the future.

Now the question is: are you ready to buy all of these smart appliances?

Here is the link to watch the LG HomeChat announcement:

Alexie BONNEFOND

eWatch, the connected watch : New tech or new fashion watch ?

eWatch may be the futur of watch, or may be not.

 What is it and what is it for ?

This little piece of gear (but not so little when you wear it at your own wrist) works like a little smartphone or quite the extension of it.  The screen, visible part of the iceberg made of electronic, can show you a ton of informations. From the daytime to your heartbeat, these electronic’s watches are also connected to your smartphone (in Bluetooth or WiFi, showing you smart messages, phone calls, emails, calendar’s appointment…)

 

The symbolism of the watches.

From time to time, watches were pieces of jewelry used to indicate the passing time, but not only. It’s also a way to show who you are, where you’re from (in term of social scale). It’s something very personal, that you don’t buy because your neighbor or your friend got the same, but because you want it to be unique. And like a masterpiece, some are very very expensive. For women, watches are real jewels that dress her, they can match their clothes with, be more beautiful. For men, it is more of a symbol of virility, a jewel with a stronger character.

 

Cartier’s fine jowelry watch :

 

 

So how can eWatches deal with what a real watch is for ?

First of all, like every smartphone, you can personalize it. You can put picture on the screen, make this one looks like a Rolex or an Omega for example. Some company go further like Peeble, with the ability to change the watche strap. Will it be enough to let you show your personality ? In fact, There is less models of these watches, even if you can personnalizes it, the « base » stills the same for every models and so for everyone.

Then, eWatches can be seen like an extension of your smartphone or a kind of control center (if you  connect it to other stuff like heartbeat monitor, connected clothes) and not anymore like an only passing time monitor. Theis type of watch can be used in fashion, put some technology in it, customize fashion.

Some mechanical watches are real masterpieces, with stratospheric prices like in fine jewelry. eWatches are far from that… For now ! But maybe, one day, some companies like IWS or Panerai will be interested by these connected piece of gear… Time will decide !

But meantime Samsung seems to have some difficulties to sell his Galaxy Gear, and we are always waiting for the Apple’s one : the famous iWatch.

 

iWatch prototye ?

 

Samsung Galaxy Gear Commercial :

 

Today, eWatches are considered as gadgets wich cannot be personnalized and cannot be « fashion ». The big issue for eWatches producers is to make them attractive, customizable and especially « fashion » in addition to their technological use !

 

Sarah BOURGEL

 

The Withings Bluetooth Tensiometer

Connected objects will take more and more importance in our lives in the years to come. They will transform our everyday life. According to Syntec Numérique, 64% of people want the most modern and up-to-date health tools. With connected objects, researchers will be able to make the medicine progress. For a fact, it is usually difficult for elderly people to go to the doctor, and follow-ups are complicated, especially when most patients live in the countryside.

 

The tensiometer :

Withings is a young company created in 2008. It creates, develops, and commercializes connected objects for health. They received many prizes from the CES.

The Withings Bluetooth Tensiometer can measure the systolic (in other words, the blood pressure sent by the heart in the arteries), the diastolic hypertension (the relaxation of the heart) and the pulse (heart rate in one minute). To do so, patients only have to download the application « Le Compagnon Santé » (Health Companion in english), compatible with all devices, iOS and Android, put on the Tensiometer, turn it On, and it will automatically inflate their forearm and measure their hypertension.

If you hesitate or are weary, don’t worry because Withing is certified by the European Hypertension Society. Results are reliable and can be backed by the opinion of a doctor. Results are reliable and can be backed by the opinion of a doctor. With the application, the results of the blood hypertension and the heart rate can easily be shared with a physician. It makes doctors able to follow their patients daily if they suffer from hypertension. The Tensiometer is user-friendly and keeps data synchronized with the Withing’s online account with charts easily accessible from the app’s dashboard, so patients can have their results everywhere. Interpreting it is really easy and understandable, even without doing 7 years of medicine !

Pros and cons :

     Pros :

•    It is bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy and Smart Ready!
•    It is compatible with iOS and Android

     Cons :

•    Unfortunately is uses LR3, AAA batteries instead of a charger.
•   The price is rather high (€129,95), fortunately the application is free.
•   The application is not yet compatible with tablets (unfortunately as 8 million of individuals in France have a tablet)

 

 

Be careful! This connected object doesn’t replace a real doctor in flesh and bone ! 😉

Marie NEBRA