All posts by Todd Cochrane

CentraLite Smart Switch Talks to Smart LED Bulbs

February 10, 2016CES 2016, HomeCentraLite, ces, CES 2016Todd Cochrane

The Internet of Things is made up of several smart devices and appliances. The trick is to figure out what to do with this technology to make it work best for you in your home. CentraLite is “the man behind the curtain” that makes the IoT devices for a lot of companies that you have heard of.

Daniel spoke with Director of Marketing for CentraLite, Jason Whatley at CES 2016. CentraLite is an IoT device manufacturer. They make things like smart sensors, thermostats, in-wall switches, and more for companies you’ve heard of like Samsung’s SmartThings and Lowe’s Iris system. CentraLite has been making IoT devices since before there was an “internet of things”.

One of the devices CentraLite makes is a Smart Switch. It solves two problems that home owners who use Smart LED bulbs have. One problem is that turning off the Smart LED bulbs kills the power to those bulbs. The other problem is that there isn’t a convenient way to turn a Smart LED bulb on or off without pulling out your smartphone. The Smart Switch is a device that goes over an existing light switch in your home. It locks out the switch and provides dimming buttons that talk to the LED Smart bulbs.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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The Aira Jacket Gives You a Massage On-Demand

February 3, 2016CES 2016ces, CES 2016, TWareTodd Cochrane

At the end of a tough work day, it is not unusual to end up with a tired and aching body. Whether you are lugging around equipment, or hunched over a keyboard, work can cause you to need a massage. AiraWear has the perfect solution to this problem – and you can wear it while you work!

Daniel spoke with Product Manager of TWare,Tan Juan Yuan at CES 2016. TWare is a wearable tech company that creates devices that you can wear on your body. Their first product was a TJacket that inflates, wraps around the body, and gives the wearer a hug. It was designed for autistic children and can help them calm down when they are feeling agitated.

TWare’s newest product is part of a brand called AiraWear. The Aira massage jacket provides massage on-demand. Aira is connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone app. Use the app to control the intensity of the massage. The Aira provides a massage to a person’s shoulders, middle back, and lower back.

The Aira is very quiet and will not be heard at all (unless the room is extremely silent). It has a battery that lasts for 3 hours of intensive usage. The battery can be recharged via a USB port, and extended by using a power bank. The retail price of the Aira massage jacket is $249. Tware will be setting up a crowdfunding campaign for it in early March of 2016.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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View the Future With Vuzix iWear Video Headphones

February 3, 2016CES 2016ces, CES 2016, VuzixTodd Cochrane

Vuzix is a leading developer of smart glasses and video eyewear. Their products are designed to let you view the future. They make watching a video, or playing a video game, more portable and exciting than ever before.

Daniel spoke with Director of Consumer Sales for Vuzix, Mike Hallett at CES 2016. They talked about the amazing Vuzix iWear Video Headphones. They come in two versions: an HDMI version and a wireless version.

The newest version is the iWear Wireless Video Headphones. They are the second generation of the iWear Video Headphones that Vuzix released last year. The new version is completely wireless.

Both versions of the iWear Video Headphones offer a virtual, private, personal, home theater that you can take on the road with you. They each give you a virtual 125 inch screen as viewed from 10 feet. They have full 3D capabilities, full headphones, and video. One unique thing about them is that they have been designed so the weight of the product rests on the back of your head (instead of on your face like other products do). This provides users with a more comfortable experience, whether they are using the product to watch a movie or to play a video game.

The iWear Video Headphones are available on the Vuzix website for $499.99. The new version of the iWear Video Headphones will be available in the summer of 2016.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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Datavideo Makes Products That Help People Do Shows

February 2, 2016CES 2016, Videoces, CES 2016, DataVideoTodd Cochrane

Whether you are just getting into video production and live streaming, or if you are a seasoned professional at it, you are going to need the right gear to help you get the job done. DataVideo is a live production manufacturer that creates products that help people to do shows.

Don spoke with Managing Director of Datavideo Craig Moffat. They discussed two of Datavideo’s multitude of products: The DAC-70 and the NVS- 25.

The DAC-70 is an up/down cross converter. It has been described as a “Swiss army knife” and is their most popular product. It is made of durable aluminum. The DAC-70 converts from one format to the other: from SDI to HDMI or from HDMI to SDI. It can slide into a rack, and a studio can use multiple DAC-70 converters if they need to.

The NVS-25 is a video streaming server/recorder. It lets you stream any video source. It functions as a dedicated server that encodes your video and streams it. Point it towards the URL of wherever you stream at. Turn on the NVS-25, and it will always go to that site. There is also a drop down menu you can put your URL into. It takes ten minutes to set up, and you don’t have to set up more than once if you are always streaming at the same URL. You can attach a USB storage device to the front of the NVS-25 and record your video onto it.

The DAC-70 is available now at the Datavideo website at MSRP $500. The NVS-25 is also available now at the Datavideo website at MSRP $800.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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Cyberlink Refreshes Creativity Software For 2016

February 2, 2016CES 2016ces, CES 2016, CyberlinkTodd Cochrane

cyberlink-3d-blueray For 2016 CyberLink refreshes both its photo editing and video editing products, including PhotoDirector 7, a $79.99 photo editor, and PowerDirector 14, a $99.99 video editor.

CyberLink aims both products at photo and video editors that are looking for software with an intuitive interface that doesn’t require a steep learning curve. CytberLink video editing offers a wide range of downloadable, easy-to-use professional video effects that are difficult to build from scratch.

CyberLink offers individual products and bundles via their website either as downloads or in boxed sets, available now. The individual products and product suites are available at big box retailers, as well as Amazon and at the CyberLink website.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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Hatch Baby is Changing the Face of New Parenthood

February 2, 2016CES 2016ces, CES 2016, Hatch BabyTodd Cochrane

voWe9otw_400x400 New parents face a lot of joy – and also some anxiety. Hatch Baby is creating a series of smart nursery products for new parents. They are trying to take away the anxiety and bring back the joy of new parenthood. Their first product is intended to give reassurance to new parents.

Don spoke with CEO of Hatch Baby, Ann Crady Weiss at CES 2016. Hatch Baby’s first product is called the Smart Changing Pad. It is a redesign of the traditional changing pad that is found in every nursery. It has a Wi-Fi scale built in so a parent can know that their baby is growing as she should be and that their baby is getting enough nutrition. It is a way to check on weight when you are not at the doctor’s office.

The Smart Changing Pad is easy to use. Place the baby on it and take a weight reading (by pressing a button). The Smart Changing Pad is as accurate as scales in most pediatrician’s offices. The data about the baby’s weight will be sent to the cloud and then sent to the Hatch Baby app on your phone.

The Smart Changing Pad can also tell a parent how much a baby drank. Weigh the baby, then feed the baby, then weigh the baby again. The difference in the two weight readings shows you exactly how much the baby drank.

The Smart Changing Pad is so popular that Hatch Baby’s current shipment sold out due to overwhelming demand. They will ship more again in March of 2016. The Hatch Baby app is free for anyone to use. The Smart Changing Pad is priced at $299.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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CES Day One TPN Picks

February 2, 2016CES 2016ces, CES2016, videoTodd Cochrane

It’s the end of day 1 at CES and Don, Todd and Jamie get together to review the day’s events.

The TPN pick of day comes from Don and is the Panono panoramic camera with no less that 36 cameras built into ball (even if Don can’t say “Panono”). Throw it in the air and it takes a full hi-res sphere of photos.

An honourable mention also goes to the Dog and Bone LockSmart Bluetooth padlock which has some innovative features beyond simply using a smartphone to unlock a padlock.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and holds lectures at TheGadgetProfessor.com
Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.
Jamie Davis is the host of Health Tech Weekly at HTWeekly.com. He is a nurse, paramedic and health journalist.

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Blast Motion Captures Baseball Swing

February 2, 2016CES 2016, Sportbaseball, ces, CES2016, interview, sports, videoTodd Cochrane

Here at CES, there’s been all kinds of sporting sensors and motion trackers from tennis rackets to golf clubs. The Easton Power Sensor with Motion by Blast brings the same kind of technology to baseball bats. Jamie and Daniel take a swing with Donavan Prostrollo, Senior Director of Marketing at Blast.

On show here is the Easton Power Sensor which attaches to the base of a baseball bat. Unlike the sensors in some other sporting goods, it can be switched between bats. The Motion by Blast software then synchronises video of the player with the telemetry from the sensor to show exactly what’s happening when the player takes a swing. The data is sent via Bluetooth to a nearby smartphone or tablet and the software automatically identifies the swings and clips the video to create a series of video highlights, overlaid with metrics such as swing speed, time to contact, swing direction, power, efficiency, etc.

At US$149, the Easton Power Sensor is not an impulse purchase but it is very affordable for a baseball team or serious player. Available now both online and at good sports shops.

Jamie Davis is the host of Health Tech Weekly at HTWeekly.com. He is a nurse, paramedic and health journalist.
Daniel J Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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Wistiki Tracking Tags by Philippe Stark

February 2, 2016CES 2016bluetooth, ces, CES2016, interview, security, tracking, videoTodd Cochrane

Bluetooth tracking devices are fairly common but when the tags have been designed by Philippe Starck as “connected jewels”, it’s definitely worth taking a look. Lisa Despeyroux, Wistiki’s Communications and PR manager connects with Jamie and Daniel to tell them more about Hopla!, Voila! and Aha!

French outfit Wistiki have partnered with the famous designer, Philippe Starck, to create three shapes of tracking device (or Wistikis) in four colours. Hopla! is credit card shaped for wallets and purses, Voila! is rectangular for keychans and the oval Aha! dangles for pets or gear. Colour-wise, the choice is yellow, blue, orange and pink. It all adds up to Gallic flair!

As with most tracking systems, the Wistiki connects to an app on the smartphone and there’s a fairly standard set of features including ring, reverse ring and leash. There’s an additional neat feature where if someone finds a lost Wistiki, they can message the original owner to arrange return. And the ringtone is cool too.

The new range is launching on Indiegogo now with expected delivery in late 2016. Current perks offer six Wistikis for US$149.

Jamie Davis is the host of Health Tech Weekly at HTWeekly.com. He is a nurse, paramedic and health journalist.
Daniel J Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast

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Essence Behaviour Analysis for the Smart Home

February 2, 2016CES 2016, Health, Homeces, CES2016, Health, home automation, interview, security, videoTodd Cochrane

Coming from a background in home security, Essence have used their understanding of monitoring to develop a range of products for the smart home to enable independent living for those people who might otherwise have difficulty looking after themselves. Jamie and Daniel find out more from Rafi Zauer, Essence Head of Marketing.

The smart home market is exploding at the moment and there are hundreds of companies peddling hubs and sensors. What sets Essence’s SmartCare apart is a focus on unobtrusive monitoring and pattern analysis to detect when a dependent person’s daily routine changes, potentially by illness, in order to alert family members to a problem.

By using PIR motion detectors and door sensors, a pattern of behaviour is built up and deviations from the pattern can be escalated to relatives to follow-up. It’s all passive detection; there are no cameras and as such this provides an important level of privacy. Data is passed to a cloud service which in turn passes alerts to an app on a tablet or smartphone.

With an increasingly older population who want to remain in their own home, these kinds of systems will be increasingly relevant.

Jamie Davis is the host of Health Tech Weekly at HTWeekly.com. He is a nurse, paramedic and health journalist.
Daniel J Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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