M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 6
The Connected Gadget
Apps help you monitor your health,
baby movements and more
by Doris Settles, Staff Writer
Being connected, these days,
seems to be where it’s at. If you
don’t have a smartphone, you’re
going to be left out in the cold
when these new gadgets from the
2016 Consumer Electronics Show
reach the market.
Imagine an umbrella that sends
a text to your smartphone to
remind you to take it with you
because it’s going to rain today. Or
one that allows you to screw on
your camera or GoPro to the top
so you can video your bike ride
or hike. Welcome Oombrella, an
umbrella that does all that and
more.
Then get ready for portable virtual reality with the CandyShell
Grip from case manufacturer
13
Speck. Already certified to work
with a number of the virtual
reality apps and games available
for your smartphone via the App
Store and the Play Store, Speck
has also partnered with another
company to develop its own app.
Monitor your vital statistics
with a variety of new, wirelessly
connected devices from Withings. Wrap a cuff around your upper arm and see your blood pressure and pulse magically appear
on your phone via the Health
Mate app. Better understand your
heart health because the app
will store all your blood pressure
readings, sync with the Withings Health Cloud and create an
easy-to-understand chart you can
print or send to your doctor.
Withings’ new digital wireless
thermometer, Thermo, is a game
changer. Using a revolutionary
HotSpotSensor™ Technology, a
simple gesture yields the most
precise temperature possible, and
automatic Wi-Fi synced with the
dedicated app allows you to track
temperature readings, get reminders and input related symptoms/
medications right on your smartphone.
And if you’re worried about
those crow’s feet around or dark
circles under your eyes, a new
gizmo by FOREO is for you. According to FOREO’s website, this
unique technology, proprietary
to FOREO, was inspired by Asian
fingertip-tapping eye massage.
IRIS’ gentle pulsations, which are
far more effective than manually
massaging the eye contour, are
available in two modes to replicate
either a manual massage or a professional spa massage.
Last but not least, if you’re
worried about that absolutely
perfect new addition to your family, Owlet monitors has created
the Owlet Smart Sock. It features
alarms that go off from either a
base station or your phone and
lets you know if your baby stops
breathing by using pulse oximetry,
the same technology hospitals use.
Your smartphone app shows you
the baby’s movements, pulse and
blood O2 measurements, giving
parents a better night’s sleep.
So if you needed an incentive
to get better connected with a
smartphone, try one or more of
these gadgets. And rest assured
there will be more.