The year 2014 is the year for smart technology. With smartphones, smart watches and now smart in-ear headphones, we’re seeing a trend in wearable technology, whether it’s to keep you fit or to keep you safe. This fall, Apple will be launching their latest iOS 8, which features many applications that are aimed at health and fitness. Apps straight out of the box will track sleep, nutrition and medication, to name a few. With emerging companies developing wearable fitness bands that help calculate calories burned, sleep quality and distance traveled, users are able to better their lifestyle. In terms of fitness tracking, smart clothes may also be a thing of the near future - where individuals will be able to wear shirts that have functions such as heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevo - Your Smartphone is now your key
Say goodbye to traditional keys and say hello to Kevo. Kevo is a device that replaces the traditional lock on a door and requires a fob or app with the use of Bluetooth technology to unlock the door. With Kwikset's Kevo lock, individuals can gain entry to the home or office without the need of a key. The Kevo lock reads an eKey code stored on your iOS device and lets you unlock the door with a touch of your finger. Currently the Kevo only works with iPhones, however the accommodation for Androids may be integrated in the near future. Priced at $199, the Kevo is a convenient way to have access to your house without struggling to find your keys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cuff - Jewelry to keep you safe
Cuff Jewelry has factored in safety with fashionable accessories to keep your loved ones alert and keep you accessorized. Whether it’s a keychain, a necklace or a cuff bracelet, each accessory has a button that you can press in case of an emergency, signaling a distress call. If your friends and family have Cuff accessories as well, you can set up a group where the accessories will vibrate once triggered, alerting your loved ones. Cuff has an app that allows users to record their personal info such as allergies, medical and insurance information and will send it to the group along with the user’s GPS location. Cuff Jewelry is currently taking pre-orders and will be released later this fall.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eyelock Myris
Tired of typing in passwords to access all your online content and websites? Eyelock has developed a new strategy that uses eye-screening technology to unlock all your content by still providing high grade security. The Myris is a palm-sized device that connects via USB and has a built in camera that scans your iris and uses that as a password to access your accounts. All you have to do is pick up the Myris and look into the circular camera. It scans your iris and records it on your account, where the software acts as an account manager. As soon as you want to log in to a particular website all you have to do is look into the built-in camera and the Myris instantly gives you access to your personal account. Eyelock explains that as no two irises are alike, Myris protects users against identity theft and will be available for purchase later this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kohler Moxie
Showering just got even more fun. The Kohler Moxie showerhead and wireless speaker showcases Bluetooth technology at its finest. The Moxie showerhead has seven hours of music and the spray face features 60 angled nozzles to give you the perfect showering experience. The Bluetooth speaker is detachable from the showerhead so that user can remove it to charge or use it as they wish. If you like singing in the shower, pairing your smartphone with this showerhead will definitely get you going in the morning. Priced at $199, this German engineered showerhead is easy to install and will put you in a good mood with cool tunes any time of day. www.kohler.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bragi
With smartphones and smart watches making the headlines, the company Bragi is releasing a pair of smart in-ear headphones this fall that will blow you away. The Dash by Bragi is a set of Bluetooth headphones that are integrated with fitness functions such as being able to monitor a user’s speed, time and distance while exercising. The in-ear headphones have 4GB of internal storage capacity to store your music library, so that you don’t have to be connected to your phone while you’re on the go. Catering to convenience, Bragi states that you can use your fingers to gesture commands, such as skipping songs and adjusting the volume. With the freedom of being cable free, The Dash is perfect for your workouts at the gym because it’s water resistant and durable. Snag these headphones for $299 when they hit shelves this fall. www.bragi.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acer – Liquid Leap
Much like Nike’s Fuel Band, Jawbone’s Up and Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, Acer too is releasing its own smartwatch, The Liquid Leap. This smartwatch comes in four cool colours and has a digital display to give you quick access to your stats on calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken and sleep quality. The Liquid Leap is waterproof, enabling users to wear it in the pool or in the shower, so you don’t have to remember to take it off unless you’re charging the device. There will be an app that can be downloaded to help manage fitness activities, track workouts and store your info in one handy app. Unfortunately, Acer has not made its smartwatch universal and it currently has restricted compatibility with the Acer Liquid Jade phone. However, in the future, it will accommodate other Android phones. Priced at $135, The Liquid Leap will hit stores later this year.
