Haptic feedback is one of the most important features of Smartwatches and other wearable devices. The Apple watch with its Taptic engine has one of the best haptic actuators in the industry but at the IDTechEx show, the folks at Novasentis were showing technology that aims to do much better. With traditional haptic technologies like LRA and ERM, they are bulky and provide just a solitary, universal buzz which vibrates the entire wearable device. Novasentis has invented a new technology based on electro mechanical polymers which is ultra thin, when they placed this in my hand, I could barely feel its weight, and the material is flexible. So instead of putting a big haptic device in the body of the wearable device, Novasentis proposes that you embed their haptic film right into the strap of the watch since is is so thin and you could have localized vibration and detect the all important patterns all around the wrist to understand different notification categories without even looking at your smartwatch display. This will enable thinner and lighter smartwatches without a big haptic engine inside. Most importantly, Novasentis material allows to offer a range of haptic feedback from very low frequency ‘taps’ to very high frequency audible ‘alarms’. Their idea is to create a haptic language and a wearable device could have as many as 10 or even 100 different haptic ‘feelings’ that a user can get used to and memorize and could get very useful information before having to turn to the display. Novasentis said that 5 OEM’s are currently designing wearable devices with their material and the company is currently raising funds to get their technology into mass production hopefully arriving soon to awesome Smartwatches and other smart device.
Category: Wearables
ARM mbed Smartwatch reference design with 2 months battery life
ARM shows their open source hardware and software Smartwatch reference design with 2 months battery life runs mbed OS on a Silicon Labs EFM32 Giant Gecko ARM Cortex-M3 SoC and memory LCD, it also have an ARM Cortex-M0 for Bluetooth and an ARM Cortex-M4 for the fingerprint sensor. GPS, NFC, 9-axis sensor (accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer), ambient light sensor, capacitive sliders for UI scrolling, buttons and more are on the flexible PCB. The power consumption is around 70microAmps with the animation running on the memory LCD, the battery life should be about 2 month on a compact and light 160mAh battery. ARM is building open source experimental smart wearables to explore the potential of ARM in wearables and IoT, to encourage device makers to use all the latest ARM technologies in combination with innovative display technologies and sensors to to create better concepts, to better use technologies to try to contribute to and improve the internet of things and the wearables market. Some goals for better Wearables can be to last months on a battery, to connect and interact with all devices seamlessly, to enable new forms of trusted interactions and ultimately aim to fade in to the background. These advances are to be integrated into ARM’s open source mbed OS, there might be subsets of mbed OS, less is needed on the Bluetooth chip for example than on the microcontroller of the Smartwatch or other IoT device.
Developing this mbed OS Smartwatch reference design gives ARM the opportunity to get first-hand experience of the realities of building complete and complex physical products – the mechanical design, electronics, software and taking it all through the production process. ARM has taken a complete design from concept through to manufacturing a few hundred working units thus far, and learned a huge amount. This may inspire and encourage device makers to advance and innovate faster to make the Smartwatch market a success.
IoT and Wearables Hardware Incubator: Eric Klein of Lemnos Labs
Eric Klein, Partner at Lemnos Labs, a San Francisco based Hardware Incubator, is looking for IoT and Wearables entrepreneurs making new IoT and Wearables designed to change behaviors, to affect change, which he says is the key to unlocking the Internet of Things and really useful Wearables, he encourages startups to have clinical psychologists on staff, like coaches with science degrees, to design devices that can help people grow and get stronger.
ARM Mali-470
ARM Mali-470 is the newest Mali-400 family GPU by ARM, it is the most energy efficient GPU from ARM, it supports the latest Android versions, optimized to extend battery life for wearables and Android Wear.
Smart Ring and Smart Necklace with Vibration Notification and Waterproof Wireless Charging by Driftmile
Driftmile shows their Smart Ring and Smart Necklace with Wireless-Charging and water-proof features. With LED light and small motor inside, it will flash or vibrate if there is new message, email, or incoming calls through your phone. It also reminder you while your phone is far away. The color of the stone can been customized, Black, blue, pink, white is available now. Driftmile is looking for business partners for overseas market.
You can contact Driftmile here:
Chen.bin@driftmile.com
Mobile:+86-186 6590 3621
Skype:chen.bin10
$79 Android Wear on MTK2601 (mockup), MT6753 XTouch, MT6735 X550 by Bluboo
Bluboo shows mockup of their upcoming Android Wear smartwatch to be powered by MediaTek MTK2601 Dual-core ARM Cortex-A7, with a round shape display, 512MB RAM and 4GB ROM, supports SIM cards, bluetooth 4.0 to be priced at $79, mass production will be ready on November. Bluboo also shows their full Smartphone product line from MT6735 Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 to MT6753 Octa-core ARM Cortex-A53, Full HD screens, big batteries up to 5300mAh. Prices ranging from $120 to $149.
You can contact Blueboo for more info (let them know you watched my video):
Candy, Sales Director
Candy@bluboo.com.cn
Mobile: +86 136 31535501
Skype: candywong68
$62 MT2502 Smartwatches at EZtechnic
Eztechnic shows their smartwatches, they have 20 years experience selling traditional watches, now starting to design and manufacture smartwatches, with different styles, from stainless steel to plastic. Compatible with Android and iOS, displays notifications from phone call, message and different apps, heartrate monitoring is included, step tracking also. The EZtechnic smart watch is waterproof down to 30 meters, 3 days battery life, it does wireless magnet charging.
Distributors can contact:
Jason Liu General Manager
Jason@eztechnic.com
Mobile:+86 138 6931 2163
http://www.eztechnic.com
Jump J10 Transparent OLED Smartwatch
Jump J10 looks like a classical watch but it’s a smartwatch with an amazing transparent OLED display that covers the top and bottom part of the watch face. With a Swiss Ronda movement, different style Genuine leather strap or steel Mesh strap, features split transparent OLED display and capacitive touch on the whole surface, it supports soft vibration notification from phone calls, SMS, emails, Social Network Apps, weather forecast, pedometer, and trackers and potentially customizable for vibration and display notifications from any app. The battery life is up to 5 days regular usage and 15 days standby. Jump is tuning the design for mass production around January 2016, custom designs and OEM orders are also welcome you can contact them below.
You can contact Jump for more information:
Saboor Ahmed, Director
Mobile: +852 63321453
saboor@jumptechnologyltd.com
$230 Google Glass by Shenzhen Topsky, Android 4.3, Kopin 640×400, Ingenic
Topsky is the only supplier of headmounted micro-display based devices that I have seen at Hong Kong tradeshows who may be able to provide a Google Glass like experience starting at $230 per unit for a 100-unit minimum order quantity. The only negative things about it is the Ingenic MIPS dual-core processor (instead of using Rockchip or Allwinner ARM solutions), and the software is “not yet” provided by Google, this doesn’t run Google Glass UI, it doesn’t run Android Wear UI, it runs Topsky’s custom UI on top of Android, which looks good, but is not quite the same as having Google’s support. What could happen though, is Google people watch this video and contact Topsky below, or maybe some hackers get it and improve it somehow. I look forward to try it out some more to see about the voice-control capabilities, if it hooks into Google Now yet or some other voice command Android app, and how in general it may or may not manage to use any other Android app that may work good for this user interface. My dream is still (since CeBIT 2005) to live-stream from my face and see a live chat from anyone watching about which questions to ask the people that I interview in 4K. Crucial for this “vision” is for affordable Google Glass type devices to become available. These need to be mass produced, the price can be lowered further, then the software platform should be open and fully supported by Google and by everyone! Let’s make headmounted computing happen!
You can contact Topsky here (thanks for telling them you watched my video!)
Sofia Huang, Sales Manager
sofia@hktopsky.com
Mobile: +86 15815527996
Skype: sofiatopsky
$49 Android Smartwatch platform on Intel/Rockchip RK6321 dual-core ARM Cortex-A5
Rockchip shows the cheapest Android Smartwatch platform, can potentially run Android 5 Android Wear (depending on Google’s approval) for now it’s just running Android 4.4.4 with Rockchip’s custom Android Smartwatch UI. This is an ARM Processor with an Intel logo on it! (which previously I filmed at http://138.2.152.197/?s=6321) To compete with MediaTek MT2601 it’ll bring ultra-affordable Android Smartwatches to the mass market with built-in dual-SIM card slots with dual-standby possible depending on Smartwatch design (most of the Smartwatch designs will probably only have 1 SIM card slot) , with A-GPS, GPS, GLONASS, with 3G/2G quad-band, supports displays of up to FWVGA, can record 720p videos at 30fps or take 8megapixel pictures from the Smartwatch camera! Meizu is probably going to be one of the brands to release this Smartwatch platform at a good price. The smart tracking possibilities for Kids trackers, Old people smart heart monitoring, Advanced fitness watches and a whole Smartwatch category in general, Rockchip with Intel wants to have a big part in that!
To develop and bring this to market, distributors and brands can contact design houses who work with Rockchip to make this Smartwatch platform, one of them is T-Chip, the info is here:
T-Chip PCB Design House (I filmed them here http://138.2.152.197/2014/09/17/129-firefly-rk3288-development-board-release/)
West
Email: mqy@t-chip.com.cn
Mobile: +86 13723459415
You can click on these for full size:
Shoe warmer and in-shoe step tracker by DIGITSOLE
DIGITSOLE is a water-resistant, heating and tracking insole that can be controlled via your smartphone. Supports Android and iOS, the dedicated DIGITSOLE app is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 connection, it warms feet and tracks all steps in the day.
MediaTek MT2601 for cheap Android Wear
MediaTek MT2601 dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 enables affordable Android Wear Smartwatches, let me know when you find some good models on the market so I can try to film them! I think this could enable $50 Android Wear Smartwatches out of Shenzhen, to be seen if Google/Alphabet allows/encourages it.
FlexEnable Flexible LCD, E Ink and OLED for Wearable Devices
Indro Mukerjee of FlexEnable demonstrating their technology and products at Printed Electronics Europe, part of the IDTechEx Show! FlexEnable, based in Cambridge, UK, has developed the world’s first flexible transistor technology platform; the key to truly flexible and cost effective electronics over large and small surfaces. With over a decade of experience, IP development and technology awards, FlexEnable works together with customers to drive innovation across flexible sensors, smart systems and video-rate displays. FlexEnable’s technology platform enables new mobile and wearable products as well as sensor arrays and structural electronics that bring an extra dimension to the IoT (Internet of Things). Customers include OEMs, component manufacturers and materials suppliers. For more information see http://www.IDTechEx.com
Flexible Circuit Technologies in wearables: Nike Fuel Band, Skin Patches, Oxygen Sensors
Robin Lemson from Flexible Circuit Technologies being interviewed by James Hayward at IDTechEx Wearable Europe. Flexible Circuit Technologies, Inc. (Flexible Circuit) are a supplier of flex circuit design, rigid flex circuits, and flexible circuits and heaters. For more information see http://www.IDTechEx.com
Vensmile LF06 $50 waterproof Smart Watch on MediaTek MT2502A
Vensmile shows their waterproof smart watch, based on ARM Cortex-A7 MediaTek MT2502A. Built-in 1.3MP HD camera in the side, support catch picture and store it on your mobile phone via Bluetooth. It comes with a IPS Full-View 1.54″ display and a curved surface touch screen. With a built-in Speaker, it support answer phone from Android and IOS smart phone, It also support reading and replying message from what apps, skype, QQ etc. The smart watch also support heart track to record your daily movement and distance. It comes with stainless steel case, tempered gorilla glass screen and luxury leather band, with build-in 360mAh battery, stand-by time up to 5 days. Best price at around $50 with no MOQ requirement.
OEM and distribution inquiry for Windows Mini PC, Android TV Box, Self Balance Scooter can contact:
Sales Manager: Cherry Mo
Skype: vissonsales015
Email: cherry.mo@vissontech.com
Tel/What’sAPP/Wechat:+86 18617132669
Official company: http://www.vissontech.com
Official branch: http://www.vensmile.net
Official Alibaba web: http://www.vsmart.en.alibaba.com
Vissontech 2015 HKTDC Autum Version Booth：5E-E38
Flyshark Smartwatch with Calling, Text, Heart Rate, Sleep Monitoring, Bluetooth
Successfully funded on Kickstarter, the Flyshark smartwatch got 700+ backers and raised nearly 70K USD! The smartwatch already sold 15,000pcs in 2015! the Flyshark Smartwatch includes functions like calling, texting, heart rate testing, exercise tracking, sleep monitoring, built-in camera, Bluetooth synchronization with Android and iOS and more. Using the MediaTek MTK6261A and a 1.54″ 240×240 touch screen display.
The new Flyshark smartwatch comes with more colors, new firmware with new GUI and icons(the 1st version Flyshark smartwatch also get firmware upgraded).
For more information, You can contact Flyshark here:
Ms Mary, Sales Manager
Mobile: +86 13714507573
Phone: +86 755 89485250
Email: sales@flyshark.mobi; manager@flyshark.mobi
WhatsApp: +86 13714507573
Facebook: Flyshark.ilepo@gmail.com
http://www.flyshark.mobi
Smart Necklace Projector Lövepac Miragii
Miragii is smart Ceramics jewelry and it is 1st wearable necklace that can project your mobile phone information to your hand, pick up in-coming call in an unique way. It is use the special ceramics like dental teeth. Selling price as $399 from http://www.miragii.com
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ULVAC Vacuum Manufacturing Solutions Enabling the IoT World
Mark Izushima from ULVAC speaking about their vacuum manufacturing equipment that provides solutions in the applications of thin film battery, power device, non-volatile memory, and PZT piezoelectric MEMS sensors as key elements for the IoT World. ULVAC, Inc. is a global leader with the most comprehensive portfolio of vacuum technologies in the world. ULVAC has contributed in development of multiple industries such as electronic devices, semi-conductors, flat panel display, solar cells, and general industrial applications, providing vacuum solutions with their advanced equipment, materials, analytic evaluations, components, and other various services. ULVAC has been continuously developing manufacturing solutions in applications of thin film battery, power device, non-volatile memory, and PZT piezoelectric MEMS sensor which are all key elements for the IoT world. For more information about the event see http://www.IDTechEx.com
Nordic Semiconductor ARM Cortex-M0 Ultra Low Power Wireless IPv6 over BTLE
Nordic Semiconductor shows their ultra low power Bluetooth Low Energy, Ant, 2.4Ghz ARM Cortex-M0 based system on chips for trying to simplify the development of Wearables, Internet of Things devices, they are working to make things as simple as possible. One of the features that Nordic Semiconductor is able to demonstrate is to send voice over Bluetooth Low Energy. Nordic Semiconductor’s implementation of Thread and mbed are being demonstrated.
nevo watch, Swiss Smartwatch with LEDs, vibrate, BT, 5 months battery life
nevo watch is a beautiful classical style minimalist connected smartwatch on a Swiss Timekeeping movement from Swatch Group for showing the time, French design, integrates activity tracking, phone notifications as beautiful LED lights, 11 white lights that light up behind each hour indicator, 6 of them programmable in 6 different beautiful colors, nevo also vibrates awesomely on notifications and the alarm. nevo comes with an Android and iOS app to pair with a smartphone over Bluetooth 4.1 LE. Amazingly the battery lilfe is 3-5 years for the time and 3-5 months for the connected Smartwatch with LED and vibrate feature. Changing the standard cell battery is easy. I am hoping they can support vibrate and color combinations customized by contact in each app, for example I should feel when a specific person is contacting through a specific app.
Right now they sell nevo watch at $329 for basic and $449 for perpetual solar charging version on http://www.nevowatch.com, consider this is a Swiss watch movement inside, not cheap stuff. Though I do think if they could price it at $99 basic and $149 solar charger version, or perhaps $149 and $199, that would make it easier to sell many. And if they sell many, it’s more worthwhile for them to upgrade the app functionality with patterns in vibrate and color LEDs for specific in-app notification behavior, for example I’d like it to light and vibrate differently for my mom, girlfriend, boss or other contacting me in each app. And also sync pattern of LED and vibrate with Android alarms and Google calendar. Check back for my review of the nevo watch!
Nevo Watch is available now at http://www.nevowatch.com
You can contact Nevo here:
joseph@nevowatch.com
