How Smart Devices Support A Healthier And Safer You in The New Year
By Jeffrey McKinney
New Year’s resolutions dot our to-do list this time of year. And connected devices and products can offer healthier ways to follow through on our goals. A landslide of Internet of Things (IoT) data and goods is coming that will enhance consumers’ lifestyles, while also helping them maintain their mental and physical health. In that stampede? Connected products that allow people to better monitor their daily movements, moods, sleep as well as advance interactions with others.
“Those insights will allow them to live not just safer and securer lives, but also lives that are more fulfilling and help them to become the person they want to be,” says Vicki Loomes, a senior trend analyst at TrendWatching, a London-based consumer trends company.
Where to begin? We’ve outlined a number of IoT options to get you moving to a healthier — if not safer — you in the new year.
The Stir Kinetic Desk is geared to improve the wellness and productivity of people while they are working. A standing desk for businesses, this smart desk includes a built-in touch screen that allows people to store data on the height they wish to sit or stand. Summary screens report how many calories are burned while standing, plus the desk can be moved up and down by double tapping on the screen. There are two prices for different versions of the desk: $2,990 or $4,990.
The secret to a healthy life always seems to center around drinking enough water. Cuptime, a smart cup designed in China, allows consumers to track water drinking habits. The cup connects wirelessly to a cellphone, and informs you of the ideal amount to drink. And users can record their drinking time and how much they are drinking each time.
Riding a motorcycle is already playing, in some cases, with your health. That’s why smart motorcycle helmet, the Skully AR-1, can help to offset those concerns. With a heads-up display (HUD) that features a rear view camera feed with 180 degrees of viewing angle, the helmet not only helps erase blindspots behind you, but also those to your left and right. Other details include an anti-fog, anti-scratch and anti-glare visor that automatically adjusts from clear to tinted depending on brightness outside. An added perk? Built-in speakers that stream music from the smart phone app. The Skully AR-1 also offers Bluetooth and GPS navigation via a smartphone app, and starts at $1549.
Nest Protect, at $99, is both a smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm that alerts you to increased levels of smoke or CO — and telling you where the concern is located. Nothing more than a burning slice of toast? You can silence the device from your phone using the Nest app. And if you have many Nest Protects in the home, they speak to each other, so no matter what room you are in, you will know what’s happening. Wi-Fi connected, the device also sends mobile notifications when you are not home.
Time Warner Cable’s Intelligent Home package
Time Warner Cable subscribers have access to several connected products via its $39.99 IntelligentHome monthly service that help make homeowners feel safer and secure. The devices are sold separately, but include a carbon monoxide detector, $99.99, a smoke/heat detector, also $99.99, and a flood/water detector, $59.99, that helps individuals protect their home from water damage by providing early warning of a leak or impending flood before it is a problem. The detector sends notifications via email, SMS and/or sounds an audible alarm within the home.
Jeffrey McKinney is a long-time freelance business writer and reporter, contributing to Black Enterprise magazine for several years on broad range of business and financial topics.
