As you read this, the CES show, an annual event about all things technology, is only just now opening, but lots has been happening already. Press events dominated Tuesday's schedule. I attended presentations by LG, Panasonic, and others.
Of course, LG bragged a good bit about their new TVs and the awesome picture and sound quality. I was actually more interested in hearing about new developments in home appliances and connected home technologies. I will report more about that later when I get a chance to see what they're offering.
Panasonic reviewed a number of new products and strategies, including work in Denver showing how to use technology to make cities more livable. They also hyped the revival of its Technics brand of audio components, including a new direct-drive turntable.
I want to give special attention to a couple of highlights, one related to healthcare and one tied to audio recording.
Let's start with the audio recording. I met Mike Sarow, co-founder, CEO, of Cincinnati-based Kapture Audio. The Kapture device and associated app for iOS or Android continuously records audio in a 60-second loop. Simply double tap the wrist band, or the clip-on, watch-sized device and a recording of the previous 60 seconds of what you've heard or said is beamed to your smart phone. According to the website kaptureaudio.com, the omni-directional microphone picks up sound within a 5-foot radius. Serow said he developed the concept as a means to encourage us to listen more attentively to the people around us. He says that grabbing those priceless snippets of things our children say has been a big draw. Others use the device to "capture" key points in a meeting. Of course, I can imagine that people who are blind might want to share audio clips the way people now share photos.
The device, which costs $129 for the wrist band, is easy to use and Serow says he is working on improving VoiceOver support. He says that some of the editing functions are not very accessible currently. Audio clips are stored in your cloud-based account.
Caption: The Kapture Audio wristband
In the healthcare area, the folks at Qardio were pleased to show off how well QardioArm, a blood pressure monitor, works with VoiceOver on Apple iOS products. I tested it with my iPhone and found it very easy to set up, take measurements, and examine results. The Qardio team also showed off QardioBase, their smart scale which tells you your weight, but also measures your body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat percentage, water, and bone composition. I appreciated the candor of Qardio's CTO who indicated the app still needs some work for full VoiceOver access. I was able to set up and use the device and read the results, but I agree that a bit more work will be needed to make the results easier to navigate and use. The company seems dedicated to making its products accessible through the app and their success with QardioArm shows they can do it. The QardioArm sells for $99 and the QardioBase for $149. The website is getqardio.com.
Caption: Paul Schroeder trying out the QardioArm
Finally, I want to give two quick audio shout-outs. I had a nice visit with Stephanie from a company called Bedphones. They make a flat on-ear type wired headphone that is designed for comfort while sleeping. The headphone, which is in its 3rd generation, sells for around $59, and has a very nice sound quality.
I also had a nice visit with the good people at JLab Audio who were showing off earbuds, headphones, and Bluetooth Crasher speakers. I've been a big fan of JBuds for a long time. They have great sound and sturdiness for a product that costs less than $10.
I'll have lots more as the week of CES 2016 goes on, so stay tuned!
