2014年1月15日 星期三

智慧型襪子 - 正說明 2014 ~ 2018 穿戴科技創新及新的創業方式將起飛 ( Smart socks - just shows 2014 ~ 2018 the wearable technological innovation and entrepreneurial take off )

智慧短襪「Owlet」:將穿戴科技革命,延燒至嬰兒床上

穿戴科技正風行,除了最受矚目的Google Glass,以及Epson健康管理智慧手錶之外,Owlet也瞄準父母市場,推出了可追蹤嬰兒健康狀況的智慧短襪。

這雙低過敏性的無線智慧短襪,將所有的電子元件放置在絕緣矽膠套中,以確保使用者不會有觸電危險,並運用在醫院及小兒科已行之有年的脈搏血氧定量計,透過紅光及紅外線來測量寶寶心跳速率及含氧量,還可追蹤體表溫度,以及在孩子熟睡時提供翻身警報,減低因面朝下睡姿而引起的窒息危險。

所有追蹤資訊,都會藉由藍芽4.0傳輸到Owlet app中(目前僅支援iPhone),但若是用戶沒有智慧型手機,也可選擇藉由USB傳輸線連結至電腦,或是連接到Wifi網路,並在任何連網裝置上查看數據。電池約可使用兩個整天,電量低的時候會有提醒通知。

Owlet智慧短襪目前還在群眾集資階段,有興趣的讀者可以上網站預訂,零售價為$250美金。


No one is more concerned with health than the mother of an infant, and with the rising availability of wrist-worn fitness tracking devices, it only makes sense that a baby-sized health tracker would pop up.

Meet Owlet, one of our hardware battlefield companies.

Owlet is an ankle-worn health tracking device for your baby, with an accompanying app that gives you a readout on your little bundle of joy’s health at any time.

Owlet tracks heart rate, oxygen levels, skin temperature and even provides rollover alerts during sleep.

It all works with a system called Pulse oximetry, which has been used in hospitals and in pediatrics for years. By using red and infrared lights, the “smart sock” as they call it, can measure heart rate and oxygen levels without being invasive.

The smart sock then transmits the information its recording to a smartphone app via Bluetooth 4.0. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can plug in the smart sock via USB to see metrics on your computer, or connect the smart sock to your home Wifi network to see readouts on any connected device.

The sock is hypoallergenic, wireless, and all the electronic components are housed in a resistant silicone case to make sure no one gets electrocuted.

Battery on the Owlet smart sock lasts up to two full days, with notifications letting you know when it’s running low on jive juice.

The company claims that the Owlet helps in more ways than just tracking your baby’s health, as it offers peace of mind for an often times stressed and restless mother.

Owlet is in the process of crowdfunding to bring the device to market, with a retail price of $250. If you’re interested in reserving a unit for yourself, head over to the Owlet website.

Sensoria Is A New Smart Sock That Coaches Runners In Real Time

Hardware maker, Heapsylon, debuted two new fitness products at CES 2014: a smart fitness sock that coaches users on their running techniques in real time and a heart rate monitor built into a T-shirt and bra. I got a hands-on demo with Sensoria Sock’s smartphone application that alerts users to improper foot technique and came away, shall we say, breathless.

Sensoria places sensors on the bottom of the foot so an app can give feedback on the most common types of runner errors. During my brief jaunt with the early prototype, Sensoria was able to quickly identify that I do, indeed, strike my heels first when I run and also that I had an inconsistent pace (cadence). Unlike an expensive running coach with a camera, the Sensoria gives real-time auditory feedback in a natural environment and can follow me around wherever I go. Initially, only professionals have had access to this kind of realtime, ubiquitous coaching.

As a new runner, I’ve been having all kinds of nasty knee and calf issues. This is a product my beleaguered body is begging for.

In addition to the Sock, Heapsylon also announced a shirt and bra with an embedded heart rate monitor. Heart rate chest straps are notoriously uncomfortable and an inconvenience to carry around. Never having to remember to bring my chest strap while I travel would be a pleasant bonus.

For the futurist, Heapsylon partnered with Google Glass developer, Race Yourself, to bring heads-up visual feedback to runners. Instead of runners having to sporadically check their heart rate, Google Glass will display it in real time, along with visual data on their foot placement.

Of all the wearables I’ve demoed at CES thus far, the Sensoria Smart Sock is probably the most useful. It identifies a population eager for self-improvement and delivers a product that conveniently solves a major health issue. I can’t wait for it to be available in the spring.


現在的穿戴產品很多都具備人體生物資料感應功能,這次 Sensoria 帶來了與眾不同的產品,那就是具備人體檢測功能的健身襪,還有一款配套腳鐲。這種襪子具備了紡織物感測器,可以感知你的腳步、速度、重量分佈、腳何時落地和步行的節奏,然後通過藍牙和腳鐲進行資料交換,最終傳到 App 上進行查看和管理。這種襪子四雙一組,再配上腳鐲總共是 US$200(約 HK$1,550 / NT$5,900),3 月 15 日的時候會開始出貨。

另外,在一月份和二月份 Sensoria 還會帶來具備紡織感測器的胸罩和體恤衫。我們會在 CES 上會大家帶來動手玩報導,看看這種新的智慧穿戴產品用起來有啥進步。

分析

2014年1月13日 星期一

Birdy 及 Ed Sheeran 民謠、嘻哈及另類搖滾 - 好好聽 ( I am inspired by Birdy and Ed Sheeran Love Songs )

Birdy(本名Jasmine van den Bogaerde,1996年5月15日-),英國女歌手、鋼琴家和作曲家,生於英國。2008年,她以十二歲之齡贏得Open Mic UK音樂競賽冠軍,因而成名。2011年11月7日,發表個人第一張同名專輯《Birdy》.

在2008年,正值12歲的Birdy贏得英國才藝比賽Open Mic UK,在2000人面前表演她自己的歌"So Be Free"。 Birdy 回憶在一場和BBC Radio 1的訪問中提到在Open Mic UK總決賽的經驗如同一個很酷的歷程,她解釋道這展現了她在童年時真正想做的事。 Birdy在2012年九月號The Telegraph描述她在Open Mic UK的想法與回憶。她說參加比賽為真實的興奮,慾望驅使她進入比賽。當她在表演時,和觀眾有前所未有的連結,這使她更愛表演。這個表演為她人生中的大事件,而從舞台上看盡(進)群眾感覺很棒。 在贏得Open
Mic UK比賽後Birdy對於比賽結果的回應是:就像我喜歡做的事一樣,但我從未想過我做得到。這是我的夢想,並不是參加Open Mic UK之後我才認為我有足夠的能力完成它。之前我只為我的家人表演,但Open Mic UK帶給我勇氣。

Ed Sheeran 本名:愛德華·克里斯多福(Edward Christopher,1991年2月7日-),以其藝名紅髮艾德/艾德·希蘭(Ed Sheeran)知名,為英國新生代歌手及詞曲創作人。目前為大西洋唱片 Atlantic Records公司簽約藝人。2011年8月發行個人首張專輯"Discography"拿下英國專輯排行榜 UK Albums chart.空降冠軍專輯。專輯首發單曲"The A Team"也拿下全英音樂單曲榜 UK chart.第三名的好成績。

Ed Sheeran 及 Birdy 結合之民謠、嘻哈及另類搖滾 playlist 真的好好聽,我聽的很感動,網友可以試聽,應該不輸 ICRT DJ 點歌的功力;








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2014年1月12日 星期日

2014 預測 Google 十加一大事件及生意模式 - 分析與影響 ( 2014 Google Forecast 10 + 1 Events And Business Model Impact To Market )

Google十大事件預測
Chrome Pad will become an important in US

Google在2013年交出了亮眼的成績。截至2013年12月中旬,該公司股價上漲了約55%。相形之下,蘋果公司在同期間的股價僅增加4% 。

Google預計將在今年囊括一半以上的行動廣告收入,同時在目前行動裝置上最賺錢的 YouTube 頻道推波助瀾下,Google的市佔率也將持續成長,展現佳績。

從出貨量來看, Android 還為Google鞏固了在智慧型手機平台的主導位置。根據IDC的統計, Android 手機在今年第三季已佔有全球智慧型手機出貨量的81%。

Chrome OS 也在低成本筆記型電腦市場找到了自己的立足點。而 Google+ 在「強迫」使用的策略下也已擁有超過50萬的用戶了。

再加上Google公司產品總監兼執行長Larry Page致力於把更多資源與時間聚焦於業務重心的策略下,Google看來應該會有一個更美好的2014年。

我認為2014年將會是個十分有趣的一年,因為主要的網際網路技術公司或多或少都正在做一些相同的事。為了進行差異化,Google將必須採取一些更大膽的嘗試。以下是我認為Google可能在今年發生的十件大事。

1. Google將推Chromepad


從Google Chromebook Pixel 筆電已經看出 Chrome 作業系統可支援觸控功能。Google並已為其搭載Chrome OS的平板電腦提出了一些設計理念。至少Google的一位工程師已經公開地討論可能性。

2. Google將推Nexus智慧手錶

如果不是打算進軍智慧手錶市場,Google就不會悄悄地收購智慧手錶製造商Wimm Labs了。預計Google即將推出的智慧手錶將與Google的室內定位技術連結,協助商家找到配戴用戶並傳送Google服務。在付費廣告的支持下,這款智慧手錶很可能會以較低價格或免費提供給用戶,用於交換定位資料。

3. Google Glass將成為眼鏡配件

從Google Glass最近的開發進展可以看出,這款硬體產品最終將能夾在一般的眼鏡鏡框上。這比起原本將內建視訊錄影機、處理器、感測器與螢幕等各種工作硬體安裝在無法摺疊的固定框架上更更有意義。為此Google Glass可能就不必再採用玻璃元件了。甚至可能最後採用「Google Eye」的名稱來形容可實現視訊擷取與顯示的新款產品更適合,且能有別於採用玻璃鏡片的頭戴式智慧眼鏡。

4. Google將投資汽車技術

Google積極投入機器人開發業務,從而也將擴展對於汽車系統的硬體關注力度,特別是該公司目前在自動駕駛車方面的業務正準備邁向部署之際。Google將會與汽車製造商合作,為其提供更優質的技術,從而交換用戶資料的存取權限。Google在機器人開發方面的興趣更傾向於製造領域,而非消費市場。

5. Google拓展零售業市場
Google pop up store start to promote Google product

Google於2013年年底假期銷售旺季在全美6個城市設置了Winter Wonderland pop-up實體零售店,以促進新產品的銷售,預計2014年開春將會有更多的產品展示與銷售據點。Google將謹慎地從這些商店中收集可用的資料。

6. Google提供無人駕駛車試乘

為了讓人們接受自動駕駛汽車,Google將公開展示其新的機器人司機。Google還將與Disney、環球影城或一些知名飯店合作,以自動駕駛車戴客人在管制車道上體驗簡短的旅程。其目標在於使自動駕駛車可在一些特定的路線上行駛而舖路,例如從拉斯維加斯的飯店到接斯維加斯機場的接送等。

7. Google持續精簡摩托羅拉動公司

摩托羅拉行動公司(Motorola Mobility)的財務問題可能會讓Google深感到頭痛,但它畢竟還存在一些可發揮作用的稅務虧損以及具有實際的策略潛力。

8. Oracle 將贏得 Java 版權,Google再提上訴

William Alsup法官對於可編程API不受版權保護的決定是正確的。但法院是由法律人才組成的,而非技術人才導向。因此,上級法院的法官很可能誤解 API版權保護的意義,而Google將不得不再提上訴到最高法院。
Chromepad Transform?

9. Google將與歐盟就反托拉斯裁決達成協議

雖然Google的競爭對手都不會滿意這樣的結果,但該公司將與歐盟委員會達成協議。Google將拒絕接受限制其存取其他廣告平台的協議,這將使其在與第三方競爭時限制自有財產增加的能力。但它並不會放棄定義關聯性或推動其業務的權利。終究,Google不必改變太多,但無論何將逐漸進行以保持與行動市場創新同步。

10. Chrome 重要性將超越Android

Android 可用於抗衡蘋果與微軟的競爭,同時也是 BlackBerry 與Nokia的最大心結。它確保了Google及其服務易於存取且獲得廣泛應用。但 Android 仍存在一些問題。它比 Chrome 瀏覽器的安全性低,所採用的 Java 目前由 Oracle 所掌握,同時它的版權費用也較昂貴。Google的合作夥伴也未能大力推廣,他們似乎不太關心是否可確保用戶使用最新版本。它有可能會被推翻,如同 Amazon 所展現的以及 Nokia 可能採取的行動一樣。

在開發Android時,Google的工程師們當時認為 Java 是唯一適用於行動設備的重要開發平台。如今,Mozilla 的 Firefox OS 已可證明 Java 並非必要,而且還有 Google Portable Native Client 以及 Mozilla asm.js,同時也在 Node.js 看到 PayPal 從 Java 切換到 JavaScript。Web技術終於準備履行 Google 在2009年聲稱Web將取得勝利的目標了。隨著針對 Android的Chrome app 以及 Linux、OS X與Windows用的 Chrome Web app 出現,Android已經不再那麼必要了。甚至接下來還將推出行動版 Chrome Web apps,表示2014年即將出現Chrome OS 手機,或意味著展開整修 Android 的多年計劃,另一方面在 Chrome 開發進度持續加速下,其重要性終將超越 Android。

Google chip inside will happen?

根據外電報導,google正考慮使用 ARM公司技術來設計自己的伺服器晶片,這可能會威脅到intel在市場上的統治地位。 受此消息影響,英特爾週四盤後下跌3.1%。

據報導指出, google有意設計自家伺服器所使用的晶片,以便優化軟硬體間的互動,不過google尚未作最後決定。Google在全球範圍內設計建造自己的資料中心,近期還決定擴大在彰化資料中心的投資。這些資料中心服務于 google 的搜索、youtube、線上通訊等應用。

如果google涉足晶片設計,那麼它將導致英特爾的營收下降。google是英特爾前五名內的大客戶,英特爾4.3%的營收來自google。至於外傳google青睞ARM設計的晶片,主要應用於移動手機與平板電腦。ARM、高通與三星電子等公司成功阻止了英特爾向移動領域的擴張,但英特爾仍牢牢把握著PC伺服器市場95%的市場佔有率。

受到這項消息影響,英特爾股價在紐約週四盤後交易中下跌3.1%。

Google Said to Mull Designing Chips in Threat to Intel

Google Inc. (GOOG) is considering designing its own server processors using technology from ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), said a person with knowledge of the matter, a move that could threaten Intel Corp. (INTC)’s market dominance.

By using its own designs, Google could better manage the interactions between hardware and software, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. Google, among the largest buyers of server processors, has made no decision and plans could change, said the person.

Intel Data-center chip market will be invaded by ARM?
“We are actively engaged in designing the world’s best infrastructure,” said Liz Markman, a spokeswoman for Google. “This includes both hardware design (at all levels) and software design.” Markman declined to say whether the company may develop its own chips.

Google has been designing its own data centers around the world with servers to power search, video, online communications and other features. Moving into chip design could take away revenue from Intel, which has counted on Internet companies to help drive processor sales. Google is Intel’s fifth largest customer, accounting for about 4.3 percent of its revenue, according to Bloomberg supply chain analysis.

ARM-based chips dominate in mobile phones and tablets where companies such as Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) and Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) have fended off Intel’s attempts to expand. Intel controls more than 95 percent of the market for chips for servers that use personal-computer processors, with Advanced Micro Devices Inc. making up the rest. AMD and other companies have announced plans to use ARM-based designs for the server-chip market.

GOOGLE Introduces Brain Chip
ARM will bring more lower cost and the same performance as Intel?

On Wednesday, the search giant, Google, introduced the Google Brain Chip.  This is a chip that users can implant in their brain that will search the internet the moment you think of something.  The chip has the power to find information even before a user knows he or she wants the information.

“It’s psychic,” said Stig Hansson, a senior hardware engineer at Google.

With the new chip, as soon as a user thinks about something the chip will immediately search the web and return a result.  For example, if you wanted to find a sushi restaurant in Chicago, you would immediately be given ten selections without ever touching a computer.  “Your friends will think you are a genius, and you are… with Google’s help,” said Hansson.
Google brain Chip will change the human future

The introduction of the Google Brain Chip means that individuals will no longer need PCs, Macs or tablets. “These devices are primarily used to access the internet and download content,” said Google CEO Eric Schmidt. “With the Google Brain Chip, you don’t need to buy any hardware at all. The human brain is the hardware, we provide the chip and you are… a genius.”

Google plans on offering free download dumps with the purchase of the Google Brain Chip.  “You’ll be able to download every history book ever written.  We’ll put it on the chip and you will instantly be smarter than every history professor in the country.”  If you want to know everything about science, English literature or art, you’ll be able to download all the available data onto your Google Brain Chip.

Some fear that the Google Brain Chip will eliminate the need for the educational system.  “Why would you need to go to school and stress your brain by trying to memorize data, when you can just download it all in five minutes?  The It is true that the Google Brain Chip makes most primary, secondary, college and graduate schools obsolete.  “You can download everything there is to know about internal medicine in the morning and be seeing patients in the afternoon,” said Schmidt.  “This truly frees man from the limiting constraints of his human brain.”

To have the chip implanted in your brain, you just have to make an appointment with your local doctor or computer technician.  They will use a pneumatic gun to shoot the chip into your brain just behind your ear.  It only takes about a five seconds.

Some skeptics are worried that Google will take advantage of this chip technology and use it to control people’s minds.  Schmidt dismissed these fears and said “we’ve been controlling people’s minds for the last seven years.  It’s only a matter of time before we have a chip in every brain.”

分析
  • 由於 Chromebook、Chromecast 市場已經起來,所以 Chrome Pad 、Google Smart watch、Google Glass 、Chromecast 將是更進一步進入 Google 主推領域,台廠需加速迎接 Google 代工,不要猶豫 Google 將成主流;
  • 一旦,Google 晶片發展成功,Google 將大量發展自我品牌產品,最後只剩晶片代工、品牌產品代工,也就是只剩 TSMC、晶片設計代工、鴻海等代工產業;( This means only TSMC and Foxconn will the benefit, major impact will be Intel and branded product companies );
  • 由 Google business model 也發現 Google search 、Google+ 、Gmail、Youtube、Mobile apps 是維繫使用者用 Google 服務,Adsense 是使用者產生 Google 廣告費收入之工具;
  • 台灣政府應該加速大幅 license ARM Cortex-A15, Cortex-M4 最更深之技術, 鼓勵廠商用政府 License IP 加速產業升級,以免  Intel 大輸後台灣產業完全給韓國吃掉。台灣電子業占 GDP 68.9% ,其實台灣政府如不能刺激產業升級而輸給韓國, 則稅收不足軍公教財政馬上倒閉; 
  • 我們真的不知道為甚麼任內馬政府大力推動 18%、發行寶島債經常性支出大幅成長、國營單位產品也大幅漲漲,卻不知如何產業升級,腐敗程度真的有感; 
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