Tag Archives: Health

Get Some Sleep with Kokoon Relax Headphones at CES



Sleep deprivation seems to be the curse of the 20th Century but for most people, the problem is simply living busy lives. According to NHS Choices, 1 in 3 people in the UK are affected by insomnia, with 50% of respondents in a recent survey by Mintel reporting struggles with sleep. All of us will have occasionally experienced those nights, lying awake, unable to switch off, but usually we’re back to ourselves the next night. However, for some, getting to sleep can be a clinical problem that needs help beyond getting to bed early.

For those people, there are CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques that can help with the problem. Tim Antos was one such sufferer and it was his experience of guided audio relaxation techniques that encouraged him to setup Kokoon with the mission to help people relax and sleep easier. After attending many sessions at a sleep clinic he “wanted to make all this knowledge, all these great tools I learnt in the sleep clinic more accessible to the everyday consumer to use on their own terms”.

Developed with staff at Europe’s largest sleep laboratory, the Kokoon Relax headphones combine bio-sensing with adaptive audio within an ergonomic noise cancelling headphone to provide personalised, bespoke assistance to help people switch off and relax. Simplistically, that means it uses EEG sensors to monitor brainwaves, motion and heart rate, and adjusts the sounds depending on how sleepy the wearer is.

The Kokoon app features techniques, tracks and concepts developed with sleep professionals to optimise the chances of falling asleep. The app helps insomnia sufferers by delivering a customised content experience developed for the individual using the sensor data gathered from their body and environment. For example, as the wearer falls asleep, the audio changes in response, fading out the content and introducing white noise to mask out disturbances. The system also tracks what helps someone doze off, then personalising content for greater effect.

On top of this, the Kokoon Relax headphones have been designed with comfort as a priority. There’s no point getting to sleep only to be woken up by uncomfortable headphones digging into the scalp. The Flexmould Comfort patented design helps Kokoon headphones conform to the shape of the user’s head, and by using high quality natural fibre fabric, air flows easily through the ear cups to keep the wearer’s ears cool and comfortable (I often get hot ears). The ear cushions are detachable for washing too.

The Relax headphones can be used just like any other Bluetooth 4 headphone. With great sound from 40mm electro-dynamic drivers, it makes them ideal for listening to music and watching movies whilst travelling, or simply relaxing in a busy place. And at only 350g or 12oz they make the perfect travel companion with folding earcups and a carry case is included too. There’s a choice of two colours, black or grey.

The Kokoon Relax headphones are now shipping internationally from Kokoon.io for US$349 / GB£315, and there are some new year offers on. They can also be purchased from Amazon.com and selected retailer.


HiMirror Expands With Skin Analyser and Scales at CES



Previous CES Innovation Award Honoree (2017) HiMirror are expanding their range of smart well-being products with two new devices announced at this year’s CES. The handheld HiSkin rapidly analyses skin condition and the Smart Body Scale measures a range of body metrics from weight (mass) and BMI, through water level and muscle-to-fat ratios.

The HiSkin is a pocket size hand-held device which connects to the HiMirror (and smartphone) to provide rapid analysis of skin’s condition. By simply holding the HiSkin on the face, the unit analyses conditions that can’t be seen with the naked eye, such as hydration and melanin. For melanin, HiSkin allows for continuous daily measurements to help observe changes in skin colour and evaluate increases in hyperpigmentation. Meanwhile, for hydration, it monitors changes in the skins moisture and evaluates the effectiveness of skincare habit, i.e. is the moisturiser any good?

Through HiSkin’s analysis, users can understand how seemingly small changes in their diet and lifestyle impact their skin, helping them better protect and maintain good complexion. The device achieves this by combining electronic and bio-medical engineering to non-invasively analyse the facial skin’s condition in five parts: forehead, eyes, upper cheek, lower cheek and chin. The HiSkin also detects and analyses dark circles and acne scars.

Interestingly, it’s suggested that HiSkin can also be used while shopping. Users can try desired skincare products before they buy them by using HiSkin to help them know which products or foundation will work best for their skin.

The HiSkin communicates via Bluetooth and works with HiMirror and the user’s smartphone via the HiSkin app, which is available for both Android and iOS. HiSkin is available online from HiMirror for £49.

The Smart Body Scale helps users stay in shape by measuring weight, body mass index, basal metabolic rate, total body water, skeletal muscle and bone mass, as well as muscle to fat ratios. If available, all the data is uploaded to user’s HiMirror in real-time via Bluetooth, or else the data is sent to the HiFit app on the user’s smartphone (available for both Android and iOS shortly).

Using the data gathered, the Smart Body Scale can propose a variety of body improvement strategies and fitness videos on the HiMirror for attaining a healthier, more-toned body, all within the comfort of your own home.  For use outside of the bathroom, the HiMirror Scale has a neutral coloured plush cover which lets it blends into any decor.

The Scale is a certified IEC standard medical device and is available online from HiMirror for £111.

Simon Shen, CEO of Taipei-based New Kinpo Group, which owns HiMirror, said: “We are elated to be exhibiting again at CES 2019, showcasing our brand innovations to some of the most influential and substantial names in the business. Our latest launches are elevating our product portfolio exponentially and filling voids in the marketplace. We strive to evolve with the ever-changing beauty/skincare industry and know these tools will enhance both the consumer and business experience.


Skin Care Gets Smart with HiMirror



HiMirror‘s range of smart mirrors aim to be “your at-home beauty and health consultant”, and use high resolution digital cameras to record and assess skin condition including wrinkles, fine lines, clarity, dark circles, dark spots, red spots and pores to both identify problem areas and track improvement. Simply, the smart mirror takes a picture of the face, analyses it and recommends personal skincare routines to help improve skin quality.

Combined with a database of over 10,000 skincare products, the HiMirror measures and tracks product performance through changes to skin condition. With objective data, it’s now possible to work out which skincare products and routines actually make a difference to the skin, and those that don’t. Using “big data”, the system has been developed in conjunction with professional consultants in the fields of dermatology, cosmetics, skincare and medical beauty, and HiMirror have won awards at CES in both 2017 and 2018.

The device is a mirror with a flat screen display behind it, which lets the HiMirror interact with the user to show skincare information and videos. The HiMirror responds to both voice and gestures, and there’s a handheld remote control too. No self-respecting smart mirror would be without a digital assistant and Alexa is built-in.

Announced at IFA today, HiMirror has a couple of new models, including one smaller version and two aimed at the professional beautician.

The HiMirror Mini Premium is a compact model with a 13″ x 9″  touch screen for easy navigation. As with other HiMirrors, it can analyse skin and offer personalised skincare recommendations. Other features includes Skin Safe which spots allergens in health products and it also provides help with applying makeup for different light levels, such as dimly lit restaurants or brightly lit offices. HiMirror Mini Premium will be available to pre-order from the HiMirror website from 31st August 2018, with products shipping in November. UK price is GB£239.

On the commercial side the Enterprise Lite and Enterprise Pro will be joining the HiMirror line-up shortly. These models are aimed at beauty professionals and beauty salons as these mirrors can have unlimited accounts or profiles. With one profile for each client, historical data and photos can be stored individually to track progress over time.

I particularly like the HiMirror Mini Premium and I can see it being a popular choice in the smaller size. Perfect for dressing tables….


Activinsights Measures Health at Wearable Technology Show



Activity trackers with built-in heart rate monitors are incredible pieces of technology. Sophisticated electronics crammed into a tiny space at relatively inexpensive cost and generating vast swathes of data. Fantastic as these devices are, they’re aimed squarely at consumers. There’s no guarantee that a thousand steps is a thousand steps.

For medical applications, a validated wearable is required and these devices have gone through rigorous research programmes to ensure that they work within a confirmed margin of error. British firm Activinsights manufacture their own wrist wearables for medical and healthcare professionals to use with with patients and clients.  In the interview, Stephanie from Activinsights tells me how their wearables differ from the consumer market. For starters, some of them have a year-long battery life.

With a range of devices for different scenarios, detailed information is collected and subsequently downloaded for analysis. Activinsights’ analytic tools can assess the data to provide lifestyle recommendations for long-term prevention but can also identify when the wearer’s condition is deteriorating. Many physical manifestations can be indicators of serious medical conditions, so it’s worth keeping track of activity over extended periods to help make a diagnosis.

The devices are available now with prices from around GB£260.


Digital Health London Innovates with NHS at Wearable Technology Show



The British National Health Service (NHS) is often thought of as a single organisation but it’s more of a Hydra-esque organism made of many semi-autonomous agencies each with their area of expertise and sources of funding. Consequently, it can be hard for entrepreneurs and startups to engage with the NHS – where do you start? I chat with Rose from Digital Health London, a programme aiming to speed up the development and scaling of digital innovations across health and care, and pioneer their adoption by the NHS…matching innovators with NHS need, and supporting them to navigate the UK health environment.

The Digital Health London accelerator programme works with small-to-medium companies to help these firms access NHS providers through an NHS Navigator. The Navigator is someone who has good understanding of how the NHS works and is funded, and can guide the company to make the right contacts.

The programme also provides guidance on how to work within healthcare, such as running clinic trials, patient safety and handling confidential information. Hopefully these startups can avoid some of the pitfalls seen recently with some of the larger social media companies!


Marvel-lous Massage Chairs at CES 2018



There are massage chairs and then there are BodyFriend massage chairs. With these chairs, it’s not so much getting a gentle pummelling from a recliner as putting on Iron Man’s exoskeleton with Jarvis as your masseur. Todd gets a sensational experience with Roy.

The premium BodyFriend chairs provide full body massage including shoulders, arms, waist, legs and feet, with more than a dozen massage modes (depending on model) including brain concentration and digestive massage. The brain massage uses sound waves to soothe the grey matter. There’s built-in heating, stereo speakers and Bluetooth.

Most recently, BodyFriend has partnered with Lamborghini for a new chair which is expected to ship in spring 2018. Other BodyFriend chairs are on sale now in the US with prices from US$5000 to $9000.

BodyFriend have partnered with Marvel for themed hugchairs including Spiderman and Captain America. Priced at US$1580, these are aimed at children and grown-up kids while providing a massage experience in a smaller, friendlier chair.

Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.

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Manage Diabetes with DiabiLive App at CES 2018



Diabetes is a disease that affects increasing numbers of people in developed countries where obesity, lack of exercise and genetics are causing epidemic levels of the condition. Simplistically, the pancreas becomes unable to manage blood sugar levels as it (usually) can’t to produce the right amount of insulin. Don and Nicholas discuss the problems facing diabetics and how DiabiLive‘s new app can help manage the disease.

Winner of a CES Innovation Award, DiabiLive have a developed a smartphone app which calculates the correct amount of insulin to inject based on three parameters (physical activity, diet, sugar level). In addition, the app plans ahead based on past history to warn of possible low sugar levels.

The app’s algorithms are based on medical science and protocols: the app is awaiting FDA approval, hopefully within 2018.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and gives lectures at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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