Hasta La Gadget!

It’s pretty much a given that laptops are going to get thinner and thinner. Take Microsoft Surface for example. It’s got that tablet keyboard-cover that’s alllmost but not really usable. The problem with it is that is there’s no haptic feedback. The raised keys help a little, but without any movement, you just can’t get going very fast. The hand is quicker than the eye. This new tech from Novasentis could totally change that.

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[CES 2014] 2014 is upon us and we’re sure many of you guys have good intentions for the year and have probably created resolutions such as getting more exercise. That’s easier said than done, especially if you’re busy and travel a lot, but that’s the exact problem that Tao is hoping to tackle with the WellShell, a mouse-shaped device (pictured above) that allows the user to basically exercise wherever and whenever they want! Stuck in the office all night? No problem! Stuck in a 20 hour flight? Done! Stuck in a traffic jam? Sure, why not (although highly unrecommended!).

Basically how the WellShell allows you to work out is through isometric exercising, which is by applying pressure which is said to improve strength, muscle tone, and even circulation. Available with an accompanying app that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, all the user has to do is hold the device in their hands, knees, thighs, follow the instructions on the app, and just push! Other features of the WellShell include the ability to track other biometrics, such as calorie intake, steps taken, heart rate, and more. We can’t speak for its effectiveness but it does sound like an intriguing product. Pricing was not mentioned but the Tao WellShell is expected to be available later this fall.

Tao WellShell Debuted, Allows You To Exercise While On The Go original content from Ubergizmo.

At CES 2014, Withings was showing off the latest product in its lineup of home health tracking connected gadgets, the Aura. The Aura looks vaguely like a submarine’s periscope, but it lives on your nightstand, connects to a sensor pad that goes under your mattress, and provides super sophisticated sleep tracking along with intelligent wake up and sleep sequences to give you your best possible rest.

The Aura is a wake-up like, not unlike other products on the market from companies including Philips, but it uses light combined with sound to help trigger melatonin release, which the company says happens via scientifically sound processes. These are triggered variously to relax you at night, or wake you up in the morning, using different tones from the LED light in the nightstand component, which also doubles as an alarm clock and speaker.

The Aura connects to a pad of sensors via cable, providing power and collecting data from said attachment. This pad picks up “micromovements” according to Withings, which are far more subtle than the kind of tossing and turning detectable by most wrist- and pocket-borne activity trackers, including Withings’ own Pulse. The sensor can detect small movements from under a pillow-top or even a tempurpedic mattress (which are designed to minimize the effect of movement), and up to two can be used to monitor sleep patterns for two people in the same bed. It can detect not only movements, but also breathing cycles and heart rate to arrive at much more sophisticated conclusions about that nature and quality of your sleep. Using this data, it can help the Aura alarm unit start to wake you up more gently when it makes sense, rather than abruptly right at a specific time.

These can be used in combination with Withings’ existing suite of health products to provide a more complete picture through their smartphone app, the company says. It’s aiming to ship the Aura starting in spring, 2014 and the whole kit, including one sensor pad and one nightstand alarm/light will cost $299. That’s steep compared to the Philips wake-up light at $99, but Withings is essentially the first to combine that product with highly sophisticated sleep tracking. Still, you have to be very committed to the self-monitored health movement to make that leap, I’d imagine.