Kozminski Techblog

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Modern world offers people smaller pieces of technology that can assist in every-day-life and bring benefits to one’s health, lifestyle and as a consequence productivity and business effectiveness. Wearable devices available on the market today allow people to track activity of their body in various aspects and conditions. Through measuring body activity, you can gain knowledge on: calories burnt, quality of sleep, number of steps made over the day, heart rate in various situations, body temperature and many other indicators. Being aware and curious about health condition can bring considerable health benefits.

 

Proactive approach to healthcare

Up to this point, people tended to pay attention to their health when their faced problems. At the moment, their experience revolution of their attitude and they started to feel the need to monitor their health condition on daily basis. The users in 21^st century use mobile applications and fitness wearables every day. The most popular are shoes sensors, smart watches, wristbands and build in functionalities in mobile devices that allow to use only mobile apps for tracking how many steps the user made and how many calories he has burnt as a result. What is more apps available on the market expand the approach and promote general healthy lifestyle.

 

Active and engaged

Applications available on the market started to be interactive and communicative. The users get push notifications and are informed of upcoming events, activities that they need to do, goals that they are about to accomplish or threats of decreasing individual outcome. They are stimulated to further activity and engaged in their personal improvement. They get used to exercises and other things related to business performance and productivity. What is more the users through getting used to certain functionalities and to monitoring their daily performance want to improve other aspects of life through using applications and create their own balanced virtual environment.

 

Practical functionalities

Applications available on the market provide the user vide range of functionalities regarding fitness tracking, facilitating productivity, monitoring personal development, planners and  life hacks such as intelligent shopping lists, diet planners, taxi, peer-to-peer sharing, food delivery, booking services etc.

5 most wanted app features that the users look for:

1. Experience that is not available anywhere else
2. Intuitive and simple navigation
3. Seamless checkout
4. Personalized experiences
5. Simplicity

The most recommended apps in 2018:

1. Password

2. Lyft

3. Google Photos

4. Sky Guide

5. Snapchat

6. Instapaper

7. Waze

8. Untappd

9. Dark Sky

10. Spotify

 

Sources:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140502184033-1282856-the-health-benefits-of-wearable-technology

https://www.welbi.co/single-post/5-health-benefits-of-wearable-tech

http://www.medicaldaily.com/wearable-health-monitoring-devices-what-are-benefits-244670

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonha-revesencio/exploring-the-benefits-of_b_7910662.html

https://www.bodyshotperformance.com/the-advantages-of-wearable-technology-for-health-fitness-and-nutrition/?v=9b7d173b068d

https://cusjc.ca/agingtech/chapter-two/characteristics-the-benefits-of-wearable-tech/

 

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According to the latest statistics virtual reality and augmented reality are at their pick. People get to know their functionalities firstly through taking part in first VR games on consoles and expanded their potential to other spheres like education, science, simulation process and health care. Gamers and people creating technology were regarded as not healthy with sedentary lifestyle and inappropriate diet. At the moment, we can observe that they evolved and increased their awareness about healthy lifestyle. All technology users started to facilitate lots of daily activities but at the same time they realized that the technology can also improve their health in a attractive and entertaining way.

 

Virtual Reality Gym Experience

People have dreamed of going through the same experience as their virtual game character. At the moment, it is possible. Players can actually be the controllers themselves and can improve their own personal performance and experience just like any game character. Through using special controllers and sensors on players body he is able to upgrade his game status using his actual endurance, speed and strength. At the same time through fulfilling tasks in the virtual reality he is exercising in the real world what is beneficial for his health.

 

Exercise when are where you want

This innovative solution saves time and helps creating positive habits. The technology enables to develop muscle strength and endurance in the same efficiency as on the traditional gym. It uses integrated cable pulley system which is controlled by the virtual reality engine. The players muscles experience real strength-building resistance. Very popular product on the market is Black Box.

 

Efficient through artificial intelligence

The workout in virtual reality gym lasts about 30 minutes. It allows to maximize fitness results and adjust level of difficulty through artificial intelligence and special adoptive workout perception. Such virtual support guarantees graduate and visible progress. Artificial intelligence combined with virtual reality analyzes real body performance. System of controllers and wearables track and monitor fitness activities what allows the player to be aware of his condition. On the other hand, it does not mean that through exercising with virtual environment technology workout will be easier and painless. It will be more convenient and attractive for the user. It will visualize the path that the player needs to go between his actual effort and perceived effort.

 

Sources:

1. https://www.vrroom.buzz/vr-news/trends/will-vr-change-bodybuilding-and-fitness
2. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42599339
3. https://www.blackbox-vr.com
4. https://muscleinsider.com/news/virtual-reality-bodybuilding-now-available

 

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The year 2018 is the year of home technology. In the previous year companies released on the market variety of products that are meant for home usage and facilitating not only everyday activities but also personal security and health improvement. People started to get used to cloud functionalities and controlling the same data from more than one device. It is the beginning of new convenient reality where person can control and supervise everything within reach.

 

Home sweet home

The new business venture that can be experiences at the moment enables people to live more convenient life than ever before. Solutions available on the market make life easier for the user and safer for the environment. It is possible to monitor air condition inside the apartment and filter it when the parameters exceed certain values. Intelligent electricity system will adjust energy usage to the user’s real needs and will prevent energy waste through eco-friendly bulbs controlled by the app and central settings. Intelligent plugs will control the amount of energy that goes to the device that is for example charged. What is more, intelligent plugs having smart system called “away” which will turn on certain devices during set time to imitate the user’s presence at home to discourage potential burglars. Other functionalities will allow the user to control different devices for example through smartphone or tablet. It is possible to turn on the TV with certain Netflix movie or coffee machine from bed. Furthermore, it is possible to install camera systems and alarms that will not only prevent from burglary, but also will allow to monitor what is happening inside the house when the user is out such as animals or kids’ activities. All these functionalities gathered together creates a perfect place for living.

 

Advantages for older people care

Intelligent home solutions are very practical for older people. They can have every parameter set and automated. Applications that are dedicated for these devices will notify them about the essential aspects and will make their life easier. Its great advantage is the fact that other people may have access to their data and functionalities remotely. It is a convenient solution for taking care of older people and checking whether their air condition at home is fine, whether they need help, are ill, or had a burglary or accident.

 

Best smart home gardets in 2018:

1. Amazon Alexa
2. Google Home
3. Apple Home Kit
4. Amazon Echo
5. Netgear Arlo Q
6. Ecobee4
7. Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit
8. TP Link HS105
9. Nest Protect
10. August Smart Lock Pro

 

Sources:

1. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rosslin_Robles/publication/311414476_Applications_Systems_and_Methods_in_Smart_Home_Technology_A_Review_IJAST_vol15/links/584501a908aeda6968191832/Applications-Systems-and-Methods-in-Smart-Home-Technology-A-Review-IJAST-vol15.pdf
2. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/070674370505000509
3. http://www.intelligenthome.com.au
4. https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-smart-home-gadgets,review-2008.html
5. https://www.cleverism.com/smart-home-intelligent-home-automation/

 

 

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The technology in recent years tend to develop in the direction where people create orders and the devices fulfills their missions. In a similar way, General Motors and other companies producing cars came up with the idea of self-driving car as a future of motorization. First autonomous vehicles with removed manual controls have been released last year. The prototypes are being tested and checked on various situations and conditions. Some of them still have manual controls just in case for the safety of the passenger. The perfect solution where all cars are aware of its presence and cannot cause an accident is considered as ideal. Nevertheless, some ethical aspects of such project should be designed carefully.

 

Makes life easier

Before the self-driving cars will make life easier they need to complete thorough testing process. The manufacturers would like to be sure that the car will cope with dense urban areas and distinguish all vehicles and other objects on their route to the destination. General motors designed the special safety system and placed airbags in alternative places inside the car as it does not have the steering wheel anymore. When the self-driving car will pass all tests, and fulfil law requirements adjusted for the new technology coming to the market it will be able to serve the society. People will be able to save time of commuting to work, be able to use the time in the car for anything else than driving. The traffic in the cities is expected to decrease as the cars will always adjust their speed and route to the current conditions and minimize the occurrence of accidents. What is more they are going to be eco-friendly and do not harm the environment.

 

The difficult situations

The most crucial aspect of self-driving car technology is the programming of artificial intelligence which needs to react in the most optimal way in certain situations. It’s the human’s decision to mark what is more important and what has bigger value. Every day people face dilemmas on the route whether they should hit into the other car or pedestrian or whether they decide to hit the tree or the mother with a child even if there is family on the back seat. Artificial intelligence evaluates what is the priority for the society and makes the most optimal decision which is made without emotional element. From the ethical point of view the computer inside the self-driving car will not take into account as many factors as the person, but will have quicker moment of reaction and probably will be able to prevent the accident or maximally minimize the damage.

 

New solution means new threat

Each solution that is regarded as a breakthrough and blessing for the society can be at the same time a curse and an opportunity for someone with bad intensions. As the self-driving car will use computer and artificial intelligence it will mean that some people will certainly attempt to hack it in order to steal it or take the full control of the vehicle. Taking that factor into account It is important to remember about checking all the necessary security systems that are meant to prevent such events.

 

Sources:

http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2018/01/13/our-driverless-future-driving-without-a-driver.cnnmoney/index.html

http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2018/01/13/our-driverless-future-fighting-hackers.cnnmoney/index.html

http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/12/technology/general-motors-cruise-self-driving-car/index.html

http://money.cnn.com/technology/our-driverless-future/self-driving-cars-will-change-your-life/