For over a decade now, wearable technology has advanced significantly with fitness trackers, smartwatches, and augmented reality glasses becoming extremely popular. Smart rings are poised to take wearable devices a notch higher. Though much smaller than other wearables, digital rings are increasingly changing the way people interact with technology. They offer advanced solutions for lifestyle enhancement and provide users an unobstructed way to track health metrics and access information without the need to carry bulky devices.

Digital rings come with a stylish appearance that easily makes them the preferred option for tech-savvy consumers. These aspects place wearable technology rings at the top of wearable technology market innovation according to a MarkWide Research Report. In this article, we delve deeper into what digital rings can do and the benefits they offer users.

What Are Smart Rings?

Smart rings are wearable electronic devices that are fitted with mobile components such as NFC chips and sensors. These stylish but compact wearables are worn on the finger and are capable of performing electronic tasks like receiving notifications, tracking health metrics, and making contactless financial transactions. The best smart rings feature multiple technologies including:

1. Sensors

This technology enables wearable technology rings to track varying parameters. Some of the sensors that are fitted in digital rings include optical or infrared sensors to monitor pulse or heart beat, gyroscope sensors that detect balance, 3-axis accelerometer sensors to track movement and sleep, and EDA sensors to track cognition, emotions, and feelings. Other sensors that come with smart rings for health include SpO2 which monitors oxygen levels in the blood, NTC thermistor which tracks body temperature, and glucose sensors which monitor blood sugar levels.

2. Near Field Communication (NFC)

NFC refers to wireless connections that utilize magnetic field induction to enable communication between devices that are located in close range. NFC technology works effectively with common applications in laptops, smartphones, access cards, digital wallets, transport cards, point-of-sale terminals, and many others.

3. Bluetooth

This technology syncs the data that’s collected by sensors, allowing smart ring companies to analyze and generate user-friendly reports and personalized recommendations to users.

What Do Smart Rings Do?

Digital rings are used for different applications. Health and fitness are the most common applications in the market with Apple smart rings set to lead in monitoring health metrics while Oura smart rings and Samsung smart rings are perfect for tracking daily activities and nightly rest. Other practical smart ring capabilities include:

1. Contactless Payments

Digital rings like K Ring and McLEAR are already paving the way for contactless payment systems. Rings with these capabilities allow users to tap and make transactions of amounts that don’t exceed MasterCard and Visa global contactless payment terminals. Countries such as the Netherlands, the U.K., France, Japan, Australia, and Russia already have banks that allow smart ring contactless payments for debit and credit payments via activated MasterCard and Visa payment terminals.

2. Smart Key

Digital rings that are fitted with optical sensors can replace conventional keys or access badges or cards by working as smart keys that open homes, offices, and cars. These capabilities improve security systems as taking the ring off the finger halts access and ensures that no one can access your home, office, or the car you connect to the smart ring. Tesla smart rings are great examples of the convergence between smart and digital rings. The rings allow users to lock, start, and unlock a range of Tesla models including Model Y, Model 3, and Model S 2021.

3. Transit Pass

Various NFC smart rings come with tap-to-pay card readers that passengers can use to access transit gates, allowing them to serve as tickets or travel passes in public transportation. The rings work like stored-value cards, holding monetary value and making it readily available during travel without requiring third-parties from network connections or credit/debit accounts. A good example is the K Ring that provides transit passes for most rail services in London as well as Transport for London services.

4. Device Control

Wearable digital rings allow users to control devices like smartphones remotely. Users can improve their productivity and reduce screen time by using them to receive messages, control music, get call notifications, and set alarms remotely.

What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Smart Ring?

In addition to their tracking capabilities, wearable technology rings offer users a range of benefits that include:

1. Gesture Control Capabilities

Digital rings come with tiny sensors that support gesture control. This allows users to interact with other devices, including smart home appliances by waving their hands. This feature enhances accessibility to technology and supports home automation.

2. Better Privacy and Safety

Although wearable devices function the same way, digital rings have an edge when it comes to privacy. The absence of screens means that your information remains inaccessible to those around you. Wearable technology rings also come with SOS features or panic buttons that can alert emergency services or predefined contacts when a user is in distress. In critical situations, these features can save lives.

3. Less Cumbersome

Digital rings are more comfortable to wear because of their lightweight and compact design. They provide a seamless and intuitive experience to users who prefer to use them for fitness tracking and contactless payments.

4. Longer Battery Life

Smart wearable rings have no screens. This reduces their power consumption significantly compared to other wearable devices like fitness bands and smartwatches. The majority of digital rings have a battery life of 3 to 7 days compared to fitness bands and smartwatches whose batteries last for 1 to 2 days.

5. Valuable Jewelry Pieces

Smart rings are both technology and jewelry pieces. When you get one, you wear it on your finger every day. There are varying ring styles to choose from, and you can opt for a minimalist, sleek, or more noticeable design. Whatever style you go for, the aesthetics that come with wearable rings make them valuable jewelry pieces that enhance your look.

Future Outlook

With the rising demand for discreet and convenient wearables, the future of smart rings looks promising. These innovative wearables blend fashion, technology, health, and finance. There’s no doubt that moving into the future, the powerful features they offer will inevitably shape our interaction with technology.

The post Smart Rings: The Future of Wearables? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

The Google Pixelbook i7 (2017) is the flashiest Chromebook yet!

ChromeOS has always had a bad reputation for being a glorified browser. And over the years, Google has tried to convince the tech world otherwise.

Take the Chromebook pixel line as an example.

Google’s Chromebook Pixels (2013 and 2015) have had more powerful intel processors than their competitors. The 2015 version took that a step further with an i7 variant that outperformed the Celeron Chromebooks by other manufacturers.

The 2017 Google Pixelbook 12in is an upgrade to the 2015 Chromebook Pixel. But before we get to the spec sheet, here’s something about Chromebooks first.

What are Chromebooks and ChromeOS?

Chromebooks feature ChromeOS, a light-weight operating system made for web-based applications. These devices boot significantly faster and take less space, making them perfect for browsing and lenient tasks.

The original intent for ChromeOS and Chromebooks was to be the cheaper alternative to laptops. With devices like the Google Pixelbook 12in, this is changing rapidly.

These 2-in-1 devices are getting better hardware and increasingly smoother software, making them more expensive. This change ponders the question, why even use a Chromebook?

Benefits of Using a Chromebook

Chromebooks miss out on functionality benefits like gaming and multimedia editing. You’ll also miss some of the Windows apps and be on a constant search for alternatives.

Nonetheless, here are a few things that Chromebooks are good at:

• Quick boots and in-general faster operations
• Integration with Google Workspace
• Cheaper and great for office use
• Better collaboration and higher security than Windows because of cloud-based functioning
• Good battery life

If you want a device that takes care of all things browsing there’s no need for you to spend more than a few hundred bucks.

A Chromebook also acts like your tablet whenever you need to watch Netflix or play some light games.

Being cheap also makes these devices great for educational use. Students can do pretty much all of their tasks, like writing notes and assignments, making presentations, and multimedia consumption.

So, does all of this apply to the Google Pixelbook i7? Let’s find out.

All About the Google Pixelbook i7 – Features, Specifications, & More

The Google Pixelbook i7 is somewhat of a different beast, which isn’t always a good thing. The cheapest option costs $999, and the highest variant for $1,500.

Now that’s one expensive Chromebook. As you’d expect, the Google Pixelbook 12in does everything a cheaper alternative would, but faster and better.

Being Google’s own child, the Pixelbook also gets more attention than other devices.

Google Pixelbook i7 – Features & All the Good Stuff

The Pixelbook has some smart features if it’s part of the ecosystem. Like unlocking the device with your phone’s fingerprint sensor, and automatic tethering from mobile data.

The Google Pixelbook 12in has great hardware too! The hinges are all solid and support 360° tilting. The keyboard is good enough for long typing hours, and the keyboard support’s smooth finish is wonderful.

The design is sleek and unique, just like the Pixel phones. The front side leaves a bit to be desired with unusually thicker bezels (even more than the Chromebook Pixel 2015)! Although, the beautiful display makes up for it.

The 7th gen kaby-lake processor makes the device one of the fastest Chromebooks ever. Along with that, an SSD makes everything just that much faster.

Google Pixelbook i7 – Specifications

The Google Pixelbook i7 (12in) has one of the best spec sheets in the Chromebook market.

Google Pixelbook i7 – The Pros & Cons

For the most part, Google Pixelbook i7 is a great Chromebook. In fact, you can easily put it amongst the best.

However, the best Chromebook is still sometimes worse than a great tablet or a great laptop. So, most of the cons we’ll discuss are greatly influenced by the Pixelbook’s nature itself.

The Pros

• The Pixelbook is sturdy and has decent build quality
• Software stays up-to-date with frequent changes by Google to make it better
• Google integrations make life easier and smarter with lots of cool features
• Extremely fast and smooth for a Chromebook
• Bult-in Google Assistant button for easier access and usage
• Plenty of Android Apps

The Cons 

• No Microsoft Office or any Windows apps
• ChromeOS has a moderately difficult learning curve coming from a Mac or Windows PC
• While tilting 360°, holding the Pixelbook becomes awkward when you keep hitting the keyboard (inactive while tilted)
• Compatibility issues with quite a few Android apps
• Very less gaming capability

Comparing the Google Pixelbook i7 with Other Alternatives

When it comes to Chromebook alternatives, we’d suggest going for cheaper ones. After all, a Chromebook’s purpose is lightweight browser usage and office work.

However, the Pixelbook doesn’t just compete with other Chromebooks. You can get a Macbook Air, Microsoft Surface Laptop, or an iPad, all for around the same price.

As Marques from MKBHD put it in his video, “2-in-1s are usually worse at being a tablet than an actual tablet. And, they’re also worse at being a laptop than an actual laptop.” This also applies to the Google Pixelbook 12in.

But, if you’re only looking for one device that does both, there isn’t any better option than the Pixelbook.

Getting Past the ChromeOS on the Google Pixelbook i7

As I said earlier, a lot of things wrong with the Pixelbook are because of ChromeOS. But, there are ways to go around it.

You’ll be glad to hear that the Pixelbook has access to fully functional Debian Linux although its stability remains questionable.

If you’re willing to risk it, there is a way to install Ubuntu alongside ChromeOS. It won’t be as unstable as Linux, but there are some minor bugs you’ll have to deal with.

As it is, ChromeOS does fine for programming work. But, installing these OS could make it a better experience.

Our Final Word

To sum it up, the Google Pixelbook i7 is a top dog instead of a game-changer in the Chromebook Market!

For the price of one big grand, you need to think your needs through. Regardless, we can still see the Pixelbook get a fair share of its fans.

And, for a good reason!

The post Google Pixelbook i7 – Bringing New Life to ChromeOS? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Although there is no certainty regarding the colors, we might just have an idea of the shades of the iPhone 14 range upcoming very soon. The following colors are likely to be dropped this year too!

Colors of iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max Range

According to TechRadar, Apple is launching the following colors which will be available during the launch. Interestingly, in some cases, the iPhone 14 Max has not been mentioned. However, going by the past rumors, we can expect the model to come in similar shades as the standard iPhone 14 model. This will be much like the iPhone 13 mini that is currently available in the same colors as the iPhone 13.

Reportedly, the iPhone 14 (and the iPhone 14 Max) model will be available in the following colors:

Purple/lavender

Apple introduced the beautiful lavender iPhone 12 the following spring. Expectedly, lavender/purple could be a new shade for the iPhone 14 this year. The iPhone 13 is not available in a purple shade yet. Since it is a new shade and an attractive one, we can expect the iPhone 14 range to be available in this shade. This is also mainly because it has leaked at least twice.

Green/Alpine Green

Another popular shade to make rounds in the rumor is green. Although we are not certain about this one as of now (since the iPhone 13 model is available in green), we cannot make a definite prediction yet. Moreover, one source has mentioned the iPhone 14 range in this particular color.

Black

Black is one of the expected colors although the closest current iPhone 13 is dark blue or Midnight blue. Apple can probably offer the upcoming iPhone 14 range in this shade because it is one of the most popular smartphone colors.

At least two sources have suggested that a black shade is planned. Although it’s not a color we’re terribly thrilled by, it’s a safe, understated choice that looks smart and will appeal to many.

White

The closest neighbor of the black shade is the white one, or Starlight. It is a color that Apple is currently offering in its iPhone 13 lineup. Therefore, Apple might continue with this shade for its upcoming iPhone 14 range.

Blue

We can also expect a blue shade because it is another popular color out there. It is less likely than black or white because it is less of a standard shade. However, it is available on current iPhones and has been rumored by multiple sources.

Red

Red is Apple’s favorite color. So, a red iPhone 14 has always been likely, especially plausible here since two sources have already mentioned the same.  We can expect a bright red shade, officially called PRODUCT(RED). Moreover, sales in this color contribute to the fight against global health emergencies.

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max Colors

Below are the colors we can expect for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max:

• Gold or Rose Gold
• Purple
• Green
• Graphite
• Silver
• iPhone 14 Range: The Missing Shades

Although we cannot entirely guarantee the above colors, we can still Apple to launch them. Rumors around Apple and its products, especially the iPhone 14 range, have been around for a long time. If these rumors are true, we will probably not see the iPhone 14 range in pink.

The post LEAKED: iPhone 14 Range Colors are here! Can we expect it in a pink shade? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

How often have you heard that “Tech is future and the future is tech!”? This phrase has become a common saying in a time that is entirely dominated by technology. From sensor-enabled lights to AI-powered health detectors, we are literally waking up and dodging off to technology.

But, (a wise man once quoted) technology is limitless and our affinity for it is boundless! If you should ask, we will affirm that tech gadgets are living proof of this fact. We, as humans, have experimented (leveraged) so much with the aspects of tech that currently we have umpteen number of bizarre yet futuristic tech gadgets to satiate our tech requirements.

How? Have you heard of ‘Amagami Ham Ham’ the comforting pet robot which relieves stress by NIBBLING ON YOUR FINGERS? If not, then you should keep reading this blog to find out more about such futuristic tech gadgets that will impress you as well as amaze you!

So, brace yourselves for the unravelling of 7 futuristic tech gadgets that will make your head spin in amazement.

List of 7 Future Tech Gadgets

1. Emobot (Friendly AI Desktop Pet with Personality and Ideas)

Recently, Instagram was flooded with videos and snaps of a tiny AI robot that could react in 1000+ different ways! Unanimously popular as the Emobot, it is the Living AI. The Emobot is a cool sidekick and a smart robot who is a versatile helper and has a unique personality.

Emo can perform an array of tasks. He can cheer you up, groove to music, and play online games with you. He is also a great helper who can wake you up, turn on the lights, take pictures and answer questions.

Here is a list of things that Emo can do:

• Move independently and explore surroundings
• Track sounds
• Recognize people and objects
• Navigate desktop perimeter without (ever) falling off
• Make decisions on his own
• Evolve his personality based on his surroundings and your interactions
• Respond naturally with expressions and movements
• Express feelings and emotions with his latest Emotion Engine System

He might as well get a little annoyed if you try interrupting him!
Check Emobot!!

2. Mezmocoin Galactic

The next to be on the list of cool futuristic tech gadgets is the Mezmocoin Galatic. This pocket-sized spinning coin will make you forget Fidget Spinners. A spinner toy, the Mezmocoin Galatic comes with holographic galaxies—a new addition to the Mezmocoin series.

This spinning coin can spin smoothly for up to 12 minutes. Unlike fidget spinners, it will fascinate your eyes with holographic images of galaxies, set beneath a clear resin dome. Galactic is a mesmerizing combination of optical illusion and space explorations. Built with the highest level of craftsmanship, Mezmoglobe has used real Space footage from existing Galaxies, Nebulas and other Space objects.

The coin will rotate smoothly on any desk, making it the perfect companion during your boring moments of the day. Simultaneously, it stands as a beautiful design piece while not in use. Mezmocoin Galactic will help you with several tedious tasks. It will help unleash your inner creativity and imagination, relieve stress, and maintain intact focus. You can simply take a break from your schedule and play around as well. Besides, Galactic can be your creative companion on Mondays as well as Tuesdays.

Check Mezmocoin Galactic!!

3. Loop Neck Pillow

What could be the futuristic version of travel neck pillows? The Loop Neck Pillow is the perfect neck pillow ideal for a long journey. It allows you to get rid of the typical travel neck pillows—the inflatable ones, the microbead ones as well as the ones with memory foams. With the Loop Neck Pillow, you can bid goodbye to the uncomfortable ones that are neither stiff nor embrace the shape of your neck properly.

Loop Neck Pillow allows you to customize and design the shape of your neck pillow. Here is a list of features offered by it:

• Better spinal support with pressure-sensitive memory foam that allows you to relax completely
• Enhanced chin support that keeps your chin up while sitting in a straight position
• Infinite customizable shapes that makes it easy to be customized into any shape
• You can control its temperature in a single flip
• The pillows is adaptable to multiple trips
• You can easily carry it (in a hygienic manner) wherever you go

Shop Loop Neck Pillow!!

4. LARQ Bottle Filtered

If you’re tired of cleaning your bottles every now and then to get rid of the stink, this bottle will help you with the chore. The LARQ Bottle is the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle! It purifies your water and neutralizes the stinking smell of bottle mouth that is hated worldwide. Let us explain how the bottle’s self-cleaning mechanism works.

The LARQ Water Bottle Filtered uses a Nano Zero filter technology that has two layers:

• Activated Carbon that traps contaminants such as chlorine and VOCs
• Nano Zero technology grabs onto heavy metals that purify the water and enhance its taste

Even if you are collecting water from sources such as rivers, the bottle’s technology can also filter out the bits of sediment in the water. It is insulated from within and hence, the water stays cool or hot for much longer than a standard bottle. In fact, the bottle is airport-friendly as well as travel-friendly. It is also easy to use and has sleek and attractive aesthetics. It cleans itself every 2 hours, thus preventing the accumulation of microbes and stink in the bottle. With the LARQ Bottle Filtered, you can save a lot of money since it’s reusable. You can also drop it (accidentally) and there will be no impact on its technology or the bottle itself.

Check LARQ Bottle Filtered!!

5. Atmoph Window

Are you daunted by the citylights’ view from your window? If yes, then you can customize your own view with this futuristic window. How about an ocean view or the view of green mountains? The Atmoph window helps you customize your own window’s view. It is a smart wall scenery display that lets you set a scenic view from a catalog of thousands of beautiful displays.
The Atmoph Window is a smart display in the shape of a window. It lets you choose (and see) scenes from around the world. You can simply put it on your desk or hang it on the wall. It has a thousand interactive videos of serene sceneries from around the world, with complete audio that gives realistic experiences. You can also connect your smartphone with the window and relive your most nostalgic moments. These features make it one of the best futuristic tech gadgets of all time.

Check Atmoph Window!!

6. Ruconla Fiber Optic Cap LED Hat

If you’re looking to be the life of the party, we have a really cool tech gadget for you. The Ruconla Fiber Optic Cap LED hat comes in

• 7 light-up colors (red, green, blue, gold, light blue, purple and white)
• 5 flashing modes (Monochrome, Flash, Gradual, Smooth, Polychromatic)

It is essentially one of the best party materials. The hat is unisex and easy to wear. You can adjust its size using the adjustable strap and buckle. It emits no radiation and is harmless to the body. You can charge the hat using the rechargeable battery that takes up to 2 hours for charging. Once (fully) charged, you can use it for up to 2-4 hours without any pause. You can also wash it gently. The Ruconla Fiber Optic Cap LED hat is portable. So, you can carry it around wherever you go. This futuristic tech gadget is best suited for celebratory, party, vacation, and holiday events. You can also gift it to others and surprise them!

Check Ruconla Fiber Optic Cap LED hat on Amazon !!

7. Moxie Robot

Since we are living in an era where technology has influenced people of every age, especially kids. Thus, the last to be on our list of futuristic tech gadgets is the Moxie robot. It is a cutting-edge robot companion created specifically for kids. Moxie was created when a group of robotics, engineers, neuroscientists, creative storytellers and child development specialists collaborated. Altogether, they created this ingenious robot that teaches youngsters how to interact with each other and learn new abilities.

Moxie is a socially assistive robot for children. It fosters social, emotional, and cognitive learning through play-based learning and engagement in the shape of a lovely character. It might look like a toy, but it is much more than that.

Check or Buy Moxie Robot!!

So, this concludes our list of 7 futuristic tech gadgets.

The post 7 Futuristic Tech Gadgets in 2022 That Will Make You Speechless! appeared first on Tech Research Online.

The app utilizes sensors on the Apple watch to monitor the user’s body movements and heart rate when they are sleeping. Then the data is sent to a server where it is compared based on algorithms to a baseline sleep profile for the user.

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the app has been approved by them.

In a statement, the FDA said, “This device was studied in a 30-day randomized, sham-controlled trial of 70 patients. A sham therapy is an inactive treatment or procedure that is intended to mimic as closely as possible therapy in a clinical trial. Patients in the sham group wore the device, but no vibratory stimulation was provided.”

Adding, “Safety was assessed using validated measurements of suicidality and sleepiness, and there were no changes in either throughout the study in either group. Sleep was assessed with two versions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale, the self-rated questionnaire for assessing sleep quality, including a version of that scale that is intended for patients with PTSD. Both the sham and active groups showed improvement on the sleep scales, with the active group showing greater improvement than the sham. The evidence demonstrated the probable benefits outweighed the probable risks.”

How does the app work: Nightware first decides if the user is experiencing nightmares, if they are then it sends out vibrations through the Apple Watch to disrupt the nightmare.

Both the FDA and Apple do not recommend this app to be a standalone treatment for PTSD-based nightmares and is supposed to be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider. If someone wants to use the app they will require a prescription to use it because it is simply not for everyone.

However, this app is not recommended for those who sleepwalk or perform acts of violence. Certain conditions warrant an immediate call to a doctor such as daytime sleepiness.

If the nightmares continue, Apple recommends users call a doctor. If in case the vibrations lead to awakenings that are not related to the nightware, users are recommended to discontinue the watch.

In recent years, the Apple Watch has gained a reputation as a lifesaving device as its heart rate monitor has saved several lives.

Typically, users receive a notification if their heart rate is too low or too high, sending them to the hospital where they are properly diagnosed by a doctor rather quickly.

The post FDA Approves Apple Watch App That Uses Vibrations To End PTSD Caused Nightmares appeared first on Tech Research Online.