All articles tagged with #wearable
A prototype uses an under-the-chin ultrasound probe to read tongue movements and translate them into decoded speech, enabling private, sound-free communication. With about 50 hours of training data, it achieves roughly 15.6% error and can generalize across speakers with similar accents, though the current probe is bulky; future versions could resemble a wearable patch.
Leaked press renders from Evan Blass reveal the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a cleaner 47mm Titanium Gray case, squircle display, and a bezel marked 1–12 hours; it shows a simpler silicone strap with dual buckles, back sensors, and dual speakers, plus GPS and LTE. Specs rumored include Sapphire Crystal, 10ATM water resistance, Snapdragon Wear Elite, 2GB RAM, and an 800mAh battery, with potential Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 6.0, UWB, and NB‑NTN, and a July 2026 launch alongside other Galaxy devices.
Apple unveiled WatchOS 27 at WWDC, highlighting an on-wrist Siri, a new Dynamic Home Grid, and Workout Buddy that no longer requires a connected iPhone. The update emphasizes battery efficiency and faster app launches, with health features like irregular cycle tracking and perimenopause/menopause logging (plus related Fitness+ workouts), new health APIs (Menopause API, Workout Zones API), and minor enhancements across Siri and stability. Public beta arrives in July, with a final release anticipated in September alongside new Apple Watch models.
MIT researchers have created a chest-worn hydrogel patch that noninvasively paces the heart by enabling engineered heart cells to respond to ultrasound via a gene-therapy primer—a technique called sonogenetics. In tests on rats and pig hearts, the patch restored steady rhythms during daily activity, pointing toward a potential noninvasive alternative to implanted pacemakers and, with future closed‑loop sensing, a fully automated pacing system.
Google's Fitbit Air is a compact, screenless wearable that relies on the redesigned Google Health app and Gemini-powered AI Coach to deliver coaching, auto-logging, and concise health summaries. It competes with Whoop on concepts and price (hardware around $100) and shines with fast charging and flexible bands, but the AI can misinterpret data at times and the app has a few quirks, leaving room for improvement before it becomes a clear winner in the health-tech wearables space.
A first look at Hypershell's X Ultra S, a $2,000 motorized exoskeleton for hikers that uses dual hip motors (up to 1,000W) and the HyperIntuition AI to adjust assistance in real time, helping on climbs and soft terrain while requiring manual mode changes for descents and uneven ground; controlled via a mobile app with Boost mode, it delivers about 18 miles of typical-range battery life, carries safety risks if not disengaged, and signals AI moving from analysis to physical output—still early and not perfectly seamless.
A hobbyist built a Cyberpunk-inspired jacket with four flexible OLED panels mounted in the collar, driven by two Raspberry Pi 4s (two screens per Pi) using a GPIO-based sync, all housed in a 3D-printed frame to protect the displays; the result recreates the game’s jacket look and demonstrates wearable multi-display tech, though it remains a prototype rather than practical mass-market gear.
Sony has upgraded its wearable neck cooler, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, delivering a 2°C (about 3.6°F) stronger cooling (20% boost) with a refined cooling algorithm and new stabilizing fins. It still runs on USB-C, offers up to 10 hours on a medium setting, and includes a second-gen Pocket Tag sensor and a companion app, while remaining usable without a smartphone. The Pro Plus will launch in the UK and Europe through Sony's store and retailers like Amazon, priced at £199 in the UK and €220 elsewhere; US availability is not announced.
The Fitbit Air is Google's screen-free wearable that tracks health metrics through the revamped Google Health app. Pre-orders cost $99 for the regular model and $129 for the Steph Curry edition, with each retailer offering a free band as a bonus. Google Store orders come with a $35 credit toward accessories and three months of Google Health Premium; the device works with Android and iOS and emphasizes a minimal, band-based design alongside the Google Health app and its Health Coach features.
Capcom and F84 Games are releasing the Mega Man: My Play Watch, a 1.91-inch touchscreen wearable that lets users play Mega Man 2 in Classic and Arcade modes, plus a Play Time feature with animated Mega Man faces. Beyond timekeeping and fitness Tracking, the watch has no Bluetooth or apps, ships starting June 2026, and can be pre-ordered for $79.99 exclusively through GameStop.
The Verge argues Tim Cook’s lasting impact may be Apple’s health-centric wearable era, led by the Apple Watch which introduced FDA-cleared health features and large-scale studies like the Apple Heart Study, turning wearables into mainstream healthcare tools that extend beyond the iPhone.
Acer’s 2019 eRosary was a wearable bracelet with a crucifix interface that could track prayer progress via a companion app; priced around $110 and sold through the Vatican site, it debuted at Acer’s 50th anniversary event in London but lasted only one generation, marking one of the company’s most surprising experiments.
ZDNET reviews Hilo, a wrist-worn, FDA-cleared blood pressure monitor that continuously tracks BP and can alert to hypertension. It’s accurate and durable but requires monthly cuff calibrations, costs about $80 per year after the first year for full app access, and data access is limited otherwise. Sleep tracking is weak, and the overall price undermines its appeal compared with cheaper cuffs or other wearables.
Apple is developing an AI-powered wearable pin the size of an AirTag, equipped with cameras, a speaker, microphones and wireless charging, with a potential release as early as 2027. The device would position Apple to contend with OpenAI, Meta and Google in the AI-enabled wearables space.
The Luna Band, announced at CES 2026, is a screenless, voice-activated wearable that offers real-time health insights without a subscription, potentially challenging the subscription-based Whoop band, though its pricing and availability are yet to be announced.