Smart Industry 2/2018

Smart solutions Smart Products
GN Hearing
Hearing Aids with Connection to Android
GN Hearing will be the first manufacturer to enable a full spectrum of
direct audio streaming from Android devices to hearing aids. Direct
streaming is likely to become available to users of the recently launched
hearing aids ReSound LiNX Quattro and Beltone Amaze in coming
Android releases. “According to the World Health Organization, around
466 m people worldwide have disabling hearing loss. This number is
expected to increase to 900 m people by the year 2050. Google is working
with GN Hearing to create a new open specification for hearing aid
streaming support on future versions of Android devices,” states Seang
Chau, Vice President of Engineering at Google. Users will be able to
connect and monitor their hearing aids, so they can stream sound from
their Android devices without additional hardware. This will allow more
people to call friends and enjoy music and brilliant sound experiences.
Google’s hearing aid specification for Android smartphones is published
as “Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids” (ASHA) on Bluetooth Low Energy
(BLE) connection-oriented channels. GN Hearing will be the first
manufacturer to be able to utilize the new specification – in time, other
hearing aid manufacturers will also employ native hearing aid support
for Android.
Vodafone
Dedicated IoT SIM Cards
in V by Vodafone Products
Snapchat
A Hands-Free Camera for Snapchat
Snapchat’s first attempt to sell glasses with integrated cameras was not
a huge success. Still they seem to be convinced to pursue the idea, so decided
to give the product an update: the new Spectacles 2 are more comfortable
to wear, have a smaller profile, and they’re water-resistant. Wearers
may tap the button to record video with improved audio or can press and
hold to take a photo. Captured snaps will be transferred to Snapchat up to
four times faster than with the old model. Snaps are captured in a circular
format at a resolution of 1216 × 1216 for videos and 1642 × 1642 for pictures.
The glasses have storage for up to 150 videos or 3,000 photos, which
are transferred to a phone through the Snapchat app. A pair of glasses costs
€150. In the announcement, Snapchat set ambitious targets: “Our Snap Lab
team is responsible for ensuring that the Snap Camera remains the most
used camera in the world long-term, even as camera devices evolve.”
Since the beginning of August, Vodafone has started shipping
dedicated Internet of Things (IoT) SIM cards to consumers.
They are integrated into IoT-enabled consumer electronics
products like V-Auto, a plug-and-drive dongle that can
be added to cars, giving them an SOS and tracking function.
Other products already launched are V-Camera, a wireless
HD mobile security camera that connects to Vodafone’s IoT
network, and V-Bag, a briefcase, handbag, and schoolbag
tracker that will alert users if their bag leaves a designated
area such as a playground or a crowded bar. Setting up a
product requires scanning a QR code to register it and add it
to the monthly fee of an existing Vodafone mobile account.
A smartphone app provides users with an overview of all IoTenabled
products they have registered. The new IoT SIMs can
connect to Vodafone’s LPWA IoT networks in 32 countries.
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