Tag: wearable tech

There, various types of tech to be used as household devices is also going to be creation.

Amazon will soon be growing the size of its mysterious Lab126, its hardware operations unit, so that it will be able to develop and test out various wearable technology and household devices that will be created with the Internet of Things in mind.

The massive online marketplace will be boosting its hardware development hiring by 27 percent.

Reuters reported that this will bring nearly 4,000 additional people to the company and will direct $55 million more in funding to the company’s Lab126 division over the next half decade. That media source stated that it had discovered Amazon’s intentions through a “little known government document.”

Lab126 has been the source of a range of highly popular mobile technology devices sold by Amazon.

For example, that department was what created the exceptionally popular Kindle ereader device, as well as the much more recent release of the Fire Phone smartphone. The media reports on this expansion of the company’s Lab126 reflects a very strong focus that it is placing on the Internet of Things, and that it is even in the midst of coming up with a WiFi connected gadget that would give consumers the ability to order everyday household items from Amazon, simply by pressing a button.

According to Reuters, the government document that it found also reveals Amazon’s intentions to come up with a range of different connected products that would, for example, alert consumers that it is time to schedule regular maintenance for various household appliances, or that they should be replacing their filters (which can, of course, then be ordered from the online marketplace).

As the company has seen a drop of nearly 20 percent in its shares, this year, and following disappointing sales figures of the Fire phone, Amazon appears to be looking to other mobile technology efforts to help it to remain relevant and to keep up its competition against Google and Apple, which are also looking into smart devices to be used in the average household for the Internet of Things.

A new wearable device monitors the budget of the wearer.

Smartwatches are known for providing many convenient features to those who wear them, such as monitoring health, fitness tracking, texting, making phone calls etc., and now a new device called the Cash smartwatch has been designed to help user’s track their budget, so they can know when it’s all right to spend and when they should hold off from making a purchase.

The new wearable is not trying to compete with Apple Watch or Samsung’s Gear S.

Designed by Nicole Lapin, a financial correspondent and former correspondent for networks like Today and MSNBC, the Cash smartwatch is not like other smart watch tech on the market. Users will not be able to make a phone call or check their email with this device.

Its primary purpose is to encourage consumers to think about their impulse purchasing habits. Each time a wearer of the device buys something they tap the price into the interface and put it into a category that corresponds with their purchase (ex. food, clothing, and so on).

Users set up a monthly allowance. Lapin, who is known for using simplified and language-friendly budget tips, provides recommendations on how much free spending money a person is allowed during a monthly period.

When the user goes over their budget or they are getting close to their limit, they will know because it will be displayed on the watch’s home screen. Users can keep track of what they are spending in all categories. A green line indicates how much money is left for the month and a red line grows the more that they spend.

Lapin said that while learning about finances is intimidating, “you don’t have to know any of the jargon in order to budget and save.”

The smartwatch is also fashionable.

Even though the target market for the wearable device is young women between the ages of 18 – 34, there are three different strap options, so it can also appeal to men. The different straps, which include a patterned silver, black silicone and white crocodile style, give users the chance to dress the watch up or down.

The Cash smartwatch will sell for $139 and can be purchased online on its official website starting today, October 1, and will later be made available through HSN later on in the month.