By Dan Nessel
Editor’s Note: To check out Dan’s article on Tech and Toys in the current issue of GRAND Magazine Click Here.
Want to get in shape for 2013? Try walking the entire International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This year CES was over 1.9 million square feet of show space with over 3,100 vendors showing new technologies to the 150,000 people in attendance.
While my feet have yet to recover, my head has stopped spinning and I have had a chance to review some of the new technologies coming in 2013. Here is a quick look at some new tech and gadgets that may help Grandparents in 2013.
Health and Fitness Go High Tech
2013 is shaping up to be the year where health and fitness gadgets go main stream. Looking to track your exercise? Tiny wearable gadgets like the MisFit Shine and FitBug Orb can track everything from steps to sleep patterns.
Need to check your weight, blood pressure or blood sugar levels? Yep, endless gadgets from iHealth, BodyMedia and WiThings will measure your vitals and then upload them to the cloud where you can run historical reports, track changes and share data with your doctors.
The key trend for all these gadgets in 2013 is making them smaller and easier to use. In addition, almost all the health and fitness gadgets now upload to the cloud, where they are available anytime, anyplace, so there is no hiding from your vitals and measurements!
Who Says TV Will Rot Your Mind? Tech To Keep You Smart
Let’s be honest, as we get older we tend to lose some mental sharpness. For years people have blamed TV and technology for rotting our minds, but in 2013 technology is here to save our minds!
Interaxon displayed Muse, a brain sensing headband that can be used to control music and entertainment devices, play games and increase your brain power and mental sharpness. Don’t want to wear a headband? No problem, MyBrainSolutions, HeartMath and Dakim BrainFtiness all showed software and apps that allow you to increase mental sharpness just by playing specially designed games and activities.
Soon Everything You Own Will Be Controlled By Your Phone
If you don’t own a smartphone yet, 2013 might be the year to make the jump. More and more we are seeing the smartphone being used for much more than making calls and checking email. The smartphone is quickly become more powerful with endless add-ons and sensors.
Need to unlock your front door for your kids…while you are 1,000 miles away? If you have the SimpliciKey app controlled lock installed, you just click your phone and open the door. Need to remember where you left your car keys? If you have StickNFind on the keys you simply use your phone to instantly locate your lost keys. Want to check room temperature and Carbon Monoxide levels in your house? Just hold the NODE sensor and watch it instantly send data to your smartphone.
We could go on and on, but the top trend for 2013 is clear, your smartphone is going to get much smarter in 2013. Now, if they could just make an app to get the grandkids to want to clean up their mess, that would be true cutting edge technology!
Dan Nessel is the founder of DadDoes.Com, an independent product review site geared toward parents. In addition to doing hands-on product reviews for DadDoes.Com, Dan covers the technology and toy industry for a number of different media outlets. Dan spends plenty of time playing with cool new toys and technology, but the thing that brings him the most fun and enjoyment is his wonderful wife and two boys.
