Category Archives: This week in lifelogging

This week in lifelogging

This week in lifelogging: timeliness of wearable tech, how memory works and Melon headband to measure your focus

This is the time for wearable tech

This week, in an exciting line-up at Google I/O 2013, we see many Google developers flocking to San Francisco for an inspirational time of creating life-improving technologies amongst other like-minded people. While many have gathered around Google’s table, anticipating what this tech giant is about to release, here’s an article that speaks about Google Glass being only the beginning of what greater things is to come in the wearable tech industry. We at Memoto, are of course very excited to be a part of this great expection!

How memory works

Get up close and personal with Brenda Milner, highly respected for her innovative research within the field of memory and many others, creating breakthroughs and opening new possibilities for the treatment of brain cancer, dementia and epilepsy. Milner, through interacting with her patient, HM, established that people have multiple memory systems, each governing a different activity. This means that photographic memory, although compartmentalized within a specific area of the brain, could potentially trigger other parts of the brain to recall a specific moment of one’s life even when devoid of other trigger points such as audio, smell or touch. We sure hope that the Memoto Lifelogging Camera could help stimulate this area of the brain to bring back beautiful memories!

Watch video here: Inside the Psychologist’s Studio with Brenda Milner

Melon – Measure your focus

Kickstarter projects excite us a whole lot at Memoto (it’s no wonder why)! Especially so when it comes to things that we strongly believe in as well – lifelogging, the quantified self and wearable tech. Here’s introducing to you a new Kickstarter project – Melon. With a lightweight headband and an accompanying mobile app, Melon aims to help you make sense of how well you focus by translating brainwave data into visually appealing information that you can see on the mobile app, allowing you to improve your behavior from there. Already exceeding its Kickstarter goal of $100,000 in just 4 days, we’re eagerly awaiting what comes next from the team at Melon.

Heapsylon makes sensor-rich fabric

You might ask what is so unusual in the picture above, except that someone is wearing an electronic anklet to measure what seems to be their pulse rate? And if you did ask that question, then the founders of Heapsylon are going to be jumping for joy in these little sensor-rich socks that they have developed. Bound together by a common belief that the garment should be the computer, three former Microsoft employees left their jobs to create a fabric packed with sensors. Although this new technology is only currently found in socks, we don’t negate the possibility of having tablets built into our apparel, do we?

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This week in lifelogging: Epson wearable projection system, Codoon clones Jawbone UP and Memoto at QS Amsterdam

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Now showing: right in front of your eyes

Epson, most popularly known for its printers and scanners, has now conjured a bigger dream – to build a wearable projection system for entertainment purposes. While this new gadget has faced several criticisms such as its display looking more like someone holding a mobile phone in front of your face, or for being extremely bulky and heavy, we believe that this is only the beginning of something great. A wonderful dream soon to become a reality!

What happens to your quantified self?

While many of us like going through the process of collecting data about ourselves, research has shown that only 46% of those who track some health aspect in their life change their way of life after gathering the data. While no hard and fast rules exist, here are just some suggestions for you to make more sense of the data you have collected.

Brain implants to restore memory

Brain implants might have been a total scare for most people 10 years back, but it seems our confidence in technology has indirectly propagated its development. It is difficult to imagine how current developments include the use of brain implants to restore memory. A thing of the past that we only saw in the movies is now turning into reality. And this would also have significant impact on those with Alzheimer’s disease sometime in future when this new technology has stabilized. We’re excited to see what is to come!

Codoon – the clone of Jawbone Up

Donned with features that are very similar to Jawbone UP, which include tracking how you eat, sleep, move, as well as an accompanying mobile app, Codoon is all ready to penetrate the Chinese market with this clone. Retailing at RMB 299 ($48USD), Codoon has a significant cost advantage over the Jawbone UP, which is retailing at 129.99 Euros ($167USD). Is Codoon going to take the world by storm, starting with the Chinese consumers?

Easy printing of electronic components onto paper

One of the oldest and most widely used processes, printing, originated from China. That is debatable, you might argue, but this time around, we see yet another printing innovation arising out of this country – metal-based ink allowing the printing of electronics on paper. This could possibly complement the current hot favorite, 3D-printing, magically manufacturing new products from the comfort of one’s home. Numerous wearable tech innovations would probably spring up more quickly too. Thumbs up for a great idea?

Memoto at QS Europe Conference

The largest Quantified Self conference in Europe is taking place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 11^th to 12^th May 2013 this year. Check out the program line-up for this year and see you there!

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This week in lifelogging: Future of wearable tech, Nokia haptic tattoo and lifeloggers movie premiere

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Future of wearable technology

While wearable technology has helped to propagate the interests of lifeloggers, it is evident that this effect is not limited to the avid lifelogging community. Wearable tech has penetrated many aspects of our lives and is seen in every corner of the places we live, work or play. The video above explores the future of wearable technology as “the second skin” in various applications – from fashion all the way to health. Let us know in the comments below what you think is the value of wearable technology!

Nokia haptic tattoo

Haptic technology is a form of tactile feedback, which takes advantage of the sense of touch by applying motions to the user. One of the earliest and most frequently occurring applications of this technology today is the vibration generated by our mobile phones when we receive a call or text message. On a less commercial level, haptic technology is also applied in pilot training exercises and medical simulators. Right now, it seems that Nokia would like to take this technology to its next phase and is proposing the development of a tattoo that vibrates according to commands from one’s mobile phone.

Enhance your sensory input in real-time

Isolating the drumbeats at a rock concert? Hearing someone else’s voice in your head? Forming patterns from the thousands of people who walk past you each day? These seemingly superhuman behavior is now a possibility with Eidos, a multimedia helmet that enhances the senses of sight and hearing. Would you want this experimental gadget to become a reality?

Walk down memory lane: fact or fiction?

Studies have revealed a few interesting things about our memory. For one, the Mediterranean diet is believed to improve the memory of non-diabetics, and people who are born blind have better memory than those with sight. Amongst many others, exercising, eating the right food and socializing seem to top the list when it comes to improving one’s memory. Whether you believe it or not, they seem like pretty decent health tips to us!

Journal your life with Step

If you have not found a mobile app that suits your personal journaling purposes, why not try Step? Step is a new personal smart journal that allows you to track your life moments through easy icon clicks, which subsequently turns the data into infographics that you can use. It is now available in the App Store and will be coming soon on Google Play.

Lifeloggers movie premiere in Stockholm

We are ready to show the documentary, Lifeloggers, to the world! If you’re in Stockholm, join us on May 14th at 18.00 for the premiere. We’d love to see you there! Sign up here: http://memoto.eventbrite.com/

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This week in lifelogging: Wearable tech revolution, Oakley’s new ski goggles and lifelogging insights

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Revolutionizing our world with wearable tech

The wave of wearable tech gadgets seems to be bringing with it a new unlocking of possibilities – the propagation and development of brainwave technology, which is the ability to control our digital gadgets with our thoughts. One of the advantages of using brainwave technology is the opportunity to open more channels by which stroke patients can communicate. While some might argue that brainwave technology is not developed to the extent of replacing our traditional passwords with thought-based authentication, there exist an expanding base of players in this brainwave technology market. These include Muse by Interaxon, ZenTunes and MindWave. Perhaps technology will require near-zero effort from us in the future.

Oakley’s new ski goggles

Besides tech companies, many fitness equipment giants have also hopped onto this wave of wearable technology. Adding to that list is Mr. Oakley, who has recently offered some kind of Google Glass, carefully tailored for winter sportsmen, to provide jump analytics, altitude, vertical descent data, speed, various other information, as well as Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with your smartphone. Would you like an Oakley Airwave Snow, retailing at $599.95?

Lifelogging and memory

While there are many reasons for lifelogging, the most prominent one would probably manifest in some relation to our memory. In a study done by students from the Dublin City University investigating the reasons for lifelogging, it is said that some of us do it to reminisce, while others want to learn about an unknown early stage or simply to tell and pass down stories. This could stem from the fact that we, as humans, are simply wired to forget certain experiences that we wished we had remembered more vividly about. This week, we delved a little deeper into the reasons for memory lapses and found out that they occur as a necessity for consolidating information and memories in the brain. So, the next time you forget someone’s name, don’t be embarrassed. It’s all part of remembering it in future.

What is it about lifelogging and anonymity?

In an increasingly social world in terms of the number of social media platforms and the amount of time that users spend on them, it is no wonder that the sum of user-generated content is increasing at an exponential rate. Believe it or not, the inherent desire to lifelog has been a driving force behind the exploding amounts of user-generated content. Every one wants evidence of that particular experience that they had. Inevitably, some people begin to wonder if they could ever remain anonymous, especially when photos can now be automatically tagged using face recognition technologies. Watch the video by BBC Future below and let us know what you think!

Watch video here: Lifelogging: What it means for anonymity

Happy Earth Day!

Just this week on April 22nd, Earth Day was observed in hopes of gathering support for environmental issues. Here at Memoto, we would also like to take this chance to share the above time-lapse video of beautiful snippets around the Earth to remember this day. Feel free to share your Earth Day moments in the comments below!

More videos here: Celebrate Earth Day With These 10 Spectacular Time-Lapse Videos

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This week in lifelogging: Sleeker Google Glass, Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner and Memoto listed as one of the 33 hottest tech companies in Sweden

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Google Glass has a new, sleeker competitor from Japan

Several Japanese firms have collaborated to create this Google Glass twin – the Telepathy One. However, there are several key differences between them. For one, the Telepathy One uses a micro-projection unit instead of a tiny glass display. Telepathy One also places more focus on the ears rather than the eyes, as seen from the entire device being held in place by its in-ear ear buds. Would you purchase the Telepathy One as an alternative to Google Glass?

Smartphone scanner turns old negatives into digital Lomography copies

Got some film negatives buried under some well-archived treasure chest in your basement? Not sure what to do with them? This new Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner will take care of it. Simply turn the device on, insert your film, take a photo of it using your Smartphone and use your phone’s camera or the mobile app to edit and share. Bring the memories back!

Lifelogging – for you and your pet

Designing pet collars for the Memoto camera has been a top request. While not every one is a dog lover out there, we understand the interest. Although there are many reasons, it appears that quantifying one’s pet would provide a voice that its owners would actually understand. Thumbs up for a canine Memoto camera?

Maureen Lipman: If Memory Serves Me Right

In a bid to understand how memory works and if you can do anything to improve it, British actress and writer, Maureen Lipman, created a documentary “If Memory Serves Me Right.” Inspired by her own father who suffered from short-term memory losses, and fears of this happening to herself, Maureen Lipman interviewed memory experts and people who suffered from memory loss. Read more about what inspired her journey of personal and scientific discovery here; and if you live in the UK, you can watch the documentary here.

Memoto listed as 33 hottest tech companies in Sweden

This week Memoto won two awards, one for Nyteknik and Affärsvärldens “Sweden’s 33 hottest technology companies in 2013″ and the other for Veckans Affärers “Sweden’s 24 hottest entrepreneurs”. We wouldn’t have gotten there without your awesome support! A big thank you from the Memoto team.

This Week in Lifelogging: Full Google Glass Explainer Video, LED Shoes that Guide You and The World’s Most Quantified Man

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Full Google Glass Explainer Video

Google developer advocate, Timothy Jordan, speaks about how Google Glass is all about our relationship to technology. He says that Project Glass solves the problem of technology getting into the way of our everyday lives, yet faithfully remains there for us when we want it to.

LED Shoes Guide You To Your Destination

Just a few weeks back, we mentioned that Google released its Google Talking Shoes at SXSW. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for us, these were not for sale. This week, we discovered new shoes. Believe it or not, these shoes guide you to where you want to go. Just connect the shoe via a USB cable to your laptop, plot where you want to go on the map, press “upload to shoe,” click your heels three times and the GPS is activated. The LED lights then lead you to your destination. If only Dorothy had these on the yellow brink road. Would you wear them?

Watch demo here: Dominic Wilcox: There’s No Place Like Home (VIDEO)

LinkMe

Ever wished you could ignore the millions of messages you get each day and view only those that truly matter to you at one glance? Well, now you can. LinkMe connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and when someone sends you a message – via the dedicated LinkMe app – the words pop up on the bracelet. Do you want a LinkMe bracelet?

World’s Most Quantified Man

Meet the world’s most quantified man – Christopher Dancy. Nike+ Fuelband, FitBit, BodyMedia Fit Armband, you name it, he wears it. He measures everything and believes that we are moving from data collection to data empowerment. Dancy is not the only one out there in the Quantified Self movement, here are some interesting thoughts on how Lifelogging can change the way we view and express ourselves.

Fold Your Tablet Into Half

As technology advances, we see new possibilities emerging. Probably even folding your tablet in half? Yes, you heard us right. Corning, “the glass company”, has showcased their latest product, the Willow Glass, that bends like plastic. Maybe the shape of our phones or tablets could be customizable in future; nothing has to be rectangular anymore!

2877 Stills Into A Single Time-Lapse

Watch this amazing time-lapse video made by Jonathan DeNicholas, as he combines 2877 still shots into a single stop motion time-lapse video. Do you have a time-lapse video that you would like to share with us? Sent it our way!

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This Week in Lifelogging: 35 Future Innovations, Wearable Tech & Its Rumors and Memoto on CNN

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35 Things From the Future

A sneak peek into the future revealed that increasingly, there is a shift towards wearable tech and other innovative applications of current technology. From a 3D-printed arm for a girl with an illness that limited the use of her limbs, to flexible and wearable screens (picture above), we see an innate desire to move towards better quality of the human life. Whether these seemingly impossible tech products eventually take off, it is a classic “only time will tell” scenario.

Wearable Cat Ears That Track Brain Waves

Necomimi, the brainwave cat ears, measures one’s heart rate and electronic impulses from the brain to determine if he/she is relaxed, excited, paying attention, or not. Thereafter, Necomimi will mirror responses from a cat, either wagging its ears back and forth, perk up or lay droopy. Now you can tell if that friend next to you is truly listening to you. Would you purchase a Necomimi?

Tips For Producing Your Own Time-Lapse Videos

Time-lapse videos capture some of the most beautiful moments in life. It is an art in itself and we discovered two ways of creating your own time-lapse videos. First up – The Genie – a Kickstarter project that is now ready for public consumption.

And if The Genie (above) is a little too expensive, here’s another suggestion for creating your own panoramic time-lapse videos using your phone.

Introducing Headflat – The Smartphone “Hands-Free-Solution”

Some call it the cheaper hands-free alternative to Google Glass. True or false, Headflat is probably a good solution for gamers, readers or movie watchers who would like to keep their hands off their smartphones.

Wearable Tech & Its Rumors

In the video above, analysts and professionals were asked why they think now is the right time for wearables. Some argue that people are increasingly bored of their smartphones and need new toys, others mention that it is unlocking data generated by our physical bodies, while still others say that it is a fashion statement. Regardless, we see an increasing number of big companies moving into this sector as well. Just this week, two rumors started floating around the Internet about the “Apple iRing” and “Microsoft Monocles.” Would you like these new gadgets?

Memoto on CNN

Memoto appeared on CNN! Together with Google Glass, Jawbone, Muse and other gadgets, CNN talks about the quantified self movement, wearable tech and lifelogging, altogether appearing in a wide array of applications.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This Week in Lifelogging: SXSW Takeaways, Samsung & Wearable Tech and Time-Lapse Videos

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Round-Up & Takeaways from SXSW

In concluding SXSW 2013 Accelerator Competition, one of the most emphasized themes was how there has been a gradual move from “Big Data” to “My Data”. At SXSW alone, we see an increase in the number of Quantified Self tools and wearable tech gadgets being made available, providing an indication of where we are heading – towards making technology work for us. For us at Memoto, besides soaking in the presence of the many Quantified Self tools and wearable tech gadgets, we took away 3 valuable lessons from SXSW and would like to share them with you. As a startup, we managed to gain a better insight into three aspects: connections, press mentions and energy. If you were also present at SXSW, we would like to know what your greatest takeaways were.

Samsung Turning Up the Heat Against Apple iWatch

With the arrival of a new wave of wearable tech gadgets, it comes as no surprise that tech giants such as Apple, Google and Samsung are riding at the forefront of this wave. Samsung too? Yes, you heard right. Since Apple released news on its Apple iWatch, many have wondered why its other competitors have suddenly gone all quiet. Yet, just this week, Samsung announced that they have been working on a smart watch too. Well then, I guess we will all just have to keep watch for now!

Nike & Its Quantified Self Accelerator Programme

Taking a step towards the realm of fitness within the Quantified Self community, we see that fitness giant Nike has also decided to invest additional resources into developing some top-notch wearable tech gadgets to enhance one’s physical fitness performance. With 10 companies in its TechStars Accelerator, each possessing very different value propositions, it is definitely worth keeping a lookout to see which of them emerges as Nike’s Next Big Thing.

Beauty in Time-Lapse Videos

Could we build a ship in 76 seconds? Or take a spin through seven states in Australia in just 346 seconds? Or virtually orbit around the Earth in 248 seconds? These, and others, have been made possible through time-lapse videos, tediously put together by some of the most artistic and talented (and not to mention, very patient) people so that the rest of us on this Earth can take a visual tour and be blown away! And we’re anticipating in excitement to see how the Memoto Camera can propagate this beauty (:

Watch more time-lapse videos: A year through my window (Australia) and Time-Lapse | Earth

Release of Memoto Sample Photos and Moment View

Last week, we released some sample photos taken with our Memoto Camera prototype. This week, we provided more updates with respect to the Moment View on the Memoto Lifelogging App. Stay tuned for more updates from us!

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

The Week in Lifelogging: Google Talking Shoe, Lifelogging & Art and Memoto at SXSW

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Google’s Latest: The Talking Shoe

All eyes on Google Glass. Well, that’s not quite the case at Google. At SXSW this week, Google decided to unveil its latest: Google Talking Shoes – a pair of Adidas sneakers to tell the person wearing them what they are (or aren’t) doing and relay that information to their smartphones via a speaker in the tongue of the shoe. Although you might be excited about the launch of this new invention, Google says that these shoes will not be for sale. They are a part of Google’s new project: Art, Copy & Code – a series of experiments to re-imagine advertising. Google is bringing creativity to the next level. Keep watch!

Wearable Tech – The Game-Changer

Google Glass, Apple iWatch, Nike+ Fuelband, Jawbone’s UP Bracelet – these are just but a few of the many wearable tech devices that are springing up. While some might argue that this will be a passing fad, many others believe that this is where the world is heading. At SXSW 2013 alone, we got a glimpse of many of them and most of them seek to improve one’s overall well-being through a concept known as Quantified Self. Which devices are you dying to own?

Lifelogging & Art – Seeing through the eyes of another

Time Lapse Monte Bianco from Davide Necchi on Vimeo.

One of the forms that Lifelogging takes is capturing continuous physiological data together with live first-person video from a wearable camera. While this can be used for self-understanding purposes, many around the world have decided to display these in artistic forms. Italian photographer and alpinist Davide Necchi is one of them. Here’s his timelapse video to take you on a journey of wanderlust and beauty through his eyes: Mont Blanc Timelapse Video

Wearable Tech – Trax: Mini GPS Tracker for Children and Pets

Ever felt exhausted because you felt like you had to be physically close to your children or pets in order to keep them away from danger? Here’s how you can live life less worried and strike a balance between control and concern. Trax is a tiny and smart GPS tracker attached to your children and pets that locates them using an intuitive app. Trax just launched on Kickstarter this week! What other kinds of wearable tech would you like to see?

Watch the video: Trax: Next Generation Mini GPS Tracker for Children and Pets

Memoto Emerges as Top 3 at SXSW!

The past week has been extremely exciting as Memoto packed its bag and flew to Austin, Texas for the SXSW 2013 Accelerator Competition. Many laid eyes upon our small and mighty automatic lifelogging camera for the first time and instantly fell in love with it, while others were blown away after taking a closer look at the integration of its mobile app and cloud service. Eventually, Memoto emerged as one of the top 3 finalists in SXSW Accelerator Competition. Our biggest thanks to all who have supported Memoto in this wonderful journey! And if you weren’t there at SXSW, here’s a sneak preview into the Memoto app and our first Memoto sample photos.

/Priscilla, Memoto Community Team

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

This week in Lifelogging: Passion-driven lifelogging, SXSW and Google Glass competitors

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Lifelogging the things you are passionate about!

Every one loves to keep track of something or someone and that is why Lifelogging is gaining so much traction. From traditionally used journals and logbooks to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, every one has their own preferred way of lifelogging. Since these methods differ, Everylog has decided that there should exist a lifelogging tool that enables you to create public or private logs about specific things you’re passionate about. And if this is not enough, Everylog has even turned up the heat to allow you to compare and compete on these logs should you wish to. Well, now you’ll know who is the best runner or the greatest coffee drinker amongst your friends!

Google glass competitors are springing up

Applications closed a few weeks ago for those interested in testing out the intriguing Google Glass and this week we’ve seen some competition show up. What do you think? Do either the GlassUP or the Vuzix M100 appeal to you?

Quantified Self Europe Conference 2013

The fourth Quantified Self Conference has arrived! This time held in Amsterdam from 11-12 May 2013, QS Europe Conference gathers all relevant tech inventors, advanced users and basically anyone who is interested in self-knowledge through self-tracking for a weekend of inspiration and learning. This year, the four major themes of the conference include lifelogging, self-measurement for health, open data, as well as emotion, relationships, and the brain. Register here!

QS quick tip

Mean, Median, and Mode (Quantified Self Quick Tip) from Sacha Chua

SXSW – Memoto Meetup

Memoto is off to Austin, TX for SXSW. If you’re in town this Saturday and would like to meet us, please RSVP for the SXSW Hardware Startup Meetup here: http://www.atxhw.com/events/104155822/

Memoto in the news this week:

Google Glass is “Lifelogging v1″

Memoto Lifelogging Camera Gets Love at SXSW Accelerator

Hardware Startups Invade Austin Tech Conference Known for Apps