This week Austin-based Interactive Health Technologies announced that it was partnering with Sony to provide the NFC Dynamic Tag (FeliCa Plug) in the Spirit System, which is now available to schools across America.
This system, which was developed by IHT, engages students and supporters including parents, teachers and administrators as well as others in the community, in a comprehensive fitness system to get inspired to increase their physical activity. The IHT Spirit System works with the Sony NFC Dynamic Tag to make it easy to track results. Continue reading New Fitness Monitoring for the Classroom
Motivating and incentivizing children to exercise can be a tough challenge for any parent when it is even a chore for them to do it themselves. While based in Boulder, Colorado, one of the most health conscience cities in the U.S., the founders of GeoPalz are still aware of the challenges that parents face and have responded with a line of pedometers specially geared towards children. More than just a pedometer, the GeoPalz are actually an entire program designed to motivate children through setting goals, tracking activity and offering rewards or prizes for achieving goals. Since 2008, GeoPalz has been growing this program and adding features, but recently they announced an upgrade with their core product – the GeoPalz Pedometer.
Technology has long been in the classroom, and soon it could be in gym class as well. Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley introduced legislation last week designed to encourage the use of technology in physical education classes, and the bill is named for Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, who hails from West Des Moines. 
The tent is one of the oldest structures around, and pretty much from the time man ventured out of caves was creating semi-permanent tent-like structures that used concepts that have been in place for eons. And despite our high-tech age, or perhaps because of it, the tent remains around.
The Uwater K7 won’t shrink in water and that’s a good thing, because it is about as small as could be already. The world’s smallest 100 percent waterproof FM radio/receiver will be showcased at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show, and is provides music, news, sports and talk radio to swimmers.
Most of us have heard the old adage, “preventative medicine is the best medicine.” What does that really mean? At the base level it means making smart decisions in our everyday lives. Would William Henry Harrison have been a great president if he had just worn his hat and coat? We’ll never know since he chose to not dress properly for his inaugural address. What can we do to live a healthier life and how do we really evaluate if those little things like taking the stairs really help? U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc., in collaboration with Qualcomm Life Inc., has launched a new app to help those wanting to live a better life, but just need a little help along the way. The Macaw app is designed as “a complete personal health monitor” and serve as a hub to track the user’s health and fitness.
While bicycle design has changed over the years, suspending of a piece of leather on a metal frame is one of the oldest forms of a bicycle saddle and still one of the best. The tension of the leather can be made tighter or looser by the turn of a screw, and the use of thick leather creates a ‘saddle’ that can often outlive the rider. Selle An-Atomica of Elkhorn, WI has taken this idea and created a line of bicycle saddles that uses a thick, suspended piece of leather, but cut a slot in the middle to make a ‘anatomic’ version of this classic saddle design.
We’ve seen sweat-proof earbuds before, but Pioneer’s take on sweat-proofing brings things to a whole new level. The SE-CL331 earbuds are IPx5 and IPx7 certified (the “IP” stands for International Protection). The former means they can withstand the occasional splash of liquid such as rain and sweat while the latter, more stringent certification means these earbuds can withstand immersion in up to 39″ of water for up to 30 minutes.
Reebok has been introducing a slew of new athletic shoes that promote some sort of new technology (although the company has had to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against the company’s booty-building EasyTone shoes). I have been wearing Reebok’s RealFlex running shoes for a few months and I now swear by them. They have replaced my hipster Converse Chuck Taylors as my every day shoes. They are comfortable, lightweight, and great looking, and I plan to buy a new pair shortly.
There have been a lot of sports specific digital camcorders come onto the market, but Optrix HD Sport Mount (MSRP: $79.99) is doing a bit of hocus pocus. For its next trix, its transforming the iPhone or iPod Touch into an HD Action sports camera, complete with rugged waterproof case and mount. The iPhone already allows for uploading of Full HD 1080p resolution videos from the handset, making it an ideal action sports camera. The only missing link in using it was a case that could protect the rather fragile handset.
