Intel Edison: an SD-card sized PC, Intel is on the way towards Wearable Computing

LAS VEGAS: Consumer Electronics Show (CES), 2014
How small a computer can get?
If you ask Intel it is already as small as a SD card!
Intel has unveiled Edison, a computer housed in an "SD card form factor".

The device uses Quark microprocessor technology that was showed by Intel a few months ago. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said that the "computer" is meant to be used in wearable smart devices like a health tracker or in everyday products like coffee mugs that has to be connected to the internet.



Intel CEO Brian Krzanich has revealed the company's vision for wearable computing - and at its core is an SD-card sized PC called Edison.

Edison is based on Quark technology, the tiny, low-power system-on-a-chip that was designed for wearable computers, such as smart watches, and the Internet of Things.

Quark was unveiled in September, and Intel used the first keynote at CES 2014 to reveal Edison, a dual-core, 22nm version built in an SD card housing for easy development.

"It's a full Pentium-class PC in the form factor of an SD card," Krzanich said.

It not only supports multiple OSes and has built-in support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but it also has its own app store - and has Wolfram Alpha's Mathematica baked in by default.

Edison will be available in the middle of this year, Krzanich said. "We believe that Edison will enable rapid innovation and rapid product development," he said.

What is Wearable Computing? 

A term that refers to computer-powered devices or equipment that can be worn by a user, including clothing, watches, glasses, shoes and similar items. Wearable computing devices can range from providing very specific, limited features like heart rate monitoring and pedometer capabilities to advanced “smart” functions and features similar to those a smartphone or smart-watch offers.

These more advanced wearable computing devices can typically enable the wearer to take and view pictures or video, read text messages and emails, respond to voice commands, browse the web and more. While wearable computing devices are only just now starting to emerge from the realm of science fiction into reality, rumored devices like Google Glasses and the Apple iWatch may soon bring advanced wearable computing devices into the mainstream.

Wearable examples

Krzanich admitted wearables were an area that needed kick-starting. "Why aren't wearables everywhere, what's holding back wearbles in this market place?” he asked.

He had his own answer: current wearables require the user to carry another device at the same time, and they don't solve real life problems. To fix that, he called for the industry to "make everything smart" and advised that "simplicity makes technology desirable."

To lead by example, Krzanich unveiled Intel's own versions of key devices to inspire the rest of the industry.
First up was a connected headset, a pair of smart earbuds that track biometrics such as heart rate and pulse while still playing audio. The data is sent to a smartphone, and the earbuds harvest energy directly from the wearer, so they don't require batteries.

Smart Earbuds

The second device was a smart charging bowl. Simply drop a device - such as the smart earbuds - into the bowl, and they charge automatically without fiddling with wires.

"It's a very simple device you can leave on your counter, and it will go ahead and charge what you need," he said. "This is one of those key deliverables that will make wearables work."

The third demo Krzanich showed off was a smart watch, which has its own connectivity so it doesn't require tethering. It also features what he calls geofencing, letting it track the wearer.

For example, a parent could use it to track a child on their walk to school. If the child deviates from the standard path, or doesn't get to school on time, the parent is automatically notified.

Smart turtles

Krzanich also showed off a "smart turtle" baby monitoring system, created by MIT based firm Rest Devices using an early version of Edison.

Calling it nursery 2.0, Krzanich showed how the turtle-shaped monitoring device can be clipped to a baby's clothing to keep watch of its movement, pulse or breathing.

Turtle

The signal is interpreted and sent to a coffee cup that displays breathing patterns and other notifications that indicate if a child is unhappy.

Intel Cup

The system can even be connected to an Edison-embedded smart bottle warmer, so if the child's activity suggests it's hungry, the bottle will be ready to go by the time mum or dad realises it's feeding time.

Wearable contest

To help spur such creativity in wearables, Krzanich unveiled an Intel competition to create innovation designs using Edison.

The top prize is $500,000, with a total $1.3 million at stake, and the top ten creations will be brought to market by Intel and partners, he said.

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It's Blue Monday aka most depressing day of year

 New York, Jan. 06:

Feeling the Monday blues a bit more today?

You're not alone.

With millions of people around the world coming back to work on Jan. 6, various web analytics and social media statistics showed that Jan. 6 is the most depressing day of 2014. Further analysis showed it is mainly because it is the first Monday of getting back to work.

Researchers have named this Monday as the most depressing day of the year.
Researchers for protein drink Upbeat analyzed two million tweets that were posted in the last three January's, and found that it was a day when people break their new year's resolutions, the New York Daily News reported.

The study also found that people, who are unhappy with their love lives, look for a new partner and those unhappy at their work place consider switching.

The first Monday of the month also sees record posts about feeling guilty, being tired, eating too much, being broke or wanting to quit the UK for warmer climate.

According to relationship experts, the strains of festive family get-togethers coupled with alcohol could lead to marriages crumbling.

IllicitEncounters.com also sees a 25 per cent increase in activity after the festive break.

Feeling Glum?

 Reasons: Why People Are Depressed on Jan. 6, 2014

The most recent report revealed that most feel low because of lack of sleep and the struggle to keep up with their New Year's resolutions. Guilty-ridden tweets are also five times higher as people go back to work and get to arrive in a lot of realizations. The report also showed that the female population seem to stay more positive throughout the entire first month of the year.

Out of a total score of 100, most women got an average of 67. Susan Hignett, brand manager of a high energy protein drink called Upbeat, said it is normal for people to find some days very tough to stay positive.

However, there are also the leading times of the year when almost everyone feels great, upbeat, motivated and positive. Those top six dates of 2013 include Dec. 24 and 25, Jan. 1, Feb. 14, April 20 and July 7.

Jan. 6 can truly be a depressing day. But there are ways that an individual can do to keep him on top of his moods and stay happy.

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