Nano-Bio Manufacturing Consortium Selects Wearable Sensor Patch Subsystem Project as First to Receive Funding

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nano-Bio Manufacturing Consortium (NBMC) has selected a proposal by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to develop a wearable sensor patch subsystem as its first project in its mission to develop human performance-monitoring electronics. The project has $450,000 in total funding. Fifty percent will come from NBMC's U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) funds, and the remaining 50 percent will be contributed by the winning team of UMass Amherst and its industrial partner, GE.

This project, which also includes work done by the University of Cincinnati, focuses on the integration of the most mature system subcomponents in order to provide a deliverable demonstration of a microfluidic subsystem capable of time-gated acquisition of a sweat sample, along with detection of the target biomarker Orexin-A. Orexin-A is a naturally occurring neuropeptide hormone released by the hypothalamus, and plays a crucial role in the stability of arousal and alertness. A wearable paper-based patch incorporating this technology would ideally provide valuable data regarding wearer fatigue.

"This research could have profound implications not only for military use, but for any high-stress job in which alertness and responsiveness are critical," said Scott Miller, Lab Manager for Nanostructures and Surfaces at GE Global Research.  "Physical and mental fatigue can be a big issue for those who work as jet pilots, air traffic controllers, fire fighters, heavy-equipment operators, and in many other careers.  It's a safety issue, and the earlier we can detect fatigue, the earlier it can be addressed.  At GE, we are working to help solve this tough challenge."

Based on assessment of the challenges associated with various sensor options, the project's primary development centers on an interdigitated field effect transistor (FET) sensor. This technology has already demonstrated performance for Orexin-A detection from blood and saliva samples and offers the lowest-risk system integration. The team is also developing, as a close alternative, a radio-frequency (RF) impedance sensor that may offer higher stability and sensitivity.

According to Dr. Benjamin J. Leever, Flexible Materials & Devices Program Manager at AFRL, "Biosensors are of significant interest to the Air Force due to their exceptional sensitivity for a wide variety of molecules and biomarkers, including Orexin-A, which is the focus of the NBMC project led by UMass.  Better understanding the underlying mechanisms and maturing the technology could have broad applicability beyond this particular device and could enable new capabilities that strengthen the Air Force."

The project team's technical lead is Dr. James J. Watkins from the UMass Dept. of Polymer Science and Engineering, with GE's Dr. Azar Alizadeh as alternate technical representative and Laura Rea as AFRL program manager.  "UMass is known nationally and around the world for its contributions to projects that advance the status of the U.S. as a technological and economic leader," stated Dr. Watkins. "We are proud to partner with GE and the University of Cincinnati to pursue this first project for the NBMC, and look forward to reporting and demonstrating the fruits of our highly experienced team's efforts."

Malcolm Thompson, NBMC's CEO, said, "These first four funded projects, beginning with the work led by UMass, reflect innovative thinking and research methodologies that we believe have the potential to greatly impact efforts to optimize U.S. airmen's safety and effectiveness in the field, as well as to be highly valuable in non-military environments."

About NBMC
The Nano-Bio Manufacturing Consortium (NBMC) was formed by the FlexTech Alliance, for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). NBMC brings together leading scientists, engineers, and business development professionals from industry and universities to mature an integrated suite of nano-bio manufacturing technologies and transition to industrial manufacturing.  To do so, NBMC operates at the confluence of emerging disciplines: nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced (additive) manufacturing, and flexible electronics.  This enables the creation of advanced sensor systems for real-time, remote monitoring of biometrics and body chemistry though biomarker analysis of body fluids for Human Performance and Health Assessment. Visit www.nbmc.org.

About GE Global Research 
GE Global Research is the hub of technology development for all of GE's businesses. Our scientists and engineers redefine what's possible, drive growth for our businesses, and find answers to some of the world's toughest problems.

We innovate 24 hours a day, with sites in Niskayuna, New York; San Ramon, California; Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China; Munich, Germany; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Visit GE Global Research on the web at www.geglobalresearch.com. Connect with our technologists at www.geglobalresearch.com/blog and twitter.com/geresearch 

SOURCE NBMC

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Wearable Technology Innovator Valencell Teams with 3Pillar Global

FAIRFAX, Va., April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 3Pillar Global, a leading developer of innovative, revenue-generating software products, has announced a product development partnership with Valencell, an innovator in mobile health and fitness technology. 3Pillar and Valencell are collaborating to build a new consumer-facing application that will use industry-leading data from Valencell's PerformTek® sensor technology to help consumers understand a vast array of biometric information.

Valencell's PerformTek Precision Biometrics is a patented licensable sensor technology that measures more real-time biometrics than any other fitness monitoring technology.Consumer electronics industry leaders including LG, Intel, Blaupunkt, Scosche, and iriver have licensed PerformTek for seamless integration with products used by tens of millions of consumers each day. 3Pillar and Valencell recently completed a 3Pillar Innovate engagement, which led to the creation of a prototype for the product that the companies will now work collaboratively to build, following 3Pillar's Adaptive Product Lifecycle Management methodology.

"3Pillar has been an excellent partner for us, helping us make critical strategic decisions to move our business forward," said Valencell President Dr. Steven LeBoeuf. "Our patented sensor analytics technology provides meaningful, actionable, and personalized data ideal for use in training, coaching and other applications, and 3Pillar has helped bring our founding vision to life. We have made tremendous strides in the market and look forward to continuing to work with 3Pillar to help us bring more new products to market and expand our business quickly."

"Wearables are one of the hottest technology trends in the world right now. It is exciting for us to be a part of Valencell's efforts to harness the numerous opportunities that this technology offers," said 3Pillar Global CEO David DeWolf. "Many businesses today are in a situation like Valencell's, where they want to build a prototype to further develop a concept or emerging technology quickly. We're happy to help Valencell bring their innovative ideas to life."

Valencell is a North Carolina-based start-up that created PerformTek® Precision Biometrics, a licensable sensor technology that measures more real-time biometrics than any other fitness monitoring technology. Validated by leading research institutions, such as the Duke Center for Living, and proven through commercialized products, Valencell helps manufacturers bring quality wearable technology products to market quickly and efficiently.

3Pillar recently launched packaged services – Innovate, Accelerate, and Elevate – to provide companies numerous entry points into the software development lifecycle. Each service is based on the company's best practices and experience in building revenue-generating software products for clients and a proven agile methodology. The Innovate service helps companies who have a product idea and need a prototype to help bring the idea to life. The prototype can be used to provide a richer experience of the product idea, which may be used with customers, or to help the product team itself further refine the product direction.

About 3Pillar Global
3Pillar Global builds innovative, revenue-generating software products, enabling businesses to quickly turn ideas into value. The company's service offerings — Innovate, Accelerate and Elevate — address the entire software product development lifecycle, delivering clients a tangible result at every phase. 3Pillar balances business-minded thinking with engineering expertise in disruptive technologies, such as mobile, cloud, and big data, to develop products that meet real business needs. To date, 3Pillar's products have driven over $1 billion in revenue for industry leaders like CARFAX, PBS, and numerous others. For more information, visit www.3PillarGlobal.com.

Media Contact:
Kathleen Fusco
Zer0 to 5ive for 3Pillar Global
(215) 939-5709
Kathleen@0to5.com

SOURCE 3Pillar Global

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Wake Up Your Brain With SunSprite: First Wearable, Solar-Powered Device And App To Accurately Track Light Exposure

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GoodLux Technology, LLC has announced the launch of its first innovation, SunSprite, a device that tracks and records the amount of bright light exposure an individual receives each day. SunSprite is the first completely solar-powered device and app combination to accurately measure bright light, helping users attain the physical and mental benefits of light exposure.

SunSprite debuted on Indiegogo today, marking the official launch of the product and its crowdfunding campaign. The device is available on Indiegogo for an introductory price of $99 and the first 100 devices will be priced at $89. SunSprite is expected to ship in late Q2 2014. Following the Indiegogo availability, SunSprite will retail for $149. It will make its first public appearance at this year's SXSW (March 7–16, 2014, Austin, Tex.).

You've heard of wearables and apps for fitness, sleep and nutrition. And now there's one for an equally important health component: sunlight. For decades, scientific studies have substantiated the effectiveness of bright light as a supplement to a healthy lifestyle. Bright light successfully wakes up the brain – especially in the winter months – and makes individuals more alert, engaged and energetic. Additionally, receiving bright light during the day can improve sleep habits, helping to regulate the natural circadian rhythm that is frequently disrupted by modern, hectic lifestyles. Studies have also shown bright light can serve as an effective remedy for a variety of conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD and Parkinson's disease. 

"We are thrilled to launch SunSprite, a wearable device that combines cutting-edge technology with the latest medical science to deliver a simple-to-use experience that will improve health on a global scale," said Edward Likovich, CEO of GoodLux. "SunSprite is easy to integrate into anyone's lifestyle. By wearing it and getting daily bright light, you will feel more energized during the day and sleep better at night."

SunSprite is small and lightweight, and, using its advanced magnetic closure, users can clip it on a shirt, collar, cuff, jacket, pocket or bag strap. The user can check the device or the corresponding mobile app to see their daily progress towards their recommended amount of bright light. Additionally, users can analyze their light exposure patterns and receive coaching through the app. SunSprite, which is manufactured in the USA, connects to an iOS device by Bluetooth® Smart technology and is completely solar-powered with absolutely no cords or cables.

To view the product video or purchase SunSprite, please visit: http://igg.me/at/sunsprite.

For additional information on the product and company, please visit: www.sunsprite.com.

About GoodLux:
GoodLux Technology, LLC strives to combine the best of science with our natural environment to improve health on a global scale. The company was founded by a team of Harvard-trained scientists, doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs on a mission to re-imagine the intersection of technology and nature. Become your brightest self on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE GoodLux Technology, LLC

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Global Market for Wearable Computing Devices Projected To Reach $30.2 Billion in 2018; Consumer Market Expected To Surge With 52% CAGR

WELLESLEY, Massachusetts, February 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

BCC Research (http://www.bccresearch.com) reveals in its new report, Wearable Computing: Technologies, Applications, and Global Markets, the global market for wearable computing devices is expected to grow to $30.2 billion by 2018, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.4%. The consumer market, the fastest moving segment overall, is projected to grow at a tremendous 52% CAGR.

Wearable or body-borne computers enable hands-free mobile real-time data monitoring, logic calculation, and network communication. Consumer applications, including wearable cameras, activity trackers, smart clothing, smart glasses, smart watches, augmented reality and gaming devices, are expected to explode onto the market over the next few years, reaching $22.1 billion by 2018. Non-consumer markets (healthcare, defense/security, enterprise, and industrial) are expected to reach $8.1 billion by 2018.

The smart watch product category is projected to account for the largest single consumer market, generating more than $12.5 billion in global annual revenues in 2018.

"Key for the future widespread adoption of smart watches in consumer markets will be for products to leverage the single unique advantage of smart watches over smart phones," said BCC Research information technology analyst Adam Weigold. "In other words, products must target consumer applications where it is a distinct advantage for a smart device to be permanently worn to prevent it from being misplaced, lost, or stolen. Hence, applications such as remote location of personal items, home automation and mobile payment processing could be "killer apps" for the smart watch."

Wearable computing: technologies, applications and global markets provides an overview of the wearable computing devices market. The report discusses recent technological advances in materials sciences, electronics, photonics, and software that are enabling a potentially vast range of new lightweight, wearable computing products to emerge. The history and current state of the market is reviewed and the types of devices available are discussed. An analysis of the industry structure, including major companies and market shares, and major markets and market drivers is made. Likely future industry developments are discussed and the future evolution of the technology is predicted. Patent evaluation, including coverage of the current state of technology, new patent applications, and newly issued patents is also included. This report is intended for developers, manufacturers, providers, suppliers, users, customers, commentators, analysts, and investors interested in where the Wearable computing devices and accessories market is heading.

Editors and reporters, who wish to speak with the analyst, should contact Steven Cumming at steven.cumming@bccresearch.com.

About BCC Research

BCC Research publishes market research reports that make organizations worldwide more profitable with intelligence that drives smart business decisions. These reports cover today's major industrial and technology sectors, including emerging markets. For more than 40 years we've helped customers identify new market opportunities with accurate and reliable data and insight. These include, but are not limited to, market sizing, forecasting, industry overviews, and identification of significant trends and key competitors. We partner with analysts who are experts in specific areas of industry and technology. Their up-to-date knowledge gives our customers unbiased measurements and assessments of these vital markets. Because our reports offer a global focus, our customers include the top companies in industries around the world as well as universities, major business schools, start-ups, consulting firms and investment companies. BCC Research is a unit of Eli Research LLC.

Data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC, 49-2 Walnut Park, Wellesley, MA 02481, Telephone: (+1) 781-489-7301; Email: editor@bccresearch.com as the source and publisher. Thank you.

Contact: Steven Cumming
Additional Releases: http://www.bccresearch.com/pressroom

Tel: +1-978-870-3345
Fax: +1-781-489-7308
Email: steven.cumming@bccresearch.com

SOURCE BCC Research LLC

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