Category Archives: digital

Tech Jewelry 

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This is the year that “wearable devices” truly become increasingly popular. How do I know? I read a lot of tech sites and more companies that manufacture fashion technology pieces are showing up at CES. 

One such company is Wisewear of San Antonio, TX. The brand is Socialite, a luxury smart jewelry line that conceals advanced technology inside interesting bracelets. Socialite’s jewelry features mobile notifications, distress messaging, and detailed activity tracking. Socialite’s app provides many more options.  

Each bracelet was designed by a fashion professional. My favorite one is 94-year old Iris Apfel, an American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon.

The bracelets are about $395.00 each and they are still in early production (beta) so if you want to be any early adopter, proceed with caution.

Visit the Wisewear website to see the catalog.
 

Iris , you are amazing.

  

I love her style.

 

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Lyft And Uber Share Drivers 

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 I was clueless until a Lift driver in Miami confessed to me last week that a growing number of drivers work for both Uber and Lyft. I don’t know why I ever thought each transportation company had their own exclusive group of drivers, but that’s not the case. 

“Everyone I know, works for both,” said a driver who drove me from my hairdresser last Thurdsay back home along Alton Drive. “I keep both apps open and answer the one that calls first. This way, I get the maximum number of requests a day and do not ride around for too long without a customer.”

The other surprising fact I learned last week is that most drivers refer to themselves as “Uber” because most doormen and valet parking staff never heard of Lyft. “It’s just easier to announce ourselves as an Uber car when we arrive to pick up a passenger. The folks we are picking up know who to look for and the hotel or condo staff recognize the Uber name more, so they tell us almost immediately if someone is waiting for a car. If we said we were from Lyft, hotel and housing staff give us a puzzled look.

Lift is trying to work on its branding by  dropping prices in 33 cities. Some of the cities with reduced rates include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington DC. New York and Chicago are still at full prices. Lyft is still determined to be the most affordable option for passengers.

Let the price wars begin! 

Hazel, A Musical Maid In America 

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It’s not often that you get to see the makings of a Broadway Show. I thought I would share this video of Hazel, a musical maid in America, because it shows the humble beginnings of what could possibly be a Tony award winner. Eliot and I are involved in the musical. The video is an interview with the creators. The show is based on the character from the Saturday Evening Post comic strip, and the 1960’s TV comedy series starring Shirley Booth. 

Hazel is debuting out-of-town at the The Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook, IL. on April 6, 2016. Next stop Broadway. 

The New York Times mentioned Hazel yesterday in an article that talked about how Chicago is becoming a sophisticated show-going town before Broadway. See it here. 

Our good friends Ron Abel, composer and musical arranger and Chuck Steffan, lyricist, are the original creators of the show. Actress Klea Blackhurst is Hazel. The story was written by Lissa Levin and Joshua Bergasse, well known for his work on NBC’s SMASH, will direct and choreograph. He also was the recipient of a 2015 Tony nomination for Best Choreography for his Broadway debut in ON THE TOWN.

This video could be the start of something big. 

 

 
 

#SOTU Tweets 

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Tweets in no particular order. All were posted during and after State Of The Union
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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My CES Favorite 

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When I walked past the iHealth Lab booth at the CES, I just stopped and stared. I felt like I walked into a candy store for seniors.

    

  
  
The company was offering every product you could ever want in order to maintain good health for years to come. The one that amazed me the most will be ready in just a few months. It’s an ambulatory ECG device. You wear it under your clothes. iHealth is still waiting for FDA clearance. 

iHealth claims this is the “first of its kind wearable, ambulatory ECG that monitors heart activity continuously without cumbersome wires or connections. The electrodes and monitor are ergonomically designed into a single, lightweight device that attaches directly to the users chest.  

“The data can be transferred directly to a user’s mobile device that automatically pushes data to the cloud, allowing for easy access by health care professionals.”

I know a lot of people who would love a device like this because they want to monitor their heart rate or rhythm (arrhythmia). Many folks believe a unit like this can save their lives. All they have to see is a small abnormality and they immediately call their doctor who can view it too. iHealth explains what to look for. 

How amazing it that?

The ECG  uses Bluetooth 4.0 BLE to transfer data to an IOS device or can transfer data to a PC using an USB cable. The product uses a rechargeable battery and stores up to 72 hours of data. 

I will let you know when the unit becomes available.

The Most Expensive Restaurant In The World 

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Whitney has been telling us about Jiro Ono ever since she and Fredrick decided to live in Japan. Jiro is an 85 year old sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three-star restaurant. It’s the most expensive restaurant in the world because it costs 30,000 yen ($300) per person for a 30 minute meal. 

Why am I telling you all this? 

It still amazes me that all I have to do is “Google” the name “Jiro Ono,” and everything I want to know about the restauranteur pops up. I will never get over that. I can get instant access to all of the information I need to know so I can appreciate Whitney and Fredrick’s sensational experience.

Master chefs from all other world agree that Jiro’s has the best sushi you can ever eat. There is month wait for a reservation. Of course, Whitney and Fredrick nailed one and they said the experience was absolutely thrilling. Hence, the above picture.

Whitney told us that there was a documentary made about Jiro, so once again, we had electronic access to his life story. “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” a 2011 documentary film totally profiles Jiro. We learned that Sukiyabashi Jiro is a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant located in a Tokyo subway station. Jiro serves a tasting menu of roughly 20 courses. No menu. You eat what you are served. 

 And I bet sushi lovers everywhere would love every morsel served to them. I definitely would. 

Here are more photos of Whitney and Fredrick in Japan.

          
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Day Two CES

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 Broadway at CES
 
  Virtual Reality Theater 
 Nikon Surround Camera

Intel Sleep Lab.

The Future Is Now

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I was surprised to find Lego Education at CES, but I guess it makes sense. The company is launching an updated version of its WeDo robotics kit, “which is aimed at teaching science and engineering skills to elementary school students.”

I wish I was a kid again. I would have enjoyed working with the WeDo 2.0 robotics kit. It’s based on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning system. It introduces students to robotics, programming and engineering concepts

Lego Education is currently selling a site-wide license to schools and charging them on the basis of pay-per-classroom. Each subscribed classroom will get a specified number of Lego’s robotics kits for $2,000.  

Have fun !!!!

LG Roll-Up TV

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Tomorrow morning I head out to CES in Las Vegas. Word has already spread that one of the hottest products at the show is a prototype, 18-inch OLED screen that rolls up like a piece of paper from LG Displays. It’s expected to be available to consumers next year. . 

   

When I first saw it, I immediately thought, “Who would want this?” Boy was I wrong. LG said these types of displays are geared for smartphones, tablets, and TVs.” 

OLED uses an organic compound that allows screens to be curved, rolled and bent. According to CNET, “The organic material also emits its own light, eliminating the need for a backlight.”

The interior design community is applauding LG for being so creative. Now they can install a roll up TV screen almost anywhere. Cool beans! 

The video gives you more details.