RocNext cover; Wearbale Tech
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The document discusses wearable technology and several Rochester area firms that are working to develop or adapt products in this area. It notes that wearable technology, such as smart watches and Google Glass, is expected to become a major new industry worth $19 billion within five years. Local companies mentioned include RedBottleDesign, which has created a shopping app for Google Glass, Rochester Optical which is exploring uses for smart glasses, and Vuzix, a Henrietta-based firm that produces the M100 smart glasses.
RocNext cover; Wearbale Tech
- 1. WEARABLE TECH T O M O R R O W ’ S B I Z T O D A Y ROCHESTERNEXT.COM Democrat and Chronicle Sunday, January 5, 2014 Len LaCara Business Editor (585) 258-2416 llacara@democratandchronicle.com Len LaCara “A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” — Charles F. Kettering In a pre-dawn raid on Dec. 20, the Monroe County Legislature took the $101 million CityGate project hostage. CityGate is entirely within the city limits and includes a 150-room hotel, 300-unit apartment complex, office space, and retail giant Costco. It is esti- mated the project would create hun- dreds of good-paying construction and retail jobs plus $16 million of annual sales-tax revenue. Unfortunately, this much-needed economic development may become a casualty of politics. At issue is the fund- ing to move the Children’s Detention Center, which is currently in the foot- print of the development, to a new loca- tion. The relationship between business and government can be difficult to justly negotiate when times are good, but enter politics and all bets are off. Let’s take a closer look at what is occurring here in hopes that we may overcome this “inside the beltway” mentality and recommend a business solution to move the legislature for- ward, rather than this becoming the next tragic chapter in opportunity lost for our region. To solve any problem, one must first clearly understand its anatomy. Both sides of the aisle have voiced support for the project, but their actions betray their words. The minority is using this project as a lever to engage in an un- related investigation, while the major- ity is clinging to its one-size-fits-all, my-way-or-the-highway, answer rather than explore creative ways to solve the impasse. In business it’s called the clash between the resentment of the minority and the indifference of the majority, or a distortion of “The Golden Rule,” where the person with the gold (power) rules. There are two approaches that could lead to breaking the deadlock. The first would be for influential party leaders who are not legislators to quietly meet and negotiate a compromise. Like any compromise, this will involve give and take, not a repackaging. A second approach, though I think a bit more of a long shot, would be to appeal to sitting legislators who are willing to act independently for the good of the community. If the past is any indication of the future, the grav- itational pull of party politics is diffi- cult to overcome. It reminds me of the teacher who asked a young farm boy, “If I had a pen of 10 sheep and released two to another pen, how many would remain?” The boy answered, “None.” The teacher said, “You don’t know arithmetic.” The boy replied, “You don’t know sheep.” It is time to put destructive politics aside and get to work. A way must be found to free the CityGate project PCBURKE61@gmail.com Patrick Burke OUTSIDE INSIGHTS Leslie Bamann Assistant Vice President – Business Banking Officer Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Business Banking Solutions: more than just great products and services. You get a team of business bankers, specialized technical support, quick loan decisions, and a 23-office retail network. You’ll also enjoy: Call today and a Business Banking Professional will tailor a package just for you. We’ve been investing in ways to better serve your business. • NEW Business Debit Rewards Program • Multiple Checking Options • CNBusiness BillPay • Cash Management Solutions • Comprehensive Business Financing • Online Banking for Business Deposit products—Member FDIC CNBank.com/Business (585)419-0670DC-0000323165 T hink smartphones are big? Experts say wearable technology — smart watches, Google Glass, augmented reality goggles and digital wristbands — will become the iconic gadgets and quite possibly the next round of needed technology for firms in the foreseeable future. Simply put, micro computers and monitors are being put in everyday items like glasses, watches, wristbands or T-shirts to track physical activity, take video, shoot photos and even help firms collect inventory and more. Some devices will learn from the data collected to generate a list of recommendations or take actions on behalf of the users. Now at about $1.4 billion, the wearable technology industry is expected to grow to $19 billion in five years. According to ABI Research, the market will grow to 485 million devices by 2018, in- cluding more than 75 million pairs of smart glasses. And Rochester already has a stake in the emerging industry, es- pecially the sector related to Google Glass and similar eyewear. Primo customer RedBottleDesign,asoftwaredevelopmentcompanyinRoches- ter, has created a shopping app for use with Google Glass to help shoppers get more information about products and pay for them. Rochester Optical has hired Tim Moore, partly because of his SEVERAL ROCHESTER FIRMS WORK TO ADAPT OR MAKE SMART GLASSES AND OTHER PRODUCTS Bennett J. Loudon Staff writer Paul Travers, CEO of Vuzix wearing the M100 Smart Glasses. JAMIE GERMANO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “You look through these glasses and what you see is the real world, but augmented with other information.” PAUL TRAVERS, CEO of Henrietta-based Vuzix TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses allow users to wirelessly access data and content, in addition to making calls on their smart- phones. The device includes a virtual display with a camera. Google Glass pushes data to a small screen in the upper right corner of a user’s field of vision. With Glass you can take pictures and video, view messages, find information, view maps, share live video, translate a spoken language. The Smile smart bracelet is basically an advanced smart- phone that wraps around a wrist. It can also read your mood and monitors your health by using an artificial intelligence algorithm. T-Shirt-OS looks like a plain T-shirt, but actually has as built-in screen controlled by a smart- phone app that allows users to broadcast nearly anything from a phone. The shirt also includes a built-in camera, microphone, and speakers. Pulse is a simple ring worn on a finger that wirelessly connects to a smartphone to monitor a heart rate, helping to keep athletes and others in the most optimal fitness zone. See WEARABLE, Page 5E GO INSIDE Thomas Dunne and Pittsford-based OnCell, which recently acquired a Boston-based app developer, look for ways to incorporate Google Glass into its services. 3E