Macbooks are known for their reliability, and there are articles online about how Macs are not so prone to attract potential malware or viruses. Thus, these users fail to take the necessary measures to secure their computers. 

You should have a proper cybersecurity strategy prepared. Otherwise, you may encounter a number of problems, including poor Macbook performance or personal data exposure. Take these steps to give yourself peace of mind.

Step #1 – Create Data Backups

It is better to be safe than sorry, and in the event that something does happen to the computer, why not take some time and create data backups? Get yourself an external hard drive and sync the files with Time Machine. Or, as an alternative, if you do not have that much data, you can transfer it to iCloud or Dropbox. Cloud services are free with an option to pay a monthly fee for extra storage, but the most important thing is how safe they are as a location to keep your files on.

Step #2 – Get Reliable Antivirus Software

Do not rely on default antivirus software to protect you. Some users found that their default antiviruses caused more harm than good, and since there are so many good options available, why not spend some time and find the best antivirus you can find?

Get in touch with your tech-savvy friends and ask for recommendations. If you do not have any friends like that, look for suggestions online. There is a plethora of articles and videos that will give you in-depth information on choosing reliable antivirus software. Not to mention that you will have opportunities to educate yourself about cybersecurity while researching the subject.

Step #3 – Limit Physical Access to Your Macbook

Physical access is not an issue if you live alone and do not take the Macbook together with you. However, if there are other people who may use your computer or use it regularly, making some adjustments would be beneficial.

For starters, create a non-admin account for other users, so others do not have access to specific system files. Disabling the auto-login feature is recommended because people would not have access to the main account after restarting the computer.

Step #4 – Change Passwords Regularly

A regular password change is a good piece of advice. It will also help if you stick to using more complicated passwords, such as those that an online generator can create for you. Memorizing random passwords can be difficult, but you have the option to write it on a piece of paper until you can remember.

Finally, avoid using the same password for different accounts. If someone gets your password from a random profile online, they will have access to emails, social media, and other important accounts. 

Step #5 – Use Ad Blockers

The Internet is full of malware-infected websites. And more often than not, it is a random pop-up or another type of advertisement that redirects you to such landing pages. The simplest solution is to get yourself an ad blocker. 

Even if you are aware of potential dangers that random ads on the Internet pose, you cannot guarantee that someone else who uses the computer has the same experience. 

Step #6 – Install System Updates

The lack of macOS updates could lead to unexpected system exposure. While people associate updates with new features or stability and performance improvements, they do not consider what it does for the overall computer security.

The developers have to react to new threats and patch the system holes before it gets too late. There are instances when even reliable antivirus software fails to protect the Macbook if the OS fails to ensure certain areas of the computer’s safety.

Step #7 – Avoid Shady URLs

Shady URLs that you receive from others or encounter online yourself should be avoided. For example, if your friend sends you a link to a funny video, but the URL does not look trustworthy, you are better off ignoring it.

Take a similar approach when looking for information or files to download yourself. If you need a PDF or an MP3 file, but cannot find it on legal sources, do not click on the first link on Google.

Step #8 – Browse via VPNs

Virtual private networks can be a life-saver when you have to surf the net on public access, such as at cafes, hotels, or libraries. Public Internet access creates a perfect place for hackers to attack unsuspecting people.

Meanwhile, those who use a VPN can enjoy browsing the web without worries about third parties tracing their steps. Virtual private networks encrypt data and change your IP address, making it hard to track your location and access the device you use for the Internet.

The post Your Guide to Enhancing Macbook’s Security appeared first on Tech Trends.

The latest forecast from technology analyst firm CCS Insight highlights some of the challenges facing makers of head-worn virtual and augmented reality devices. Despite early enthusiasm and a continued expectation of significant long-term potential for the technology, there is much work yet to be done on improving user experience, developing software platforms and – above all – making attractive content for those platforms available to consumers.

“We continue to believe that content is the key to unlocking adoption of VR. Although some games companies and adult content creators have embraced VR technology, much more needs to happen to persuade consumers that VR devices are a must-have item,” says Ben Wood, CCS Insight’s chief of research.

This sober yet positive message is the main conclusion of the company’s recently published global market report for VR and AR devices. In it, the research firm forecasts 8 million virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets and glasses will be sold in 2018, down from 10 million in 2017, but growing to 14 million in 2019 and eventually to 52 million in 2022.

Smartphone VR headsets sales have collapsed, but standalone devices like the Oculus Go hold great promise
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The market for VR has gone through several phases, according to Wood. “The first wave of consumers used basic cardboard viewers, which helped them understand the potential of the media, but the limited experience meant most people quickly lost interest. We don’t even include such devices in our forecast anymore”. He continues, “Attention then turned to smartphone-based devices such as the Samsung Gear VR and the Zeiss One Plus VR. These have played an important role in raising the awareness of the technology over the past three years, but interest in these devices has now waned”.

Accordingly, the firm’s forecast shows a dramatic drop in sales of smartphone VR devices, from nearly 8 million units in 2017 to fewer than 3 million this year. This decline has occurred despite heavy price cuts and extensive promotions over the past 12 months.

“We believe the device market has now shifted away from the early wave of cheaper, less-functional cardboard and plastic smartphone VR viewers. We expect the next wave of adoption to come from dedicated devices that offer a more compelling, wire-free experience,” Wood concludes.

CCS Insight believes the advent of standalone VR headsets – which overcome the awkwardness of being attached to a PC, smartphone or games console – will help to reinvigorate this product category both for consumers and businesses. Its forecast shows demand in that category growing over 16 times between 2018 and 2022, when 29 million standalone VR headsets are expected to be sold.

CCS Insight expects the market will return to growth in 2019, reaching 14 million devices
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The company believes devices such as Facebook’s Oculus Go and Oculus Quest, which are being offered at retail prices of $200 and $400 respectively, are good examples of the future of VR. Wood also notes that the Chinese market is looking particularly promising and Facebook’s partnership with Xiaomi has helped those headsets make a strong start there.

There is still, however, a role to be played in this market by tethered devices like the Sony PlayStation VR, HTC Vive or Oculus Rift, as currently they still offer a higher quality experience than standalone devices are able to deliver. Accordingly, CCS Insight forecasts that 5 million tethered VR headsets will be sold in 2019, growing to 18 million in 2022.

52 million VR and AR devices will be sold in 2022 with a market value of $8.5 billion
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Sony, which CCS Insight considers as the most successful manufacturer of tethered VR headsets to date, looks set to continue with its strategy of offering its VR headset as an accessory to the large number of PlayStation owners as these devices are best suited to meet the needs of the most dedicated gamers, who want a best-in-class experience.

The report also assesses the market for AR smart glasses, which have so far seen significantly slower adoption compared to VR. The main use for AR devices continues to be in business operations such as customer service, logistics, remote servicing, design and other related applications, and interest remains high in those categories. Although businesses have taken a cautious approach to AR devices, initially focusing on pilot deployments, but CCS Insight believes there are signals of growth as the chart below demonstrates.

The company believes devices such as Facebook's Oculus Go and Oculus Quest, which are being offered at retail prices of $200 and $400 respectively, are good examples of the future of VR
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“We are seeing a rising number of companies committing to deployments of tens or hundreds of augmented reality glasses as they start to see the clear benefits of head-worn technology in the workplace,” explains Wood, although he cautions that this market growth will take time, with cumulative global sales not expected to top 1 million units before 2021.

When thinking about AR glasses for consumers, Wood notes that these devices continue to be “more common in science fiction than in real life” with little evidence of a product with mass-market appeal any time soon. Nevertheless, CCS Insight’s long-range forecast does include a scenario of accelerated adoption if a major consumer brand like Apple decides to enter the market.

Yet in Tech Trends’ humble view, with Magic Leap finally entering the arena this year and a new version of the HoloLens expected to be unveiled by Microsoft next year, it could be that this tipping point might arrive even sooner, and perhaps even driven (perish the thought!) by players other than Apple. Watch this space…

We are seeing a rising number of companies committing to deployments of tens or hundreds of augmented reality glasses as they start to see the clear benefits of head-worn technology in the workplace
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For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies our Consultancy service offers support in strategic leveraging VR/AR/MR/XR

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Report: VR Device Market Outlook appeared first on Tech Trends.

2018 has been good for smart wearables, with an estimated 117 million devices to be sold by the end of the year according to CCS Insight. The analyst firm expects that figure to double to 233 million in 2022 with a market value of over $27 billion.

2018 has been a good year for smart wearables
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Leading the charge are smartwatches, with 85 million units expected to be sold in 2019, growing to 137 million in 2022. This forecast covers a wide range of smartwatches, including smart sports watches, smart analogue watches, smartwatches with built-in connected location trackers specifically designed for children, and smartwatches with cellular connectivity.

Smart hearables are another important wearable device category
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Smartwatches continue to gain in popularity, primarily thanks to the success of market leader Apple, which extended its product range with the launch of its Series 4 Apple Watch in September. The company is also offering the Apple Watch at the broadest range of prices so far, making it more accessible to iPhone owners.

Deeper analysis of the fitness tracker market signals solid demand in China even though demand in Western markets has stalled
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A key factor in this is increased engagement, as a recent smartwatch user survey conducted by CCS Insight found that more than 90 percent of respondents use their smartwatch most days.

“The combination of Apple’s success with its Watch and the high engagement levels we’re seeing among smartwatch owners reflects the value people are now placing on these products,” explains CCS Insight’s senior analyst for wearables, George Jijiashvili. “It’s a step change from a few years ago, when we consistently saw high levels of abandonment from early smartwatch users, who quickly became disenchanted with initial products”.

CCS Insight believes the high engagement among current smartwatch owners will provoke a wave of replacement sales in coming years. The company believes Apple is best positioned to take advantage of this, particularly with the latest update to the Apple Watch series. However, it also notes that growing awareness and satisfaction with smartwatches among technology enthusiasts will help to broaden the potential market, with wrist-worn wearables from new brands making progress.

“The Apple Watch has done well because it’s bought by iPhone owners. People with Android smartphones represent a far bigger market and we believe that conditions are right for the next wave of smartwatch adoption thanks to an ever-improving selection of smartwatches from fashion and consumer electronics brands hit the market,” says Jijiashvili.

The research firm notes that Fitbit’s smartwatches have seen solid uptake during 2018 and it is also positive about the opportunity for smartwatches powered by the recently revamped Wear OS from Google, particularly when combined with an updated technology platform from chipmaker Qualcomm.

“We’re hugely encouraged that established watchmakers such as Fossil are betting their future on a wide range of smartwatches for several fashion brands such as Diesel, Michael Kors and Skagen, and premium watchmakers such as Louis Vuitton, Montblanc and TAG Heuer continue to invest in this area. When you combine this with the renewed interest in smartwatches from leading smartphone makers such as Huawei and Samsung, you can see a groundswell of activity that signals a positive outlook for the market”.

The company believes that the growing proportion of cellular-enabled smartwatches also represents a great opportunity for mobile network operators:

“As cellular-enabled smartwatches take an increasing share of the market, operators have the chance to derive new revenue from the additional monthly fees they can charge users, particularly as the ability to offer one number on multiple devices continues to grow”. However, Jijiashvili cautions that “operators must ensure they don’t get greedy with the fees they charge to connect smartwatches or they risk dampening demand for the promising new product category”.

CCS Insight believes growing adoption of basic cellular-enabled watches, predominantly aimed at kids, is an important factor in the wearables market. The demand for these devices is especially strong in China and there are signs of interest in other regions, despite modest uptake so far, partly because of privacy concerns. However, several mobile operators beyond China are assessing the potential of these devices. A notable example is Vodafone, which now offers a range of wearable products as part of its V by Vodafone initiative; this range includes a smartwatch for children.

A recent user survey conducted by CCS Insight found that more than 90 percent of respondents use their smartwatch most days
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CCS Insight also notes the increasingly important role of Chinese supplier Huami. It expects Huami to make and sell more than 26 million devices with its own brands and with that of its partner Xiaomi in 2018. At present, most of these are fitness trackers, but more than 2 million units will be smart sports watches. Huami’s success has buoyed the worldwide fitness tracker market, which will record total sales of 43 million units in 2018, after a dip to 39 million in 2017.

“Deeper analysis of the fitness tracker market signals solid demand in China even though demand in Western markets has stalled. Fitbit, the brand synonymous with fitness trackers, has struggled to maintain its growth trajectory in fitness trackers but is hoping to offset this with the recent success of its smartwatch product line-up”.

Smart hearables are another important wearable device category CCS Insight highlights, predicting that the growing number of smart connected headphones will boost sales to 27 million in 2022.

“We’ve seen some excellent products in this area over the past year from companies like Bragi, Jabra, Samsung and Sony. It’s only a matter of time before Apple adds more functions to its AirPods, which will see them fall into our definition of smart hearables. If this happens, Apple could kick-start this device category like it shook up the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch,” Jijiashvili concludes

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Report: Growing Wearable Tech Market appeared first on Tech Trends.

Cases, cables, PCI-E USB-C cards, nifty adapters, Gloo chargers and so much more this month in our reviews roundup!

Catalyst Apple Device cases

Are you one of those die-hard Apple fans? Do you queue up for the latest handset and strut around the streets with AirPods dangling from your ears like leaking brain matter while faux casually checking your Apple Watch, deluded that anyone with any self-respect gives a shit? Good for you, everyone needs something to live for.

Well, today I am not going to lambast the recent failures of a once great and innovative company or further ridicule the morons that follow them like sheep (well maybe just a bit), I am going to look at some seriously impressive Apple device protection from Catalyst.

I’m a fan of a good case, not the yellow tainted, transparent, Hello Kitty branded crap from the street market but a really well designed, attractive case that you don’t mind carrying around. Now most phones look pretty much identical you might as well make a statement with a stylish case that protects your device and your precious data. Catalyst focuses exclusively on Apple products but really look and feel the business and I kind of hope they broaden out to Android devices soon as they are clearly quality products.

I'm a fan of a good case, not the yellow tainted, transparent, Hello Kitty branded crap from the street market but a really well designed, attractive case that you don't mind carrying around
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Costing £999 here in the UK the latest (greatest?) iPhone X is worth protecting, so you should take a look at the two cases Catalyst offers. The $39.99 Impact Protection Case offers a grippy rubber bumper, lanyard attachment, rotating mute switch and clear case back to show off your iPhone. This design has an angular modern form and added impact protection from a nifty truss cushioning system and proprietary rubber polymer blend that provides drop protection up to 3m (9.9ft). Catalyst’s $89.99 Waterproof Case looks almost identical and gives you 33ft (10m) of waterproof protection but a lower impact protection of 6.6ft (2m).

If you love the fruity brand enough to have spent up to £749 on a Series 3 Apple Watch it would be wise to consider Catalyst’s Impact Protection Case that retails at $39.99, it can’t possibly make you look worse than you already do and if you fall over after too many imported lagers your Watch might survive the experience.

Catalyst's Impact Protection Case retails at $39.99, it can't possibly make you look worse than you already do and if you fall over after too many imported largers your Apple Watch might survive the experience
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Augment it further with a $39.99 Sports Band so you look a proper tool jogging round central London while checking out your reflection in passing shop windows.

Augment your Apple Watch further with a $39.99 Sports Band so you look a proper tool jogging round central London while checking out your reflection in passing shop windows
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Now most phones look pretty much identical you might as well make a statement with a stylish case that protects your device and your precious data
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What self-respecting Apple fanboy doesn’t love their AirPods enough to protect them from the spittle of passing critics, salty body fluids or carelessly spilt Chardonnay? So costing a reasonable $24.99 the Waterproof AirPod Case is a must! You can even hang it from your rucksack, satchel strap or belt loop to prompt conversation with your AirHead iFriends! So Useful.

To be honest I didn’t know there was such a thing as an Apple Pencil, I seem to remember Steve Jobs deriding styluses in favour of well-designed touchscreen apps, but rolling in his grave or not, I’m sure Steve would endorse the protection of your Apple products, so if you like to carry your Pencil around, in case you need to work something out with it (Constipated mathematician anyone?), the $21.99 Catalyst Apple Pencil Carry Case should keep it safe.

To be honest I didn't know there was such a thing as an Apple Pencil, I seem to remember Steve Jobs deriding styluses in favour of well-designed touchscreen apps
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If Catalyst made a case for my Samsung Galaxy S9+, I would buy it in a heartbeat
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However, if your fingers slip while working out a particularly sticky problem the Apple Pencil Grip Case will ensure you maintain a firm grasp on your pointless device if not on your pointless life. Apologies for the vitriol leaking through this review but rest assured Catalyst’s well made & attractive range of protective cases are not the target and even if they were, they are sturdy enough to shed said vitriol like water from a fucks dack. If they made a case for my Samsung Galaxy S9+, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Oculus Go VR Headset

Once I got it up and running on my Wi-Fi the brand new Oculus Go was a real surprise. Every new VR headset from the big companies takes us a small step closer to enjoying the true possibilities of VR but I have become a bit jaded by the slow progress. Each baby step forwards a new device takes feels so small and iterative it leaves me feeling like I am wading through mud to get to the future of VR. The Oculus Go, however, took a solid and pleasing stride ahead of the rest, not a jump or a leap but enough to make a real difference in how we access and consume VR. Read the full review here.

Once I got it up and running on my Wi-Fi the brand new Oculus Go was a real surprise
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Preview – Honor 10

This is just a heads up for a full review of the brand new Honor 10 which I’ll publish later in July but I wanted to give a quick, first impressions look at this very affordable “Flagship Killer”. With the official global launch of this handset held just two days away from the OnePlus 6 launch, it is clear Huawei and Honor are targetting the budget flagship space with the Honor 10 and just like the OnePlus 6 you get top tier components in an attractive yet affordable package. After a week of using it as a daily driver, what do I think?

#Honor are targetting the budget flagship space with the #Honor10 and just like the OnePlus 6 you get top tier components in an attractive yet affordable package
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The way android is designed to mould itself to your usage means that the first few days of using a new phone are crucial while you set it up how you want it to work and Android learns how you use your phone and how to give you the best experience and battery life. This bedding in process means you will experience pretty terrible battery life and a hot handset for the first 4-5 days and that judging the device in any way is foolish until about a week has passed and everything has settled down. By day 7 of my test I think I got the phone I was expecting. It was super fast and a pleasure to use.

By day 7 of my test and after tweaking it to my taste I think I got the phone I was expecting. The #Honor10 was super fast and a pleasure to use
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I was also fortunate as Honor Global wanted to ensure I got the latest Android 8.1 and EMUI 8.1 updates for this review so I am testing the Honor 10 at its absolute best. Honor are pushing the concept of “Beauty in AI” and reveal “two major ground-breaking and industry-leading smartphone technologies to consumers”.

The first is the advanced AI 2.0 technology, applied chiefly to the smartphone’s dual camera. Second is the Honor 10 CMF design, a 3D glass back with a very pleasing nano-scale optical coating composed of 15 layers of glimmering colour. The Honor 10 is now available from € 399.90 for purchase in select markets including UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, with other markets follow.

Confident in the new camera’s abilities Honor and Central St Martins recently celebrated the ground-breaking new AI & Photographic capabilities of the Honor 10 with the talented up and coming young designers graduating this year.

@Honorglobal wanted to ensure I got the latest Android 8.1 and EMUI 8.1 updates for this review so I am testing #Honor10 at its absolute best
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Using the impressive new 24 Megapixel camera they celebrated how mobile technology will increasingly be integrated into education and design in the future, whether it be graphic communication, product, architecture, fashion or jewellery, exploring the future of aesthetics and how mobile technology will play a critical role in that development.

The #Honor10 handset itself is beautiful with a very cool layered, refractive glass back that shines and changes colours as it moves
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Battery life is a full day, which is still average but totally usable and not a negative in the current marketplace. EMUI 8.1 is fast, slick and fun to use and importantly the AI camera is very good. The only niggle is it defaults to AI mode every time you open it meaning you only get 16 megapixels of the available 24 and the AI monkeys with your shot whether you want it or not. Even flipping to non-AI mode defaults to 16 megapixels and you have to go into the setting to up it to 24, annoying. However, AI mode is very cool indeed for portraits and dog pics, with the background, subtly blurred for that shallow depth of field look that’s all the rage.

“We believe the recipe of success is simple – give consumers a really good product! That’s what we work hard for everyday at Honor,” said George Zhao, President of Honor. “But we don’t just stop at making a good product. We want to co-create a new lifestyle with young people worldwide. We listen to them, we bounce ideas around with them, and we cheer for them. They are our inspiration, and the reason we created the Honor 10, with its AI photography features and exquisite design.”

EMUI 8.1 on the #Honor10 is fast, slick and fun to use and importantly the AI camera is very good
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The handset itself is beautiful and the unique refractive glass back shines and changes colours as it moves. Another nice note is that a basic clear case is included in the box! Plus the handset came with a preinstalled screen protector, so no frustration and bubbles adding one yourself. Watch out for my full review in a week or two and with a bit of luck, we will have received the huge GPU Turbo update by then which promises to boost the graphical performance by up to 60%. How this will improve the phone’s Camera, AR and VR capabilities I don’t know, but much more on that next time!

If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough…
#GPUTurbo Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/PwSQ4TEopK

— Honor UK (@UKHonor) 2 July 2018

Group Test – Aukey USB-C Adapters

Faster, smaller, better, thinner… Those design goals have led us here, to a new standard of connection port that I am still not sure anybody really wants. You probably know all about USB-C and its capabilities and if you own a new Mac of any kind you will be familiar with its drawbacks. USB-C adaptors and cables have made Apple a pretty penny but today Tech Trends is looking at the budget offerings from Chinese company Aukey, a four-port PCI-E card, two basic USB 3 to USB-C adapters and one braided USB-C to USB-C cable.

First off the Express PCI-E card, retailing at £28.99 provides 4 additional USB-C ports to your desktop computer and promises super-speed USB 3.0 data transmission speeds of up to 5 Gbps. Compatible with Windows 2000 / XP / 7 / 8 / 8.1 and Linux Kernel; USB3.0 can be backwards compatible ( USB 2.0 / 1.1 / 1.0 ) it is easy to install and Windows 10 found the driver itself with no problems.

Now the spec-heads out there will confuse you with the various standards and capabilities of USB-C hardware that mean a USB-C connection or cable might or might not give you true USB 3.1 speed, power transfer or even the much vaunted alternate mode, depending on the manufacturer, but basically as a consumer you expect new tech to be better, faster and easier to use. Sadly not the case here. I found the transfer speeds to be slower than USB 3, the power transfer to be less quick than with a dedicated charger and the ports themselves quite shallow, so cables easily dropped out of the connections.

The adapters and cable, on the other hand, were very useful. The well-made £7.69 male to male USB-C cable sports sturdy aluminium heads and a 2m flexible, braided length. It fast-charged a Galaxy S9+ and was blazingly fast (460Mbps) at transferring large files. Now we’re talking!

Of the two adapters on test, my favourite is the £8.49 USB C Male to USB A Female. Small and good looking it effortlessly bridged the gap between old and new USB standards, it was super quick and would easily fit in a pocket or on a keychain if it had a loop. Good simple design. The second £6.99 USB C male to USB A female adapter features a short extension but is less attractive black plastic. This would be more useful on the back of PCs than laptops but it was fast and really cheap. Apart from the disappointing PCI-E card all the USB-C peripherals from Aukey have been excellent, very affordable and are highly recommended.

Gloo Shared Charging Station

After a record-breaking crowdfunding success with $8M raised for the ZeTime hybrid smartwatch, design innovators MyKronoz has just hit Kickstarter again to launch the Deconnect Gloo – a sleek wireless charging station that doubles as an ambient light source. Sounds great but most interestingly Gloo is the first crowdfunding project that enables you to preview exactly how different versions of a new product will look in your own home, via a unique Augmented Reality feature within the companion Deconnect app for iOS. Read the full review here.

Gloo is the first crowdfunding project that enables you to preview exactly how different versions of a new product will look in your own home, via a unique Augmented Reality feature within the companion Deconnect app for iOS
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Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post June 2018 Tech Trends Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

Few sectors have embraced technology in their marketing as well as the drinks industry and tequila makers Patrón are leading the way.

As Tech Trends highlighted last year, the drinks industry is at the forefront of new technology and is well aware of the opportunities MR and IoT offer when marketing lifestyle products. One company in particular, has been leading the way, Patrón, makers of excellent Tequila. They have been breaking new ground in beverage marketing for years now, so Tech Trends met up with their VP of Marketing Adrian Parker to find out what role technology plays in their company strategy.

The consumer journey is much more advanced now, so the modern marketer's toolkit has evolved to a plethora of exciting enhancements
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“Patrón prides itself in being a leader in its industry and that includes leveraging digital and mobile marketing.” Adrian explained. “We’re proud to work in the tech space and test new technologies that will enhance the consumer experience. We’re now able to educate our consumers on not just the bottle and the liquid, but the history and authenticity of the brand as well as its versatility. The consumer journey is so much more advanced than it was years ago so the modern marketers tool kit has really evolved to a plethora of so many cool, exciting enhancements as well. We can now leverage AR, AI enabled voice technology, virtual reality and more.”

In fact, they were amongst the first drinks companies to embrace 360 video and VR with The Art of Patrón Virtual Reality Experience in 2015 and continue to showcase this experience at marketing events today. The experience gives users a “bee’s eye view” of the Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco, Mexico and works in VR and modern browsers.

“Seeing how handcrafted the Patrón tequila-making process still is, it’s the greatest marketing asset we have—it’s also the least scalable,” says Adrian “Since we can’t bring millions of consumers to our working distillery in Mexico, VR created an opportunity for us to bring Mexico to them.”

The handcrafted process behind Patrón tequila-making is our greatest marketing asset. VR created an opportunity to bring Mexico to consumers
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The VR experience was a hefty investment on Patrón’s part. To create it, they hired an airline pilot to fly a drone outfitted with six GoPros through the Hacienda. Live action scenes were combined with computer animation, and, in total, the project took eight months and an onsite-crew of nearly 100 people to complete. Then, the company had to secure over 200 Samsung Gear VR goggles and 30,000 Google Cardboard kits to use at events around the world. But because the experience is also available online, Parker says that hundreds of thousands of consumers have been able to fly throughout the Hacienda—making VR a worthy investment in their eyes. As we discussed in 2017 mobile AR is the hot new tool in drinks marketing so I asked Adrian where Patrón’s AR vision come from and what are the benefits the brand has experienced using this technology?

“When Apple launched AR technology as part of their operating system, it made it accessible to the everyday user and provided an excellent opportunity for us to reach consumers in an innovative way like never before. The technology provides us with a critical platform to touch real people using how they are consuming their information. We are able to educate on our products in an impactful and digestible way that did not exist prior to this technology.”

When Apple launched AR technology as part of their operating system, it made it accessible to the everyday user and provided an excellent opportunity for us to reach consumers like never before
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Not content on resting on their laurels, Patrón have been working on their ARKit App to incorporate social sharing and a futuristic shopping function. Aside from the app’s educational component, teaching users more about the core Patrón line, users will be able to purchase products directly through the app via US site Reserve Bar.

“The new ARKit update features a new direct purchase capability where users can buy Patrón’s core line of tequila directly through the app via ReserveBar.com, which is a first for the technology. Users also now have the addition of a ‘photo booth on-the-go’ with themed frames that can be shared directly on social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.”

The new ARKit update features a new direct purchase capability where users can buy Patrón’s core line of tequila through the app
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Now, users of “The Patrón Experience” ARKit app can also send a virtual holiday card right from the app using holiday-themed frames, giving users the ability to have a photobooth on-the-go. The existing camera function has been enhanced with social media integration and a sharing feature, allowing users to share their images directly on social platforms, or save to their camera roll.

Their latest advance sees Patrón adding an action to Google Home, allowing users to “Ask Patron” and talk to Google Home as they would a bartender for cocktail suggestions and tips, gift recommendations, tequila facts and more from the comfort of their home.

Their latest advance adds an action to Google Home, allowing users to Ask Patron for cocktail suggestions and tips
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Patrón is on a journey powered by technology to reimagine how spirits consumers connect with their drinks and the people who make them
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Patrón also currently has this skill via Amazon Alexa and are launching a new skill on Amazon Echo Show, taking advantage of the new platform’s capabilities and featuring:

• An interactive touch display in ddition to the standard voice interaction
• Graphical elements complementing voice interaction (think Echo with a screen) featuring Patrón’s Limited-Edition 1 Liter Holiday Bottle
• The ability for users to find the perfect holiday gift based on their budget and drinking preference
• Helpful tips on how to perfect holiday cocktail-making skills (ex. How do I muddle?) and get Pro-Tip videos from world-class bartenders
• Users will be able to ask the Amazon Echo Show how to craft 400+ different cocktails using tequila

“Using Amazon Alexa Echo Show’s new interactive touch display and standard voice interaction, you begin using the skill by saying “Alexa, Ask Patrón.” Users can Ask Patrón any number of questions such as what cocktail they’ll enjoy based on type, flavor, occasion and ingredients available. Then, consumers can easily make the drink by watching the recipe and hearing and seeing the instructions. You can also learn about Patrón’s offerings and get cocktail-making tips from bartenders. Similar to our new ARKit app update, users can buy Patrón directly through the Echo Show. With the Google Home technology, Patrón officially added an action allowing users to “Ask Patron:” talk to Google Home just like you would a bartender for cocktail suggestions and tips, gift recommendations, tequila facts and more from the comfort of your own home. Very similar to the Alexa skill, but with another widely used technology.”

Users can Ask Patrón any number of questions such as what cocktail they’ll enjoy based on type, flavor, occasion and ingredients available
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So where does Adrian see tech taking customer engagement next?

“In the near future we’ll be physically interacting with our favorite Patrón bartender (bot-tender) as he scans the kitchen to recommend cocktails based on available ingredients. After he demonstrates how to make, shake and drink the cocktail, he’ll start a party playlist for your guests and order more tequila for next time. Patrón is on a journey to totally reimagine how spirits consumers connect with the products they drink and the people who make them, all powered by various technology.” Adrian concluded.

In future we’ll be interacting with our favorite Patrón bot-tender as it scans the kitchen to recommend cocktails based on available ingredients
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Cheers to that!

To find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers bespoke Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post Raising a glass to Technology appeared first on Tech Trends.

Latest forecast by analyst firm CCS Insight paints an optimistic picture of Immersive Tech adoption.

The report published today by global analyst company CCS Insight shows the worldwide market for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) head-worn devices growing by an average of 50 percent annually over the next five years. In 2022, a total of 121 million units will be sold, with a value of $9.9 billion.

Gaming remains the primary reason for sales of VR devices and this is unlikely to change over the next few years
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The firm’s research indicates that VR headsets have been the main source of growth in unit sales to date, and although this trend is expected to continue – particularly with smartphone-powered mobile headsets – there is also an expectations that the next generation of HMDs will ignite a new wave of consumer interest.

“We expect stand-alone headsets like the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Focus to ignite a new wave of growth that will help broaden the appeal of virtual reality, particularly with businesses and in education,” says George Jijiashvili, CCS Insight’s senior analyst for wearables.

Gaming remains the primary reason for sales of VR devices and this is unlikely to change over the next few years. The research shows that nearly 70 percent of customers who own a dedicated VR headset such as an Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or Sony PlayStation VR have bought games for it, and more than half of smartphone VR owners bought games for their device.

“There’s a growing array of exciting new content being developed. We saw in our latest consumer survey that virtual tourism, remote participation in events such as music concerts, and virtual social interactions are all emerging as further uses for virtual reality. Watching video is also proving popular, particularly on mobile headsets”.

AR smart glasses also show much promise for market growth according to Jijiashvili, as the report notes that in spite of businesses recognizing the potential of the technology, they have so far limited their adoption to purchasing a few units (just 24,000 AR smart glasses were purchased by business in 2017). However, CCS Insight predicts that over the next few years businesses will move from limited trials to wider deployment, with sales reaching a milestone of 1 million units in 2022.

“Given augmented reality is one of the hottest new technology areas in smartphones, it’s not surprising that interest is mounting in augmented reality glasses. Billions of dollars are being invested in this technology and we’ve seen significant improvements in the size, weight and design of smart glasses over the past 12 months. The potential of this technology is clear, but so far most companies are evaluating a few units to see how the technology fits into their operations”.

The firm also notes that consumer smart glasses adoption will probably move at a separate pace and in different directions than more enterprise-centric products. It predicts that under the right conditions, we could be looking at consumer smart glasses sales around the 4.5 million mark by 2022.

“We’re encouraged by the technology developments in smart glasses for consumers. Products such as Intel’s Vaunt glasses are a clear signal of the direction these devices are moving in, with a design little different from a pair of standard prescription glasses. It only takes a big company like Apple to jump into the market and we could be looking at market of millions of smart glasses in no time at all,” Jijiashvili concludes.

According to CCS insight, the forecast presents three scenarios (core, low and high) that plot the effects of different market developments, and is part of a broader suite of research into VR and AR devices, including an extensive database of over 100 devices in this area.

Stand-alone headsets like the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Focus will help broaden the appeal of virtual reality, particularly in business and education
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Key Insights from the report include:

• 22 million virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets and glasses will be sold in 2018, with fivefold growth to 121 million units in 2022
• Smartphone VR will account for the bulk of sales volume, but value lies in dedicated VR devices, which will account for 63 percent of the total market value of $9.9 billion in 2022
• AR smart glasses for consumers have encouraging potential, particularly if a large consumer electronics firm such as Apple decides to enter the market
• Enterprise adoption of VR and AR remains an important element, but it will take many years to deliver meaningful sales volume

In 2022, a total of 121 million units will be sold, with a value of $9.9 billion
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For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies such as VR/AR/MR/XR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance and support on how best to incorporate these into your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedInand follow @alicebonasioon Twitter.

The post Report: VR and AR Device Market to hit $1.8 billion in 2018 appeared first on Tech Trends.

With the hype around Apple’s latest announcements you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re the first company to bring us AR.

Following Apple’s first keynote in its brand new HQ, people predictably started drooling over the iPhone X (at the time of writing, the unveiling video below attracted over 20 million views in just a few days) in spite of the epic fail of the face recognition feature demo.

Apple suffered an epic fail during its face recognition feature demo
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iPhone sales show no sign of slowing down
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Still, the company has sold plenty of iPhones over the years and that growth shows no sign of slowing down, as the infographic below helps to illustrate:

The other headline grabber from the keynote, however, was Apple ARKit. Because let’s face it. When the world’s biggest technology company officially throws their hat onto the ring, you start paying attention. But I have to say that after watching several ARKit demos, my first reaction was rather…. Meh.

Much of the stuff that had pundits raving were interesting but quite basic, on the level with ideas such augmenting your experience of drinking a cocktail with artistic imagery. In other words, it was nice to see Apple joining the party, but as usual the company tends to act like the whole party has been its idea all along, and people tend to buy into that narrative, because, well, they’re Apple.

It's nice to see Apple join the party, but they act like they invented AR
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Personally, I had been much more impressed by the various HoloLens demos and applications I’d seen over the past year or so. Yet to be fair to the Apple enthusiasts out there, the HoloLens is not aimed at the consumer market, and it does have some serious limitations, as Scott Montgomerie, CEO of Scope AR points out:

“Microsoft has created an amazing experience with the HoloL​ens – they’ve achieved very stable tracking and have a head-worn device with decent optics, which are certainly a couple of the moving parts required for a complete AR solution. It suffers from a few downsides though, such as the field of view being quite small, which is a turn off for many people, and the user experience is foreign; also the price is far too high for most consumers (and even enterprises) to buy.  The primary reason for the cost is the bill of materials, which includes a few depth cameras and specialized processing units that are required for the amazing tracking abilities.”

Tracking is in fact key to creating the optimum consumer AR experience. Stable tracking involves keeping track of your device’s precise position and rotation in real space so that the augmentation can be placed on the world appropriately. This is something the HoloLens does very well, providing what it calls “six degrees of freedom” which allow for very natural interaction between the user and holographic information and objects placed around real-world environments.

Retailers like Ikea have developed content for Apple's ARKit
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Yet having developed products for both the HoloLens and ARKit, Montgomerie believes that what gives Apple an edge is that it has managed to replicate the HoloLens quality of tracking, but with the same hardware found in modern smartphones going back to September 2015, which accounts for about 380 million iPhones in the market today.

“That means that consumer-level AR experiences will be available to a large segment of the population immediately, and removes a major barrier to entry for the adoption of AR. It’s not the utopian AR experience of a light, cheap, head-worn AR experience that everyone is looking for, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction,” he says.

Beck Besecker, CEO and Co-Founder of Augmented Reality company Marxent, believes that Apple’s involvement provides a clear signal that AR is quickly becoming the next computing platform. While retailers like IKEA have already announced plans to use ARKit to build their own AR apps, however, the challenge will be to build truly meaningful content that goes beyond simple gimmicks and limited use of 3D content:

“Use cases such as shopping in AR and configuring multiple products you may be interested in buying within a scene have to be seamless in order to motivate people to use them, and ARKit alone will be unable to facilitate that. Devs will need to incorporate a CMS for 3D content to work with ARKit, while also working to make 3D content ‘smart,’ to really make the tech ready for retail, and impactful at that. For instance, if I wanted to design a room in AR, I’d want my virtual chair to ‘know’ it should sit on the floor rather than the ceiling. This may seem obvious, but there needs to be some level of AI or structured smart content behind AR apps. Until Apple finds a way to crack that, progress will continue, but perhaps more slowly than many may hope.”

Tim Cook is betting on the potential of Augmented Reality
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I do agree with Tim Cook in that Augmented Reality (or Mixed Reality as Microsoft calls it) shows even greater potential than VR, certainly for practical, commercial and enterprise applications. And the fact that Apple is pushing it will inevitably draw more pundits and developers, and help accelerate the technology. In spite of having technically been around for many years, the augmented reality industry is still in its infancy according to Montgomerie

“Like anything, all of the various hardware platforms have strengths and weaknesses. There are a lot of moving parts that are going to be required to create the ultimate consumer-level experience that everyone dreams about, and at a price point that will be viable for consumers,” he concludes.

To find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers bespoke Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Why is Everyone so Excited About Apple’s ARKit? appeared first on Tech Trends.

Apple is such a secretive company that most of the time we don’t really know what they’re working on until they unveil a new product. The famous “And one more thing…” flourish that Steve Jobs perfected is their trademark, and it means that journalists reporting on upcoming launches have to interpret remarks and rumours, of which there are always plenty.

Apple has given strong hints that it's planning an Augmented Reality product #AR
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In this article for iDrop News I attempt to piece together all the evidence I could find to try and build a picture of how Apple might be looking to get in on the Augmented/Mixed Reality market, following Tim Cook’s comments saying that the future of AR was bigger than VR.

With virtual/augmented reality revenue forecast to hit over $120 billion by 2020, it would be downright senseless to believe that Apple isn’t looking at ways to enter the space and capture a share of this booming market. Industry analysts predict that the company will pivot into the augmented reality space within the next two years, yet while other major players such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Sony have all started showing their cards, Apple remained characteristically secretive about their plans.

There are many reasons why it would make sense for Apple to focus in that augmented/mixed reality space, not least because, as Tim Cook stated, it encourages interpersonal interaction rather than isolated – and isolating experiences
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However, recent comments by Apple CEO Tim Cook do suggest that they might getting ready to move into the augmented/mixed reality arena: “Augmented reality will take some time to get right, but I do think that it’s profound,” explained Cook in a recent ABC News interview. According to him, AR enables people to be “very present” and have more productive conversations, amplified and enhanced by the virtual elements that seamlessly blend into their surrounding environment. Virtual Reality (VR), by contrast, isn’t as broad-based a technology in Cook’s view. “There’s no substitute for human contact, and so you want the technology to encourage that.”

There is some debate around the terminology of virtual technologies, but broadly speaking, virtual reality refers to fully immersive simulated experiences, while augmented reality refers to modifying – or adding elements to – your view of the real world.

If you believe you’ve never experienced augmented reality, just think of the face-morphing feature on Snapchat, or even the way that you can point your phone’s camera at a sign written in a foreign language and have Google translate that on the spot, not to mention the whole Pokémon Go craze.

A third emerging option in that space – in which Apple is rumored to have a special interest – is mixed reality, which blends much more advanced holographic images with your real-world, real-time environment. Microsoft’s HoloLens is currently the most advanced device available for creating and delivering those types of experiences.

If you believe you’ve never experienced augmented reality, just think of the face-morphing feature on Snapchat
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There are many reasons why it would make sense for Apple to focus in that augmented/mixed reality space, not least because, as Tim Cook stated, it encourages interpersonal interaction rather than isolated – and isolating experiences. This is not to say that VR does not present social potential of course, but this connectivity must be deliberately designed into VR, whereas augmented/mixed reality naturally builds upon the environment – and the people around you, using the technology to seamlessly enhance it rather than building an external experience from scratch.

Another factor that makes AR/MR a natural fit for Apple, is the wearable devices that enable this type of technology, which tend to me much more, well, wearable. While VR headsets have so far all materialized as blocky and rather clunky-looking; the HoloLens (and Google Glass before it) are much closer to something you’d actually consider wearing out on the street without being embarrassed (or falling over on your face for that matter). And if anybody could pull off a design to elevate these displays into a must-have fashion accessory, it would most likely be Apple.

Another factor that makes AR/MR a natural fit for Apple, is the wearable devices that enable this type of technology, which tend to me much more, well, wearable
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A look at the range of patents that Apple has filed over the years also provides further indication of how it is actively exploring this space. These include designs for a head-mounted display and a peripheral treatment for head-mounted displays. A 2008 patent application, for example, already described a personal display system, which simulated the experience of being in a movie theater. Similarly another goggle-like video headset allowed for a “personal media viewing experience” where users can watch movies and 3D content, while another head-mounted display system patent describes the use of a “laser engine” used to project images onto a clear glass display worn over the user’s eyes. 2010 and 2012 patents also described the use of motion sensors to create a 3D interface for iOS devices using augmented reality techniques. Apple described the interface as a “virtual room” navigated by manipulating the device orientation through built-in sensors and gestures.

Apple also filed a patent for an augmented reality feature in Maps, which would allow the app to get real-time estimations of the distance between users and various landmarks, as well as to overlay relevant information onto the landscape. There are solid and persistent rumors from credible sources such as Bloomberg that Apple is developing prototypes for smart glasses and a virtual reality headset, both of which are reportedly being worked on by secret teams assembled with high-profile strategic hires from companies such as Oculus and Magic Leap as well as HoloLens. Most recently the company has hired computer science professor Doug Bowman, who previously led the Virginia Tech’s Center for Human-Computer Interaction. He specializes in three-dimensional user interface design and has written a book on the subject covering 3D interfaces and the benefits of immersive virtual environments. He has extensive expertise with both virtual and augmented reality.

If anybody could pull off a design to elevate AR displays into a must-have fashion accessory, it would most likely be Apple
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According to Business Insider, Apple is already working to integrate some AR functionality into the iPhone’s Camera app, yet it is not difficult to see that with the above patents and talent on board, it could bring smart glasses to market that connect wirelessly to your iPhone or Apple Watch, displaying images and overlaid information to the wearer in much the same way as Google Glass and the HoloLens do. Even if these rumors are true though, this would be unlikely to come to market before 2018 at the earliest. In the meantime, however, consumers are becoming hungry for immersive virtual experiences.

This opens up an interesting space for innovative technology start-ups to fill that gap with some out-of-the-box thinking. One such contender is London-based Zappar which has been developing augmented reality content and technology for over four years and recently launched a Kickstarter to develop an Apple-compatible and affordable mixed reality solution. Their crowdfunding campaign, which quickly attracted over 800 backers and far exceeded its $30,000 initial target, proposes to create a cardboard device for $30 that will generate MR experiences using devices such as the iPhone 6

This video see-through approach is an interesting hybrid of a VR-style headset (in that it is fully enclosed) and MR interactivity, afforded by the fact that the phone’s in-built camera functionality is overlaid with a proprietary code that allows it to accurately map the images in relation to where the user is, and to add the holographic 3D elements to that in such a way as feels natural to the user.

Zappar Founder Simon Taylor explains that its technology relies on laying a series of markers – which he calls “pointcodes” around a room to allow the phone’s camera to orient itself accurately and map out the space in 3D. And as his company prepares to ship the ZapBox device by April next year, Taylor believes they can create a healthy ecosystem to produce a broad variety of mixed reality experiences for iPhone users: “Part of the reason we wanted to do the Kickstarter was to create this broad and inclusive ecosystem for mixed reality that is accessible to everyone,” he explains.

Part of the reason we wanted to do the Kickstarter was to create this broad and inclusive ecosystem for mixed reality that is accessible to everyone
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This is precisely the type of technology that could make sense for Apple to incorporate. That would also be in line with the long list of previous acquisitions by the company: These include Israeli start-up PrimeSense – makers of the motion-sensors originally used on Microsoft Kinect – as well as Emotient, Faceshift (the company behind the real-time motion capture technology in Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens) Metaio, who developed an app allowing for the quick and easy creation of AR experiences, and Flyby, which created an app that worked with Google’s 3D sensor-equipped Project Tango to attach messages to real-world objects.

Zappar is in a rather interesting position, in that it could replicate the VR democratization we’ve seen with Google Cardboard for mixed reality, allowing iPhone users to experience MR without investing in additional costly gear. It would certainly makes sense in the context of a longer-term strategy which would prepare the ground for the release of an Apple AR/MR device to compete with the HoloLens, since consumers who have tried such “entry level” experiences are much more likely to upgrade to higher-end ones.

It’s the sort of move that could help Apple catch up in this fast-evolving virtual space, as so far the majority of VR experiences simply to do not integrate with Apple products. Although devices like Google Cardboard are technically capable of working with the iPhone, most of the necessary apps simply aren’t available for the devices, and of course headsets like the Samsung Gear aren’t compatible at all. The Oculus Rift has similar issues, in that software must be specially created for it using the Oculus SDK. This is a problem for Macs because Apple does not prioritize high-end GPUs, and until they implement more powerful graphics cards, that is likely to remain an issue.

Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey went so far as saying that they have no plans to Support the Rift on Macs until Apple “Releases a Good Computer.” Ouch. Given Apple’s history of breakthrough innovation, however, we shouldn’t be surprised if they pull something extraordinary out of their hat soon. And that “one more thing” could very well turn out to be game-changer for AR.

Apple Is Secretly Developing Revolutionary VR & AR Technology, Here’s Everything We Know #applenews https://t.co/H5yOt21yQw via @iDropNews

— iDrop News (@iDropNews) November 30, 2016

For companies looking to get into VR/AR/MR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance on how these technologies can enhance and support your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post The ARple of my i? How Apple Will Get Into Augmented Reality appeared first on Tech Trends.

Personalised healthcare is likely to transform the way we prevent and treat diseases in the future as IoT and Wearables become increasingly pervasive.

Personalised healthcare will transform how we prevent and treat diseases
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With smart monitoring devices already integrating seamlessly into our routines, companies are now looking at the best way to harness the wealth of data that they collect for research purposes.

Tech companies are looking to harness data for research purposes
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Personalised medicine was worth over $1 billion in 2014 and the market is expected to double by 2022
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Apple’s ResearchKit is one such initiative, giving researchers direct access to relevant data for their studies (daily step counts, heart rate, calorie use, etc.) and offering developers an open source framework that integrates seamlessly with HealthKit to allow them to create their own medical research apps.

Apple’s ResearchKit gives researchers direct access to relevant data for their studies
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In the two years since its launch, the kit has already proven useful for clinical trials, with hundreds of thousands of people contributing data for studies ranging from diabetes to epilepsy, melanoma, asthma and breast cancer.

Apple ResearchKit kit has already proven useful for clinical trials
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It’s surprising it took big pharma companies so long to get on board
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It’s somewhat surprising, then, that it has taken big pharma companies so long to get on board. Recently, however, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it was launching a new research app on the platform to help monitor rheumatoid arthritis patients.

GSK’s PARADE (Patient Rheumatoid Arthritis Data from the Real World) study aims to tackle this debilitating disease by learning from patient insights and therapeutic goals. They are currently seeking volunteers (aged over 21 and diagnosed with RA) to monitor their health and share those insights into how RA affects their lives.

A GSK study will collect data from Rheumatoid Arthritis patients using iPhone sensors
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This data will be collected through a mixture of surveys and iPhone sensors which will track common RA symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain and overall mood. The study will not provide diagnosis or treatment, but will allow patients to view their own study data and learn more about their condition.

The PARADE study will track 300 patients over a three-month period
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The study will track 300 patients over a three-month period. GSK believes that collecting data from mobile devices in this way will in future help to alleviate the burden on patients by reducing the need for frequent doctor visits during clinical studies. More broadly, as sensors – and even implants – become increasingly sophisticated, doctors will be able to accurately monitor patient progress continuously and much more efficiently, with minimum intrusion upon their daily routine.

The prospects are exciting, not only from a quality of life perspective, but considering the personalized medicine market was valued at over USD 1 billion in 2014 and is expected to more than double by 2022.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Will Apple’s ResearchKit Be a Game Changer for HealthTech? appeared first on Tech Trends.