Technology
You'll soon be able to unlock your car - with your phone. Or track your health through your sweat. We've got the scoop on this and more on LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each week, as we explore the latest and greatest. And if you like our podcast, please take a minute to review us on your favorite platform. Now, let’s get to today’s news.Unlock Your Car with Your PhoneApple just released its beta version of iOS 13.4 for developers with a unique, intriguing feature called CarKey. This feature lets you use your iPhone or Apple watch as a key to your vehicle. Lock your keys in the car? No problem with this feature. You can unlock your door without the key. If your car is NFC (Near Field Communication) compatible, you'll be able to set up your smartphone or smartwatch to open your car door. Simply hold the phone or watch up to the reader to unlock the door. Be aware though, you don't need Face ID to use Apple gadgets. This means you can open your door even when the phone's battery is dead. It also means that others may be able to open your door as well. Of course, you need an access code to set up your phone to connect with your car, but as with anything else, you'll want to be careful as to who you share that information with!Charging Station SolutionAnytime I try to plug in my phone, the outlet is full and I'm constantly unplugging something else to free up the outlet. But now there is a solution - The Socket Shelf. It plugs into a standard wall outlet and turns the 2 plug socket into a 6 plug socket. It has 2 USB ports as well and a shelf to set your gadget on while it is charging. No more setting your gadget on the counter or floor. It is a complete charging station and power zone in one, saving you precious space. The socket does have integrated surge suppression to protect your devices and is selling for $24.88Um, There's a wearable for that. . . . Smartwatches are becoming the norm. People wear them every day and use them in numerous ways, from checking the time to tracking their heart rate, to talking on the phone. And now there is a new wearable out there for you - to track your health through your sweat. While not a smartwatch itself, it is similarly worn around your wrist. Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a prototype that uses your sweat to determine your overall health. The wearable could be used for detecting dehydration, athletic recovery, and sports training. The wearable uses a replaceable test strip with chemical sensors to measure the amounts of metabolites present in your sweat. In the initial study, researchers measured four metabolites that could tell them about glucose levels, lactate, pH, and temperature of an individual. Once the data is collected, it is interpreted by hardware inside the device. The information is then routed to your phone, watch, or tablet. The researchers have been able to measure collected data against normal levels to determine the health of the person. For example, if a person's lactate levels are high, it could indicate health problems such as heart failure, sepsis, or liver disease. There are a few issues yet to be worked out with the small device. Because of the size, researchers must be careful that the strips are separated enough to analyze each metabolite separately, without affecting the other data. Also, there are certain metabolites that vary among people, based on their biochemistry and weight. But the initial results are impressive and the research is sound, so the team is now focusing on ways to enhance the product.