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April 5, 2020
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How tech helps people help themselves
Ayesha Reza Rafiq is understandably relieved
Rather than handing out money and gifts to the homeless, the charity organisation Beam has come up with a novel way to help the helpless in a sustainable and effective manner. Instead of donating cash or goods, a gift card issued by Beam enables donors to help a homeless person gain employment.
Beam aims to help people to enter the workforce by offering training and support through tailored career plans, which take into account personal interests and strengths. The purchase of gift cards from Bean helps fund their journey into employment. Donors can read through the profiles of people seeking funding. These profiles contain personal information and financial assistance requirements for the likes of training, transport, childcare etc., which would initially enable them to enter the workforce.All donations go directly to the person selected and the beneficiary in turn provides regular progress updates to the donor.
A Czech company has designed an open headset that rests comfortably outside a wearer’s ear while directing sound to the inner ear. This is a more comfortable and intuitive way to interact with devices throughout the day, rather than having earphones or ear pods stuck in your ears all day.
Unlike traditional earphones that block outside sound and focus on sounds emanating from the headphones, Sentien Audio earphones are designed in a way that allows users to interface with devices as well as the world around them simultaneously.
The earphone rests on the cheek in front of the ear and uses bone conduction technology to conduct sound through the facial bones to the inner ear. These earphones are the first to offer a seamless interface with a variety of devices, rather than having to switch from one to the other continuously.
Uneven pigmentation – especially on the face – is one of the most challenging skincare issues facing the beauty industry today. The Opté Precision Skincare System gives users the appearance of flawless skin by printing mineral pigments over blemishes to even out skin tone.
Matching up to 98 percent of skin tones, the Opté wand uses LEDs to scan the face for discolouration caused by various conditions such as acne scars, age spots and so on. It captures around 24,000 images through the scan, which are analysed by an inbuilt minicomputer with the minutest of details of each blemish analysed and calculated.
The wand then uses over 100 micro inkjet nozzles to deposit the Opté serum onto the skin and cover up blemishes, reduce the appearance of age spots and also moisturise.
Opté heralds the debut of digital skincare with a multitude of possibilities that range from eliminating the need for foundation to adapting the technology to print costume makeup onto the skin.
The challenges faced by people who are differently-abled are multifaceted and numerous. The most routine and mundane tasks can pose many challenges to the disabled, and require a great deal of manoeuvring.
With tasks as routine as getting dressed posing a challenge to some, US retailer Intimately has designed intimate wear to fit the needs of women of all shapes, sizes and abilities.
For those who find it difficult to deal with the straps, clasps and designs of conventional underwear, Intimately offers a range of options. These include side clasp panties that eliminate the need to bend over fully, bras designed for those with mastectomies, magnetic fasteners and so on.
These intimates come in a range of sleek and stylish designs; and for the first time, women can purchase intimate wear that offers more options, as well as enjoy feeling sexy and empowered.
