Smart trackers are one of the latest innovations in the growing market of wearable and highly portable devices. Intended to help the user track or find items such as keys, critical features include multi-standard wireless connectivity — such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and near field communication (NFC) — as well as reliable sensing and feedback to communicate the devices location. These high levels...

Gaming controllers and peripherals are expected to have fast, accurate controls, reliable haptic feedback, and a long battery life. The nature of these devices means they must also be lightweight, comfortable to hold, and fairly durable. Connectivity options include RF signals, WiFi, Bluetooth, and near field control (NFC), and many controllers and peripherals integrate more than one of these. Oth...

Electronic smart locks are increasing in popularity with the rise of IoT and smart homes, as they provide convenience and a sense of security to consumers. Because they are typically battery-powered, energy efficiency to maximize battery life is crucial. The nature of these devices means they must also offer ease-of-use, stable operation, and the ability to withstand wide temperature ranges and ex...

Air purifiers and humidifiers must be able to reliably improve air quality for end users. The best designs also offer improved energy efficiency, convenience, and low noise. As more and more appliances are expected to be smart-home ready, consumers are demanding new features such as wireless connectivity for ease of control. To meet and exceed customer expectations, designers are challenged with f...

Drone remote controllers must be able to offer consumers the precise, reliable control of drones and multicopters without hindering speed, navigation, or flight time. Wireless connectivity, as well as fast data processing and communication across a broad transmission distance, are crucial to ensure proper control and safety. Many new designs also feature LCD or LED interfaces, or even smartphone c...

Handheld thermometers provide a direct method for measuring personal body temperature. Contactless thermometers are crucial for cases in which measurements must be taken while minimizing the spread of viral and bacteria contaminants. This allows users in clinical settings, as well as homes and businesses, to get instant results while minimizing contaminant propagation. These portable devices requi...

Network-attached storage (NAS) is a data storage option that is quickly growing in popularity. A NAS system is a centralized storage server that is connected to a network and able to be accessed by any authorized user within the network. These systems provide convenience and flexibility by being able to be physically stored and maintained on-site, as well as the ability to have their storage scale...

Fitness machines can be a key component of medical treatment and physical wellness. State-of-the-art medical systems often include next-generation user interfaces, real-time sensing and biometrics, and multi-standard connectivity. With growing concerns about the price of healthcare, reliability and cost are also crucial factors for customers. And of course, to help enhance the abilities of healthc...

Ovens are a key household appliance, and one which consumers expect to be reliable, effective, convenient, and energy efficient. The rise of smart homes has added a new layer of design requirements to new generations of ovens, including durable and intuitive user interfaces, wireless connectivity, smart sensing, and predictive maintenance. IoT capabilities can help keep up with growing consumer ex...

Portable printers are incorporating more features into a small, lightweight packages. New designs are expected to include easier wireless connectivity, support for multiple input types, easy-to-use interfaces, and longer battery runtime. These printers must be able to quickly print high-quality renditions of documents or photos, as well as keep up with energy-saving trends that have increased the ...

Wearable fitness and activity monitors compose a sizeable portion of the growing wearables market. These small devices provide consumers a highly convenient option to track and monitor health information, send and receive notifications, and more. They can be worn on the wrist or clipped to a belt, and typically offer multi-standard wireless connectivity — from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to cellular baseb...

E-scooters have quickly risen in popularity in metropolitan areas and quickly growing cities. Lightweight, eco-friendly, and convenient, these e-scooters are two-wheeled battery-operated vehicles that integrate an electric motor and a controller that assists with increased propulsion. Of course, safety, performance, and cost are the greatest concerns for customers in any vehicle. In addition, new ...

Smart speakers are a growing market as end consumers expect more connectivity than ever in their day-to-day environments, and increasingly feature-rich devices available. Of course, any new speaker is expected to maintain exceptional audio quality, low standby power for extended playtime, and offer complete ease-of-use to the consumer. Smart speakers also integrate new features like voice command,...

Electrocardiogram (ECG, or EKG) devices measure heart rate based on electrical activity. This key piece of medical equipment is used in home, first responder, and clinical settings. New ECG designs are incorporating additional features such as wireless connectivity and innovative user interfaces. These devices are under a constant need to deliver highly accurate, reliable performance with reduced ...

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets and glasses are an increasingly popular wearable application that allows users to immerse themselves in a holistic audiovisual experience. The nature of these wearable devices means they must be lightweight, comfortable, and fairly durable as well as responsive to multi-sensory feedback and haptics. New designs are expected to offer longer b...

Smoke and heat detectors are a key aspect of safety in smart homes and other residential and industrial applications. Designed to monitor and alert occupants of danger, these safety devices must above all be reliable and accurate, with battery lifespans lasting multiple years and convenient use. In addition, demand is increasing for detectors that can accurately discern between real and nuisance s...

Gas detectors are a key aspect of safety in smart homes and other residential and industrial applications. Designed to monitor and alert occupants of high levels of toxic or combustible gases, these safety devices must above all be reliable and accurate, with battery lifespans lasting multiple years and convenient use. As the smart home market continues to grow and consumers seek for all aspects o...

RF remote controls are being used for more and more control systems, including televisions, sound systems, lighting, and other home environment controls. Because these remotes transmit their signals using radio frequency (RF), they do not need to be operated within line of sight of the device they are controlling. Other advanced features — such as voice control, capacitive touch and haptic feedbac...

Headphones and earbuds are following the trend of other portable electronics adding more features and increased connectivity into smaller solution sizes. New headphone and earbud designs prioritize wireless connectivity and smart features, along with long battery life for maximum use time. Next-generation hearables are gaining mass market appeal offer exceptionally complex features, such as biosen...

Thermal imaging cameras sense and display infrared radiation as visible light, and many are designed to withstand extreme conditions such as high heat, dust, and smoke. These devices need to offer high performance and long battery life amid varying environments. Above all, they need to be reliable, as they are used in applications from examining electrical equipment to dangerous first-responder em...

Docking stations offer a convenient way to plug in a laptop to common peripherals, such as DVI, COM, USB, and Ethernet — all with one connection. Typically, docking stations are made for a particular computer module, and offer different docking styles that allow a laptop computer to act like a desktop computer. With an increasing need for more peripherals and more complicated laptops, power design...

Video doorbells have become a popular element within many smart home systems, and provide convenience and a sense of security to consumers. As both home systems and video doorbell designs get smarter and more advanced, new features are being incorporated. Innovative video doorbells now include high-quality audio and video streaming, wireless connectivity, multiple-device interface capability, adva...