innovations
magazine
28
0
i
4
i
Office workers on large campuses could save time and effort by
moving around on an AirWheel. The self-balancing unicycle is
controlled by body movement: lean forwards to move off; lean back
to slow down or go into reverse; and lean to the side to steer. For
safety, power cuts off automatically as soon as the user dismounts.
AirWheel is waterproof and has a rechargeable battery providing up
to 28 miles of constant use from a single charge. There are seven
models to choose from, with prices ranging from £495 to £799
depending on battery and engine size.
Olympus has
expanded its range of
voice recorders with a
new model designed
for business people
with impaired eyesight
or reading disabilities,
such as dyslexia.
Part of the Olympus
Assistive Technology
range, the Olympus
DM-7 Linear PCM voice
recorder boasts a
number of useful features, including:
n
Built-inWi-Fi so that users can connect the
recorder to a PC, tablet or smartphone and
start and stop recordings remotely. It also
enables wireless file transfers using the free
iOS/Android app;
n
A Visual Index that allows photos taken with
a smartphone or tablet PC to be linked to
specific sections of a voice file to highlight
important parts of recordings;
n
A Voice Command and Voice Guide that
enables users to access and control menus
and sub-menus using voice commands
rather than having to read and scroll through
menus; and
n
Daisy compatibility and Text to Speech
functionality that enables the recorder to
read audio books and documents out loud.
For ease of operation, the DM-7 has a high
contrast 2in colour LCD; an improved menu
structure and icon-based Home Screen; and
dedicated buttons for Home screen, Recording
Scene and Volume. There are also three
customisable buttons directly below the LCD.
For optimum recording quality, it has a low-
noise, high-sensitivity microphone and a Zoom
Microphone mode that uses directional control
technology to record a speaker clearly even
when there is background noise.
Recordings can be saved in the 4GB internal
memory as MP3 or WMA files, or even in 48kHz
/16bit Linear PCM format for better-than-CD
results. Additional storage up to 64GB can be
added via the SD card slot.
Battery-powered unicycle
Power rangers
PNY has expanded its range of
mobile PowerPacks with cable-
free Direct Connect models
featuring built-in connectors that
sit flush against the bottom of an
Apple or Android device. Both the
Direct Connect Micro-USB 2200
(£17.99) and the Direct Connect
Lightning 2200 (£26.99) extend
the life of a smartphone by up to
one full charge. An LED battery
level indicator shows when the
PowerPack needs recharging.
Mous solves knotty problem
The Mous Musicase case resolves the knotty problem
of how to carry and store earphones without tangles
or damage. Designed for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 6,
it protects your earphones and ensures you always
have them with you when you need them without
adding too much bulk to the phone itself. A small
winding mechanism makes it easy to pull out as
much cable as you need and then wind it back in
when the earphones are no longer needed. Mous is
due to launch on Kickstarter at the end of October.
Have cable will travel
Meeting the charging and syncing
needs of today’s mobile workers,
Nomad has launched a selection
of USB/smartphone cables that
you can keep with you at all times.
These include the credit card-sized
NomadCard for your wallet and the
NomadClip and NomadKey for your
key-ring.
In Brief
Translation on tap
Thebigword has launched a 24/7
online translation service with a quick
turnaround time of less than two hours
for jobs of fewer than 1,000 words. Ideal
for everyday projects such as social
media, blogs and articles, OnDemand
Translation uses experienced linguists
– humans not machines – and provides
visibility of job progress. For larger or
more complex requirements, thebigword
offers a Bespoke Translation service.
Online leasing
To make it easier for small and
medium-sized businesses to acquire the
technology they need, Toshiba is offering
online finance packages for its new
laptops, including the premium Z-series.
The 24- or 36-month lease agreements
are offered by Shire Leasing through its
fully automated Click2Finance platform,
which manages the whole process from
online credit approval to the e-signature
of leasing documents and online delivery
confirmation.
Tablet pain relief
BakkerElkhuizen has expanded its range
of ergonomic computer accessories with
a portable TabletRiser that lets people
use tablets for long periods without
discomfort in the back, neck or shoulders.
Suitable for all makes of tablet from 9.7
to 10.2 inches in size, the TabletRiser lets
you set the optimum height and angle
of the screen. It is made from anodised
aluminium and weighs 700grams.
Voice recorder
with assistive
technology
built-in
