Scientists have developed elastic microlattice pads that can withstand both single hits and a series of impacts better than existing state-of-the-art foams used in football helmets. Their research suggests that the material may pave the way for helmets that better protect football players and other athletes from brain injuries caused by repeated head hits.

A smart contact lens with a rechargeable supercapacitor power source that can be charged up wirelessly could be used to track a wearer's health, without compromising on comfort.

Graphene coated with nanoparticles has been used to make wearable light sensors that measure the human pulse and blood oxygen levels from ambient light passing through tissue, offering a potential platform for health-care monitoring.

Our use of battery-operated devices and appliances has been increasing steadily, bringing with it the need for safe, efficient, and high-performing power sources. To this end, a type of electrical energy storage device called the supercapacitor has recently begun to be considered as a feasible, and sometimes even better, alternative to conventional widely used energy-storage devices such as Li-ion batteries.

At the IDTechEx Show! USA 2019, in Santa Clara, there was a panel discussion on "Women in STEM". This article summarizes the key topics and points from the discussion.

A pioneering pair of glasses fitted with a biosensor could provide an alternative way to test blood glucose levels for people with diabetes.

Computer scientists have created a device for wearable computer input suitable for many situations, just by touching your fingertips together in different ways.

New Product - Creative Materials Inc introduces GPC 251A/B2612, a two-component 100-percent solids silver-filled conductive epoxy adhesive.

Researchers from multiple disciplines are working together to develop bioelectronics that can detect diseases, treat cancers and track marine animals; they may even discover the next generation of computing systems.

Technologies, companies & lessons learned

Engineers have made a breathable material that is both highly stretchable and has good electrical conductivity, making it promising for on-skin electronics for people and wiring for robots.

A smart knee bandage supports arthrosis patients in determining the right amount of daily exercise. All relevant data on the strains of the joints are collected and transferred to the patient's mobile phone.

As developers' understanding of this disease grows, so will the range of devices at their disposal to address it. They have only scratched the surface of how technology can improve CVD patients' lives and, as they dig deeper, they will continue to unlock the potential of this growing market.

MEDICA is the world's largest medical trade fair, held once a year in Messe Düsseldorf, Germany. IDTechEx analysts Nadia Tsao and Ivan De Backer attended MEDICA 2019, held over 18-21 November 2019. A record-breaking 5500 exhibitors were at MEDICA 2019, along with 121,000 trade visitors over the 4 days.

Wood fibres are being used by researchers to create a new class of stronger and lower-cost electrodes for even lighter and long-lasting flexible electronics and wearables.

In a new paper researchers describe a mass-producible wearable sensor that can monitor levels of metabolites and nutrients in a person's blood by analyzing their sweat. Previously developed sweat sensors mostly target compounds that appear in high concentrations, such as electrolytes, glucose, and lactate. Gao's sweat sensor is more sensitive than current devices and can detect sweat compounds of much lower concentrations, in addition to being easier to manufacture, the researchers say.

People with diabetes would benefit from using wearable glucose monitors - according to new research.

At the IDTechEx Show! USA 2019, in Santa Clara, there was a panel discussion on "Women in STEM". This article summarizes the key topics and points from the discussion.

When it comes to electronics, bigger usually isn't better. This is especially true for a new generation of wearable communication systems that promise to connect people, machines and other objects in a wireless "internet of things." To make the devices small and comfortable enough to wear, scientists need to miniaturize their components.