It is still January. I have been helping my mother in law recuperate from hip surgery a task for anyone to survive and thrive in ones 80s, but my mom in law is 101 and four months. Her strength of determination to survive this bathroom fall has been an inspiration to all who have come to assist her recover. The new technology is quite amazing, this young surgeon designed the fix on the back of a napkin, which I am sure he has done thousands of time, and as he promised, the surgery took 20 minutes and the fix was completed all she needed was to recover from the shock and medicines for pain. This Christmas miracle began 10 days before Christmas on Sunday morning, and she was out of the hospital in rehab right after Christmas.
So when I visited Consumer Electronic Show (CES) early this month, one of my interests was to find how the wearable technology industry is growing, and what areas are companies focusing on. At CES, what I saw were small companies representing manufactures, primarily from China, designing gadgets to keep track of body functions that could help one get healthy and stay healthy. Some products provided more diagnostics about how your body is moving during some athletic moves and exercise. Also, cool devices that you can wear that are really small computers that are cameras. Polaroid has reinvented themselves by licensing really cool hit stuff and selling it under their great brand. Most of the products take pictures and do things with them that are really very clever and useful. They do have a great tablet for kids, but that is a whole other theme of the CES show. It's getting content to the kids of the world, a fairly untapped market.
Staying on point the following week, right in my own backyard, I perused my interest in wearables by interviewing several golfers at the Humana Challenge, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation's "Health Matters" campaign. President Clinton selected the Coachella Valley as the place to test concepts for the "Health Matters" initiative, which has brought many millions of dollars and a growing recognition that our valley is a leader in reducing obesity and learning to live a healthy lifestyle. A quote from President Clinton on January 16, while answering a question about what he thought about the success of this initiative: "It is better. For one thing, it's been better in two senses. One is, this health care wellness initiative in the Valley itself, has come further and faster than I thought it would."
And he went on to say, "The Valley has supported the whole mission of making this a health based week and moved faster than I thought and the tournament itself has recovered more quickly also."
I agree, and give kudos to the Humana group, who is using technology to get folks to walk more with a pedometer, which they give away at the tournament and many other places, check on line for your free gadget. What a wonderful combination of sports and healthy lifestyle awareness.
So I interviewed a few golfers. First caught up with Brendon Steele on the driving range early on Monday, and asked him what his health routine was to keep in shape for the PGA tour. This guy is tall and lean and, of course, young. What it came down to is that the idea of healthy eating and exercise is a part of training for this up and coming group of golf pros.
Technology has not entered his mind or his trainer's psyche, but they are using video cameras and rangefinder software. I chased down the wonderful and charming Gary Player who is a spokesperson for Humana, to get my information about his training routine. He lifts weights and has for years, which is why he is so trim. Gary shared that his son was diabetic, and how that infliction was such a handicap in this young man's life. The studies that Humana and other have created attribute the explosive growth of Childhood Diabetes to American's terrible eating habits making us overweight from what you eat. He is, and has been, a wonderful role model for global youths; reducing childhood obesity and preventing diabetes is his focus, it was such a pleasure spending time in his company.
At the 18th hole trailer where the golfers sign their score cards, I caught up with Ricky Fowler, a local boy moving up the ladder. I asked him the same question about the use of technology in training and got almost the same answer. Video watching their swing, and using some other software to determine what club for each hole based on the players ability. But Ricky was open to looking at new stuff, and showed us his specially made Puma golf shoes that perfectly hug his foot and in bright orange, his trade mark.
I spoke briefly with Valerie Alexander after the award ceremony and asked the question that I was hoping to get answered; if the Health Matters Clinton Foundation Humana Challenge Golf Tournament with a focus on family and healthy lifestyle is bringing a new audience to golf, primarily women?
I had a great time that week, and it is always very exciting to be in presence of President Clinton.
I see a future with the wearable industry, and there are some incredibly smart folks thinking up new uses and ideas every minute. Someday your clothes will iron themselves, cars will drive you around and you will be wearing a computerized device either in your clothes or under your skin. All this to make us more aware of our bodies, stay on track and enjoy staying healthy. Wasn't GE's old motto, "Making the Future Better Through Technology?" Well we are, here.