EAST AURORA, NY — Fisher-Price unveils a new lineup of “mini-me” and role-play items that turn every day grown-up activities into, well, toys. This collection features a number of actions that kids are seeing the adults in their lives do now more than ever. Highlights include:
My Home Office Set – As many parents and caregivers across the country are continuing to work from home (WFH), this preschool role-play set enables kids to do the same. The new toy features a laptop with four fabric “apps,” a smartphone, a headset for calls and, of course, a coffee cup.
Baby Biceps™ Gift Set – Parents and caregivers aren’t just working from home these days; they are working out from home as well. Now, babies can take part in the fitness fun with a gym-themed set that pumps up playtime.
Cutest Chef™ Gift Set – And, as parents and caregivers are perfecting their home chef skills, babies can also get involved in the “cooking.” The Cutest Chef Gift Set includes a crinkle recipe card, play tongs with a meatball spinner, a chewy oven mitt teether and a wearable chef’s apron bib.
Our designers created these toys based on some of the most popular themes in social media, including #food and #fitness. And, speaking of popular hashtags, we also recently introduced a Tiny Tourist™ Gift Set perfect for family #staycations.
These new releases also build on previously introduced “mini-me” and role-play items including a pizza teether, a coffee cup teether, a Taco Tuesday™ set, a Rice ‘n Roll Sushi set, a charcuterie set and a home garden set, to name a few.
Our new “mini-me” and role-play toys are the latest example of how we are delivering on our promise to create playful connections between children and the grown-ups in their lives. And, there is so much more to come.
At Fisher-Price®, we’ve always been focused on making playtime more fun by infusing surprising and playful elements into our toys. In the infant and preschool categories especially, we have deliberately focused on introducing toys that get parents and caregivers laughing, too.
— By Chuck Scothon, Senior Vice President of Fisher-Price and Global Head of Infant and Preschool, Mattel
LAS VEGAS, NV — Commerce, our cultural and geopolitical interchange of relationships, solutions, and services, soon will embrace fifth generation (5G) wireless technologies. With 5G, data, processing, storage, and new sensory techniqueswill leverage information technology (IT) across new frameworks and unprecedented infrastructures..
Now in its 45th year, National BDPA (BDPA), its members, and its mission-partners remain keenly interested in providing innovative solutions with new services, while supporting viable workforce pipelines for the following projected growth areas:
Robotics and Machine Intelligence
5G, Ai, and the Internet (or “Intelligence”) of Things (IoT)
Edge Computing and Quantum Computing
Gamification and Immersive Infotainment
Infrastructure and SMART City Initiatives
Tech-Inclusion and Cyber Workforce Development
This year during CES® – the world’s largest and most influential tech event – entrepreneurs, software engineers, startups, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) met during CES 2020 to discuss emerging requirements or demonstrate their latest products and services. Within tech’s multi-trillion dollar ecosystem, IT continues to transcend every vertical market from agriculture to transportation while providing faster interactions with the greatest consumer engagements and user experience (UX.) BDPA Members and mission-partners are the professionals that help make “IT” happen.
Meet Rodney Williams
In 2012, Rodney Williams co-founded LISNR® with Chris Ostoich and Josh Glick around the core premise that sound can do more. The single insight that sound can be leveraged as a conduit for wide-scale connections everywhere. More specifically, using sound to connect more people and devices in ways that had never existed before.
Since arriving at that insight, LISNR has grown into the world’s most advanced ultrasonic technology. To fill the need, LISNR developed the idea of a software solution for encoding data into inaudible tones. LISNR is ultrasonic inaudible technology; a communication protocol that sends data over audio. They use ultrasonic audio called Smart Tones™ to transmit information and has grown their list of partners, clients and investors to include some of the best in the world.
Mr. Williams earned his BBA in Finance from West Virginia University and his MBA from Howard University. He is a Techstars Mentor and Member of National BDPA’s Cincinnati Chapter. BDPA Members with Python, Java, or Objective-C experiences may review LISNR’s current openings for Implementation Engineers, by visiting LISNR.com.
BDPA and bdpatoday received invitations from LISNR’s team to join them during CES 2020 at a reception hosted by the GENIVI Alliance. The alliance develops standard approaches for integrating operating systems and middleware present in the centralized and connected vehicle cockpit. The alliance also links adopters of Android™ Automotive, AUTOSAR, Linux, and other in-vehicle software with solution suppliers resulting in a productive and collaborative community of over 100 corporate members worldwide.
Meet Brenna Brown
At Igalia, Ms. Brown works in the most exciting areas in open source software, including Browsers, Graphics and Multimedia. Igalia applies their knowledge to a wide variety of platforms and technologies in the consumer electronics market and can provide our companies and agencies with innovative user-interface (UI) solutions for Smart TVs, set-top boxes, tablets, mobile phones, in-vehicle infotainment, and smart-home automation.
Ms. Brown earned her BSEE from Howard University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Igalia is hiring, BDPA Members and BDPA Student Members are asked to reach out to Ms. Brown for entry-level or internship opportunities. She wants to hear from BDPA’s Jr. Devs, High School Computer Competition (HSCC) alumni, and professionals who understand Linux and OpenGL with WebKit or WebRTC on their latest resume.
Mr. Lane is an Accessibility Consultant working with game developers and consumer technology companies help meet the needs ofthe disabled user. Mr. Lane also is a Bureau Chief and Multimedia Host in the Greater Los Angeles area covering tech, gaming and entertainment for ABC News Radio, KMET 1490 AM. Being a person with a disability, he uses his personal experiences to try to make sure he speaks to everyone with topics that he covers.
Each year during CES, Mr. Lane looks forward to his live broadcasts. At CES 2020 this week, he was able to join his pal Dr. Stephen Ewell (photo) from the Consumer Technology Association Foundation to discuss their amazing initiatives and accomplishments.
Above (L-R) ABC News Radio, KMET 1490 AM, Bureau Chief Paul Amadeus Lane with CTA Foundation’s Dr. Stephen Ewell in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall media center during CES 2020.
Meet Dr. Karl Reid
Dr. Karl Reid is the Executive Director of our National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), one of the world’s largest student-governed engineering organizations. He also is the author of “Working Smarter, Not Just Harder: Three Sensible Strategies for Succeeding in College…and Life.” Prior to joining NSBE, Dr. Reid was Senior Vice President of Research, Innovation and Member College Engagement at UNCF where he developed and implemented educational, research and capacity-building programs for UNCF’s 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Dr. Reid arrived at UNCF from MIT after serving as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Assistant to the Chancellor for Diversity and Director of the Office of Minority Education.
Dr. Reid attended several workshops with Industry leaders and BDPA Mission Partners from around the world during CES 2020. BDPA Student Members interested in supporting NSBE Jr. activities or joining a NSBE Chapter are invited to visit NSBE.org. BDPA, NSBE, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) will continue to support the establishment of new BDPA Chapters collocated with HBCU/MIs and Community Colleges.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® convenes companies of every size and specialty in the technology industry to move us all forward. Located outside of Washington, D.C. in Arlington, VA, CTA is the trade association representing the $398 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs.
Powered by CTA, CES formally known as the Consumer Electronics Show, is the world’s gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. BDPA Chapters, BDPA Members, and BDPA Student Members attending next year’s “trade mission” to CES 2021 may contact National BDPA or National BDPA’s Washington, D.C. Chapter to arrange meet-ups or attend special Industry Partner events.
BDPA is a community oriented tech and media “trade” association. Join, renew, or launch a new BDPA Chapter on campus today by visiting BDPA.org and bdpatoday.com.
— Sources and photos: ABC News Radio/KMET, BDPA, CTA, Igalia, LISNR, and NSBE
LAS VEGAS, NV — This week, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) released a unique digital health paper recommending best practices for using wearable technology to manage personal health, including detecting and monitoring cardiovascular biometrics. Presented for the first time during a panel at CES® 2020 – the world’s largest, most influential tech event – this paper provides consumer guidance on understanding devices and managing their personal health data.
“The collaboration between HRS and CTA is timely and important for both consumers and clinicians,” said Dr. Andrea Russo, president, HRS. “Chronic diseases are increasing in prevalence and wearables help people monitor their health to aid in earlier diagnosis and better management of their conditions; furthermore, they provide information to the user that fosters a healthier lifestyle.”
“Digital health is changing lives for the better – providing more personalized care, delivering better outcomes and lowering costs,” said Rene Quashie, VP of digital health, CTA. “Wearable solutions are one of the fastest growing sectors in technology. And as more consumers capture personal health information, a cross industry-created guidance document has never been more important to provide clarity on the potential health and wellness benefits of wearables.”
The CTA/HRS Guidance for Wearable Health Solutions paper includes an overview of the wearables landscape and offers advice for consumers on using wearables. A FAQ section tackles topics including data management, when to call a doctor, sharing data with a health provider, data privacy and security policies.
Developed and reviewed by physicians, patient advocates, technology companies and health care organizations, CTA and HRS created these guidelines to answer common questions for consumers that currently own – or want to own – wearables that capture personal health information. The best practices were presented at the Disruptive Innovations in Health Care conference track at CES.
Dr. Nassir Marrouche, lead author of the paper, added, “in this document we aimed to highlight this new intersection between consumer tech and health. We want people to be aware of what these wearables have to offer, how they can increase knowledge about one’s health, and how clinicians are optimistic about the data wearables can deliver.”
According to recent data, CTA projects total sales of digital health devices in the U.S. – such as smartwatches, fitness trackers and blood pressure monitors – will reach $10 billion in revenue in 2020 (up by 16% over last year).
The Health & Wellness category at CES 2020 will have over 20% more exhibitors and 15% more exhibitor space than CES 2019, with notable exhibitors such as Abbott, Cigna, Humana, Omron Healthcare, Myant, Philips and Procter & Gamble.
To download the CTA/HRS Guidance for Wearable Health Solutions document, visit CTA.tech.
NBA players’ union plays matchmaker with its athletes and Silicon Valley for more than beefing up portfolios
by KC Ifeanyi
NEW YORK, NY – The National Basketball Players Association announced today it will hold the inaugural NBPA Technology Summit from July 19-21 in San Francisco.
The NBPA Technology Summit will provide current and former NBA players with the following:
Educational content and presentations from executives of major media and technology companies;
Site visits to several media and technology companies in Silicon Valley;
Networking opportunities with senior executives and influencers;
Workshops designed to identify opportunities for players to pursue both during and after their NBA careers.
Among the participating companies are Andreessen Horowitz, Jawbone and SV Angel.
This three-day event in San Francisco that aims to integrate NBA players with tech and media companies for post-career opportunities beyond just backing them—a shift in thinking that’s found Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (top photo) as a model student.
The NBPA Technology Summit will incorporate site visits to media and tech companies, as well as lectures, presentations, and workshops from executives and influencers. Jawbone, Pinterest, Andreessen Horowitz, and SV Angel are just a few companies on deck to help NBA players find their place in Silicon Valley—and one place the NBPA feels is particularly apt for athletes is wearable technology. Read more…
Sources: NBPA and FastCompany.com
Under Armour launched UA Record during CES 2015, a health and fitness network for new wearable apps dedicated to helping users lead healthier lives. Photo courtesy, Under Armour.
D.C. firm captures largest tech startup funding in the history of Shark Tank
WASHINGTON—Two 40-something entrepreneurs recently received the largest tech startup funding in the history of the ABC television show Shark Tank. They received $1.5 million in funding for their product, an interactive fitness app called Sworkit (which stands for “simply work it”), which provides customizable and personalized video workouts.
Not the techie types
Sworkit co-founders are CEO Ben Young and COO Gregory Coleman. They readily admit they don’t fit the pattern of the typical Silicon Valley techies, but what they do have is a unique product that received the Washington D.C. TechDay Techie Award for Best in Health Tech in 2014. A recent fitness research study by the University of Florida also gave Sworkit the highest ranking when compared to other fitness apps on the market. A $1.5 million deal
The two owners received a deal from shark Mark Cuban of $1.5 million for 10 percent stake in their company. Both are big fans of the show and were thrilled to be invited to appear to pitch their business. Coleman stated, “We are looking forward to working with [Cuban] and learning from him while together helping Sworkit become the leading platform people turn to fitness.”
Their business goal is to be “the leading global standard for all instructional exercise.” Their Washington D.C.-based company was well on their way prior to the Shark Tank appearance. Their product earned over 10 million downloads. But they are hoping their exposure on Shark Tank will take them to greater levels.
These new releases also build on previously introduced “mini-me” and role-play items including a pizza teether, a coffee cup teether, a Taco Tuesday™ set, a Rice ‘n Roll Sushi set, a charcuterie set and a home garden set, to name a few.
At Igalia, Ms. Brown works in the most exciting areas in open source software, including Browsers, Graphics and Multimedia. Igalia applies their knowledge to a wide variety of platforms and technologies in the consumer electronics market and can provide our companies and agencies with innovative user-interface (UI) solutions for Smart TVs, set-top boxes, tablets, mobile phones, in-vehicle infotainment, and smart-home automation.
Mr. Lane is an Accessibility Consultant working with game developers and consumer technology companies help meet the needs of
Dr. Karl Reid is the Executive Director of our National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), one of the world’s largest student-governed engineering organizations. He also is the author of “Working Smarter, Not Just Harder: Three Sensible Strategies for Succeeding in College…and Life.” Prior to joining NSBE, Dr. Reid was Senior Vice President of Research, Innovation and Member College Engagement at UNCF where he developed and implemented educational, research and capacity-building programs for UNCF’s 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Dr. Reid arrived at UNCF from MIT after serving as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Assistant to the Chancellor for Diversity and Director of the Office of Minority Education.
