This week in wearables: Under Armour acquisitions, a Casio smartwatch, and Army robotic exoskeleton

July 11, 2015
Written By Allie Quill

Hot gadgets — and a healthy dose of hot drama — hit the wearables industry this week. We’ve got you covered on what you need to know.

1. The last time you had a Casio watch, you probably used it as a calculator or, if you were lucky, as a TV remote. Casio is jumping back into the spotlight with a new smartwatch. President Kazuhiro Kashio is aiming for this watch to be a timepiece first and will let the “smart” features fall in place second.

2. Under Armour continues to make big purchases with the recent acquisition of fitness search engine, Gritness. Since UA opened another headquarters in Austin, Texas, Under Armour has bought up major startups in the area. It’s only a matter of time before we start seeing some of these Central Texas companies integrated into our favorite Under Armour products and technology.

3. The U.S. Army developed a robotic exoskeleton to help soldiers stabilize their shooting arms. The Mobile Arm eXoskeleton for Firearm Aim Stabilization, or MAXFAS, gives the arm full mobility while steadying the arm during aim and fire. Without tremors, looks like soldiers could hit the bullseye every time.

4. What if wearables could do more than just relay data? Environmental designer, Neri Oxman, attempts to answer that question by developing wearable devices that can reproduce biological functions. Through a complicated process of synthetic microorganisms and 3D printing, Oxman hopes to develop a line of devices to create calcium for bones, create skin, and even act as a full body system.

5. Heath tech company Owaves might have just made a “killer app.” Wellness GPS is a new app that pairs with smartwatches to help users plan every part of their day on a 24-hour calendar. From exercising to napping and eating, Wellness GPS is different because it was created “to help you prioritize these life-sustaining activities alongside traditional work and errands,” according to CEO, Royan Kamyar.

6. As the saying goes, third time’s a charm for Jawbone, who filed another lawsuit against Fitbit. Jawbone continues its argument that Fitbit stole company secrets by nabbing certain employees and wants to see Fitbit banned from importing company products into the country. While Jawbone continues to throw legal papers, Fitbit continues to cruise to the top of the market.