Everist Genomics had to cancel their attendance at the WTconference at the last minute, unfortunately. As probably many of you were looking forward to their presentation on the CardioDefender, we did our best to give you some additional information on this project. We had the chance to have an interview with Lori Malm from WIMM Labs – WIMM is the technology platform behind the CardioDefender.
1. What is WIMM Labs? What products do you offer?
Designed by executives from Apple, Intel, Palm, Netflix and Roku, WIMM Labs has taken a fresh approach to the emerging wearable technology category with a robust platform of hardware, software and services that will be licensed to major brands in sports and fitness, health, business, entertainment and fashion.
Our first developer product, the WIMM One Developer Preview, was released in November and is currently available for $199 on www.WIMM.com and Amazon. Housed in a wrist strap, the module with its always-visible, transflective touchscreen, is designed to keep information available at arm’s length with just a quick glance. Pair it to a smartphone and receive discreet call and SMS notifications. Or use it as a fully-connected Wi-Fi enabled computer with a carousel of Android-based Micro Apps that keep critical information available even when your smartphone isn’t nearby. The WIMM One comes with a selection of pre-installed Micro Apps, including: calendar, multi-city world clock and weather, timer and alarm. Since the release of the WIMM One in November, we’ve had over 3,300 developers join our program and in a matter of weeks, we will be launching a Micro App Store and feature new offerings from our community.
2. What wearable applications and devices could be built with your innovative platform? Can the device only communicate with a smartphone or can it also be paired with other devices like a sensor in a chest belt for example?
There are many use cases for the WIMM wearable platform, since it can be used to communicate with external sensors and run Android-based Micro Apps independently. While there’s clearly a strong use case a companion to the smartphone for simple notifications, we also wanted to give people more immediate visibility and control over other connected devices and sensors while on the go. For fitness, an on-board Micro App might track steps, pace, and calories. However, the WIMM module can also pull in data from a Bluetooth heart rate monitor, pushing out a set of instantaneous feedback that is more complete than other single use fitness devices can typically provide.
Command and control has been big for our developer community and two WIMM developer examples of this to date are Unified Remote and Remoter. Unified Remote is a controller for Windows PC that allows you to manage iTunes, YouTube, PowerPoint, Mouse/Keyboard, Spotify, and Windows Media Player. Remoter is a Bluetooth remote for your Android phone that allows you to make calls, tag music mute and un-mute your phone, select Google Music and more.
3. What technologies are built into the device? Can other technologies be added/integrated?
The 32mm x 36mm x 12.5 mm module is the most capable wearable device in its category with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, acelerometer and magnetometer for compass and movement, audible and tactile alerts, and a built in 2GB SD card. The module is water resistant to 30m, connecting to accessories via 14-pin outs on the backside. We released our hardware development kit in November along with our SDK and we envision the module being positioned in many different accessories such as bike mounts, belt clips and pendants.
4. Where did the idea come from? What is your vision for the product?
Back in 2008, Dave Mooring, our founder and CEO, recognized the advent of new technologies that would allow for smaller footprints, low power CPUs, and small high resolution touchscreens to come together into a wearable form factor. After experimenting with a few early prototypes, he set out to realize his vision for a wearable ecosystem of hardware, software and services. WIMM Labs was founded company in August of 2009.
The WIMM Labs technology platform is a part of Everist Genomics’ CardioDefender – the first FDA-approved and CE mark-registered smartphone ECG system to provide physicians and patients with hospital-quality heart rhythm monitoring outside of the hospital setting. The system incorporates several unique capabilities enabling physicians to diagnose and treat potentially life threatening arrhythmias that might otherwise be missed. CardioDefender is the first system to deliver mobile, real-time, beat-by-beat, and quantitative heart monitoring and automated reporting by combining patented analytical smartphone software with a Bluetooth device and electrodes.
