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C o n s u m e r E l e c t ro n i c s D a i l y N e ws 7 3 W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 7 , 2 0 1 5 TURNING STICKS INTO ELECTRICITY: HOW BIOLITE IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LOOK AT ENERGY What if you could cook a meal with just a handful of sticks? That would be impressive. What if you could do that and gen- erate electricity to charge devices? That would be game-changing. That's what BioLite Co-Founders Jonathan Cedar and Alec Drummond set out to accomplish back in 2006. Originally a nights and weekends proj- ect, the team sought out a way to replace gas canisters on their camping trips and return to the art of cooking over wood, but in a highly efficient way. Fast for- ward to 2012 with the launch of the BioLite CampStove, a portable wood- burning camping stove that generates electricity from the heat of its fire. The flagship product has gone on to receive numerous awards and great commercial success. A larger version, The BioLite BaseCamp, was launched on Kickstarter in 2014, and is now one of the top 100 Kickstarter campaigns of all time. It gets better – not only did its core thermoelectric technology have an impact on the outdoor recreation catego- ry, but that same technology has been put to use in emerging markets with an opportunity for dramatic impact. Nearly half the planet still cooks on smoky open fires, leading to climate change and four million premature deaths annu- ally. With the introduction of the BioLite HomeStove, BioLite's emerg- ing markets counterpart to the CampStove, users can reduce emissions by up to 90 percent, fuel consump- tion by 50 percent, and generate enough electrici- ty to power mobile phones or LED lights. So what is a stove company doing at the 2015 International CES ® ? "Many people know us for our breakthrough stoves, but ultimately that is just one dimension of BioLite and our vision to bring Energy Everywhere," said BioLite Co-Founder and CEO Jonathan Cedar. "We are committed to designing off-grid technologies that pro- vide you with the energy you need to feel safe, productive, and connected – the things we often take for granted in indoor, electrified environments." Let's rephrase – what is an energy company doing at CES? Its here to share some news: you know it for its fire, get to know it for its light. BioLite is proud to debut the BioLite NanoGrid: a complete system of compact, rechargeable lighting and power. Anchored by the PowerLight, a 3-in-1 USB powerbank, lantern and torch, the NanoGrid is BioLite's bold entry into the lighting space. "We wanted to create a solution that empowers the user to direct where their energy goes," said Cedar. "Through thoughtful industrial and soft- ware design, you can light a variety of tasks and environments as well as charge personal devices whenever you need it – it's up to you, nothing is trapped inside the device." Visit BioLite at booth #75617. For more information, go to www.biolitestove.com or email sales@biolitestove.com. TECHSLINGER CRADLES DEVICES LIKE PRECIOUS CARGO If you've ever woken up at night thinking about what happens to your company's data when a sales associate, restaurant server or surgeon loses a mobile device, you'll want to stop by and see Techslinger in booth #6635 for a cost-effective solu- tion to help prevent the losses before any more data escapes. "This year at International CES ® , we'll be talking about the use of Techslinger devices to handle mobile devices that are larger than your pocket but are too small to go into your mes- senger bag by themselves. These include your phablets, your e-readers, your iPads," says company President Nathan Crawford. "The problem is not so much the loss of the device itself but the loss of the proprietary data that's stored on those devices as well as pri- vacy-protected data that belongs to your clients. Charts and health records are a big issue." "We were inspired to develop our TechSling products because we were hearing from doctors that they were leav- ing tablets with private information on them behind at patients' bedsides," Crawford continued. "They asked for a way to carry those devices under their lab coats so that they wouldn't get lost but they also wouldn't be in the way during rounds." Techslinger's flagship product is the TechSling, a load-bearing rig based on a military design that goes back hundreds of years. It's a balanced product that allows for equal weight on both sides of the body, so that it's in line with the wearer's body with no pressure points, and it's comfortable to carry the devices around all day long. It's tucked away and protect- ed, but it's also accessible whenever it's needed. "It won't change your silhouette or pull your whole body out of alignment. You know you've got the Tech Sling right when you lose your iPad on your body," Crawford said. "My goal was to achieve absolute comfort without changing your appear- ance." Techslinger also offers messenger bag-style slings that work well for stu- dents as well as for point-of-sale pur- poses, which would include restaurant servers as well as retail associates. Specifically for restaurants, Techslinger offers a model that includes a plastic cover to resist dam- age from wet hands or spillage as well as a model that doesn't have the plastic cover and presents a more upscale appearance. The last product of the line is known as the Sling Solo, which is a messenger-style that holds a tablet and phone on the same side. Popular with mass transit com- muters, the design keeps all the tech together, so it's more protected from "Apple-picking" theft in a crowded bus or train. "People steal them from back- packs and purses, but the Tech Sling Solo keeps the technology close but hides it out of the way," Crawford says. "We like to say that your Tech Sling lets you have your technology close, but out of the way." Visit Techslinger in booth #6635. For more information, visit www .techslinger.com. HOCOMA CHANGES THE GAME IN AT-HOME BACK TRAINING WITH INTRODUCTION OF VALEDO Eight out of 10 people will be affected by back pain at some point during their lives. Many sufferers struggle for years to find relief, but treatment options often only provide short-term relief, or in the case of pain medication, carry the risk of serious side effects. Now, thanks to Hocoma, a leader in the development of robotic and sensor- based medical devices for functional movement therapy, consumers have a new way to improve and sustain low back health in the comfort of their own home. Hocoma is introducing Valedo ® – rated one of the Top 30 devices in the wearable healthcare market by Soreon Research and a 2015 CES ® Innovation Awards Honoree – to the U.S. market. Valedo is the first personal medical device for the low back that combines physical sensors with sophisticated, yet intuitive software. Valedo trans- forms biomechanical exercises devel- oped by physical therapy professionals into fun, interactive games on a user's iPad or iPhone. Valedo's sensors detect and respond to micro movements, ensuring that each exercise is tailored to the user and done correctly. Valedo's games guide users through a complete series of movements that take place in virtual "worlds" and are designed, over time, to improve movement awareness for increased stability and balance, restore motion to vertebral joints, and redevelop deep muscles for enhanced strength. "For the millions of Americans who suffer from back pain, the lack of effective, long-term treatment options can become discouraging. With Valedo, users are motivated not only to get moving and stay on track with exercises that deliver functional move- ment therapy for back pain, but also to improve their own performance in the virtual game," said Frank Menzler, Executive Vice President of Hocoma in the United States. "The result is a groundbreak- ing advancement with the potential to extend the benefits of professional physical thera- py into the home and effective- ly change the way we deal with back pain starting today." Based on Valedo Motion, a back therapy system currently used in professional rehabilita- tion centers, Valedo brings back pain therapy with a focus on medical goals to a con- sumer-friendly, game-like environment that can be done at home or on the go. Intended for consumers looking for a way to continue the benefits of profes- sional physical therapy at home, as well as for those interested in an alter- native self-help tool, Valedo marries the latest in Bluetooth, 3D gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer tech- nologies and highly evolved algo- rithms. The system is compatible with the iPad 3 and above, iPhone 5 and above and all versions of the iPad mini; it will also be available for Android and Windows devices later in 2015. The Valedo app is available for free download on the Apple App Store and all new exercises, games and software updates are pushed to users automat- ically and free of charge. Valedo works in three simple steps. Download and start the free Valedo app on an iPad or iPhone. Place the Valedo sensors on the breastbone and lower back. The sensors auto- matically calibrate a user's movements with the Valedo app to begin the session. Then, exercise. Follow the path or match the actions of the on-screen avatar, which guides users through precise, therapeutic movements. A daily training routine of 20 minutes is recommended. Valedo is available for purchase at www.valedotherapy.com for $359. Valedo is listed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Visit Hocoma at booth #73928. For more information, go to www.vale- dotherapy.com, call 844-488-4422 or email frank.menzler@hocoma.com.