26/04/2014 Click

test. Time for Click.

Hello? Yes, I'm on my way into the office. Traffic is an absolute

nightmare. I think it will be a couple of hours. It is just terrible

out here. Goodbye. This week, we are raiding the

wardrobe and crying on the wearable tech that could kill downtime and

make you a better worker. `` trying on. We will stick on the Formula One

sensors that are now helping us win the race for a healthier life. And

reviews and recommendations on the joy of gaming in Webscape. Welcome

to Click. And welcome to Greenwich Park in London. That is the Royal

Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time. It is such an important place.

There came a point in history where they were able to shrink the

workings of a clock to a size that made time portable and that

completely changed the world, of course. And here we are on the verge

of a similar revolution, where electronics are getting so small

that we can wear those as well. We have been investigating one of the

many applications of this technology at the home of the McLaren Formula

One team, where every second counts. Formula One cars and improving our

health are two things that of easily go hand`in`hand... Here at McLaren

headquarters, it looks like it is all about bright light and fast

cars. The team spends millions each year on analysing and crunching data

on everything from tyre pressure to error dynamic performance. Yet the

technology used to log data on how well these vehicles are performing

could provide a breakthrough in the way that we monitor ourselves. Here

in McLaren's applied technology labs, engineers have taken their

ability to process and analyse data and created a sensor which logs a

person's exertion during periods of activity. They do it in a different

way to most memorable `` wearable technology. Most of the devices we

see today are Excel matter based. But this is all about heart rate

variability. These sensors would tell you that you have walked five

kilometres but they will come up with an idea of how much you have

exerted yourself and that will be translated into calories. So, we

have Formula One accuracy recording human data all in wearable form. The

question is, could this technology be used not embracing but to help

public health? EN is taking part in a unique trial, which we have been

following to find the answer. How can the use of wearable technology

be integrated into the UK's NHS? He has been diagnosed as obese.

Conditions related to being overweight cost the NHS around ?5

billion per year to treat. He wore the senses for ten weeks and lost

?26. They have been really good. You give them a target of calories to

burn just doing specific exercises each day and being able to monitor

that by looking at the end of the session and how many calories you

have burned. For me, it has been really motivating because you always

try to do more and more. At his surgery in Suffolk, 90 patients are

taking part in the research to see if wearable monitoring is more

effective than scheduled visits to the doctor. They can access the data

themselves and also talk it through with their GP. If we could have a

way of using activity as a drug, if we could prescribe activity more

appropriately, we could help provide feedback relating to activity,

immediately, we have this mechanism and potentially our research will

help answer some of these questions, which could potentially

be so powerful celebs to prevent illness and helpfulness. And this is

just the start. The aim is that this slightly chunky device will

eventually be miniaturised and once they are produced in bulk, the cost

will be massively reduced, therefore making them more accessible. Those

in the NHS the wearable technology and their data as a huge potential

tool for public health. The financial implications for patients

being able to self monitor and self manage and have more information

about what their bodies are doing will be amazing. With your consent,

it would go straight into your clinical records. It would then help

me to monitor you and would provide much better, much more personalised

healthcare. Of course it does not mean the end of going to see your

doctor, but used in the right way, it could mean that one day, we could

all get the Formula One treatment. Now, one of the most recognisable

people of wearable technology at the moment is this thing. Google Glass.

It is still in the development stage but last week, it went on sale in

the US for just one day at the price of a cool $1500. But aside from

making you stand out from the crowd... Why is everyone looking at

me like that? The question that we all want answered is will it

actually be of any use? With it indeed take off? `` will it indeed

take off? In the last few weeks, those flying Virgin Atlantic's

upper`class from Heathrow have been greeted by someone with an eye for

detail. Ken is one of the concealer just filing Glass as a way of

accessing relevant information without the made for hand`held

notes. `` without the need. When a passenger is approaching the

airport, the details are sent to Ken's glasses and he can go out and

greet them and this is what he can see on the first page. The name of

the passenger, the registration, the number of their car and their

destination. Then he can move on to details about that destination. For

example, this time of arrival and also frequent flyer number stop how

do the passengers react when they see you wearing this? The initial

thought is that they are regular glasses until they take a second

look. After that, they are more intrigued with what they are, what

they can do, why I'm wearing them. And why is he wearing them? There is

no denying that any company seem to be testing something this space age

will win a few public relations points. Although discrete, wearable

devices capable of recording pictures and videos like this one

has the potential to lose you fans as well. Developing an app for Glass

that involves facial recognition is currently against Google's terms and

conditions and it is something that virgin will not consider for fear of

invading the privacy of its customers. So, under what

circumstances might we be more comfortable with devices that allow

others to identify us by site? What is holding it back now is... Glass

is very restricted. It's very lopsided. Only a privileged few have

it. If you have that functionality in it, there will be a backlash

because you can figure out who I am but I cannot figure out who you are

because you are wearing Glass. But if everyone is wearing Glass in the

same way as everyone has a smartphone, we will get more

comfortable with it. One place you might expect to be fully on board

the bandwagon would be San Francisco, home to employees of

companies like Google and Facebook. It is often seen as an early adopter

when it comes to new technology. But even here, Glass has been met with a

decidedly mixed response. The 500 club in the city's Mission district

is taking a stand against what it sees as an invasion of technology

into its area of peace and tranquillity. Foremost, it's an

issue of privacy. Customers come here and expect some sort of

surgery. A place away from whatever they are dealing with. `` some sort

of sanctuary. Just to be by themselves, watch sports, have a

drink. And not be documented. They are not alone. There is even a

website listing bars and clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area that our

Glass free zones. It's clear that Google still has a job do in

convincing people that Glass isn't just a portable version of Big

Brother. So, what do you make of Glass or the similar products

knocking about? Too intrusive? Too distracting? Were just the right

level of cybernetic call for you? Let us know what you think.

Facebook is introducing a not at all frightening new feature, which

allows users of the social network to track the location of their

friends by GPS. Called nearby friends, it uses a mobile phone

signal and GPS data to work out which friends are in the vicinity.

Facebook assures those with privacy concerns that the service is up in

and that both parties need to switch the option on in order to share

their data. Amazon has launched the latest salvo in its streaming battle

with Netflix. The online retailer has joined forces with HBO in a deal

that will make a classic shows like the Sopranos and the Wire available

to watch. It comes in the same week that Netflix announced a potential

increase to its subscription price for new members. Nokia as an

independent entity is no more, as Microsoft has fine`tuned its 5.4

billion euros acquisition of the once mighty mobile company. Almost

one months behind schedule, Microsoft says it has completed the

steps necessary to finalise the transaction after receiving

long`awaited regulatory approval from China was top Microsoft hopes

the deal will strengthen its position in the mobile market. New

York police Department found itself committing it were to fail this

week. It's finest had asked users to delete photos of themselves with

police officers around the city. Instead of a encounters with their

local cops, images of slightly less friendly situations quickly took

over the account. The experience did not deter the NYPD, which describes

Twitter as an open forum for uncensored exchange. How would you

like to start your day? A nice cup of tea? A run in the cup? Or being

jumped on by a four`year`old who does not know the meaning of the

word lie in? What if you start on an electronic headset and used it to

train your brain to become more focused? That is one element of a

research project in London to study the impact of wearable tech elegy in

the office. We were given exclusive access to follow the study and this

is what happened. This looks at wearable technology on

productivity, alertness, and job satisfaction. For the last few

weeks, 120 workers have been attaching themselves to various

devices. Emma, for example, has been recording her retention levels while

playing a concentration game every morning. I found I got competitive

with myself, you had to record your schools, and you are trying to

achieve... It has a panel of your brain activity, you want to max it

out, but every day you want to get better scores, on the last day, I

hit it! I had to say, it is not as easy as it sounds. If any stray

thought enters your head... You are done! Meanwhile, Will has been

wearing a belt which monitors his movements and correct his posture.

If I am sitting like this, and I have an e`mail... It vibrates. I

have played around with it, if you've slouch consistently, it will

keep vibrating and we set up. Likewise, if you lean back on your

chair. Ashley is wearing a bracelet which measures light, temperature,

and sleep patterns, but which, mysteriously, gives him no feedback

at all. It measures your sleep pattern, temperature through the

day, when you are most productive. How had he found wearing it? It is a

bit frustrating, a number of times I have

now and then, although something that does not seem to

You would not mind saying that you are not doing enough work! If they

are counting every individual pace, I think it would get difficult.

Several weeks later, the enormous amount of data generated by the

study, over 30 GB per participant, is being crunched. It turns out the

wearables has slowed to a decrease in alertness, but 3% increase in job

satisfaction and an 8% increase in productivity. Surprisingly, the

device which caused the biggest improvement in results was the one

that gave no feedback or intervention at the time. We are

noticing an affect in the workplace which suggests that when you monitor

all changed circumstances for employees it has a positive impact

on what they are doing. That is one explanation, the other could be that

when people know their productivity is being measured, they are more

focused on it. And therefore, they score higher. Surely we're not going

to agree to all wear these monitoring bands, simply to make us

work harder? There be advantages for you as well is that nosy boss of

yours. There are phenomenal possibilities for the employees and

organisations. You could have a biometric CV, which you could use to

show your successful patterns and when you are most productive and

alert and satisfied in the workplace. You can petition your

employer to get a workplace scenario which meets those requirements. You

can show them the data under what circumstances you perform your best

doubles. Of course, for that to be useful, you have to be good under

pressure in the first place. Be quiet, I am busy!

In case you were wondering, my brain still hurts after all of that

concentrating! It is not my bag, really. It is not only the office

where wearables are promising to improve our productivity. We said

Dan Simmons to Oberhausen Germany to check out the latest deal which

promises to make employees there a bit more efficient `` a warehouse in

Germany. Alfred is starting his shift which he hopes will help

factory workers around the world in their daily tasks.

His workplace is this mockup factory in Munich. The new kit that he is

testing is Google Glass. Alfred is a pic, and his job is to move products

around the warehouse that they are in the right place to either be

shipped or stored for later on. `` a picker. It is hoped the glasses will

make that easier. Now he does not have to look down at it clip board

or hand`held device to cross reference a code. With Google Glass

you can see what he needs in front of his eyes. Research has shown that

Google Glass reduces errors by 40%, and speeds up workers by 10%. Great,

if you are the boss. Other staff can make use of it as well. A service

manager can survey the factory and the glasses can point out exactly

which machine is faulty. And it can provide him with step`by`step in

structure and is of how to fix the equipment. `` instructions. I have

been using the glasses for ten minutes, and it is easy to see how

they free up my hands, it increases efficiency, it is like having a

second brain telling me what to do. It is also easy to see how workers

using this system may feel that their role has essentially been

reduced to being a robot following a list of instructions. I do not have

to think. At all. That can be the glasses biggest problem. Unions

representing warehouse workers for the retail giant Amazon are also in

dispute over working conditions and unrealistic expectations. There is

also the question of style. We have a workforce of 20 people wearing

these glasses for hours. It did not allow them to feel comfortable.

Colleagues were passing by and laughing. You can see that people

are not yet ready to use these glasses. I think it will change, as

soon as good designs come up. In the future. Perhaps, getting the glasses

to stay working long enough is a more pressing issue. Because Altman

to reality relies on compact algorithms and an always on camera,

the battery is sucked quickly. During these concept

demonstrations, the glasses only managed to operate for 15 minutes.

The company behind the concept is working on new and advanced

microchips which will use less power, so the glasses should be able

to be used all day long. Of course, there is always the problem that we

simply become far too reliant on technology. Hello? Hello? Well, what

am I supposed to do now? Hello? Hello #! That is done, always in

control and every situation! Someone always in control is Kate Russell,

here comes Webscape. Despite the negative press they

sometimes get, playing games can benefit all sorts of people, from

preschool to pensioners. Everybody Plays is a website that celebrates

the joy of casual gaming, experts pitching recommendations and reviews

to a more general audience than the classic hard`core gamer. Giving as

much attention to new genres and independent developers rather than

blasting away at a handful of blockbuster titles. There is a not

in the press about the effect of games on children. `` a lot. It was

a game called Elite that got me into technology in the 80s on the BBC

Micro, if you remember those! In my personal experience, as long as you

find the right game, and do not play it to excess, gaming can have a

positive impact. As well as using features to appeal to the more

casual gamer, parents searching for an appropriate play will appreciate

the parental review tab, featured on many pages, that hooks you to the

opinion of actual parents. You can be confident of your choice, even if

you're not a gaming fan yourself. Quip is a mobile processing app that

has been on macro apple platforms for about a year. With a dedicated

android as well. Documents load faster, and it has Google account

integration as well. Making the switch should be relatively

painless. This year, it is expected that mobile connections will

overtake fixed line as the dominant way to get online. With the world

going collaboration crazy, acrid quip's fast loading and simple

editing interface will no doubt prove useful if you want to create

documents on the go `` quip. Notifications make it cheap easy to

keep track of activity, without the mobile screen getting cluttered. It

also plays nicely with custom keyboards like Swift Key and swipe,

with the support of 11 languages. Google has a lot more to offer than

just documents and search, as the recent launch of its tips page

proves too well. Using the trendy card style design, you can browse

through the quick descriptions before clicking on a link if you

want to learn more. The number of apps and tools from Google is pretty

mind blowing. Online documents, drive storage, calendar, mail, news,

social, YouTube, browser, maps, Earth, the list goes on and on! The

tips page is a treasure trove of shortcuts and hacks. It could help

you use Google services in a different light. There are 13

products covered in total, at the time of editing, there are 14 tips

listed. You have two sign up for and into a Google account to use them

but that is pretty much standard for so much of the Internet these days.

``to. Whether you think the dominant is a good or bad thing is a

different thing entirely, but you cannot deny that these apps make

life online simpler. If you missed any of those, you can

have a look at our website. If you would like to get in touch with us

about anything you have seen today, please do e`mail us. Or you can get

hold of us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google plus as well. That is it for

now, thank you for watching and we will see you next time.

Temperatures through the course of the weekend are not doing too badly

for the time of year. It is still relatively mild. Having said that it

will not be remaining drive. Turning blustery with low pressure in charge

and there will be heavy showers on the cards as well. `` drive. Some

spells