Tech Tuesday: Watsi

The world is constantly experiencing change due to advances in technology. With the 7th Annual Crunchies Awards just a week away, we decided to reflect on companies that made the biggest impact in 2013. Watsi came right to mind. The global crowdfunding platform for healthcare enables anyone to donate in order to directly fund life-changing medical care for those in need.

The idea was developed by co-founder Chase Adam when he was visiting Watsi, a small village in Costa Rica. Chase noticed that while he was riding a bus through the village, a woman was walking through the isle holding a red folder and speaking to the passengers. The woman had a picture of her son who had an incision across the width of his stomach. Chase realized that although the bus passengers could help, what if he could connect the woman with his friends and family back home?

The story of how this idea came to live is truly an inspiration, and has motivated many to donate to people in need. Watsi thrives on a few core values: impact, innovation, efficiency, and transparency. The overall goal is to fund low-cost, high-impact medical treatments for a million people in need. Here is a breakdown of how the donation process works:

1. Connect. Browse different profiles on Watsi.org and connect with a person in need that you would like to support.

2. Fund Treatment. Make a donation of any amount you choose, as little as $5 can go a long way. This will fund a life-changing medical treatment for helping the person of your choice.

3. Get an Update. Not only can you fund a patient. Watsi goes even further. Receive an update about the outcome of the treatment you funded. You can directly learn about the difference you made in one’s life.

Watsi has an empowering vision: A world where people no longer die from conditions that society has the knowledge, resources, and power to treat. This non-profit startup is bringing the world together and giving us access to become connected with those in need.

We are seriously impressed with this platform and the social impact it has made! What do you think of Watsi? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Crowdtilt

The 7th Annual Crunchies Awards are just around the corner! Here at ABCey, we did lots of digging and research to cast our votes. There are truly some unique companies and apps up for nomination! Let’s take a look at a platform from the tech world that stood out to us: Crowdtilt.

Crowdtilt is nominated in the Best Collaborative Consumption Service category. It serves as the largest funding platform for group experiences, purchases, and causes! Crowdtilt is a quick and simple way to pool funds with your friends and family.

This platform makes it a breeze to collect money for shared experiences such as group vacations and birthday parties. Costs can be split evenly for group purchases like wedding gifts, concert tickets, or dinner parties. Is there a cause near and dear to your heart? Support your favorite non-profit or local community by pooling funds through Crowdtilt.

Check out the video on How it Works! Let’s break it down. There are 3 easy steps to how Crowdtilt can collect funds for you.

1. Set things up: Develop a campaign by creating a description for it, add an image, and choose how much money you want to raise or collect.

2. Spread the word: Generate buzz by telling friends and family about your campaign through social media. Email, tweet, and post on Facebook!

3. Get paid: As soon as the campaign tilts, every participant’s card is charged. You will get the funds via direct deposit.

We love what Crowdtilt has to offer! Would you try it to plan your next group vacation, dinner party, or fundraiser? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter! Don’t forget to vote and purchase your ticket for the 7th Annual Crunchies Awards!

Tech Tuesday: Brightbox

Tech Tuesday highlights some of the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

There’s so much social media activity at events now-a-days. Anywhere you look, someone is posting a picture on Instagram, commenting on Facebook, or retweeting something on Twitter with their smartphone. One major downside to this is how quickly battery life decreases. Unfortunately, it’s not really safe or practical to leave your phone charging by some random outlet. This is why we think Brightbox would be perfect to have at any event.

Brightbox helps eliminate the issue of having to wait by your phone at a charging station. It has 6 built-in secure charging stations so users can leave their phone for a few minutes, or even a few hours. All users have to do is unlock a compartment with the use of their credit card. If the event is sponsored by a vendor, charging is actually free for attendees. So, the credit card simply acts as a key. The great thing about Brightbox is that it charges a flat fee as long as the device is plugged in.

We think this device would be a really great tool to have at any event. It lets users charge their phones without having to be restricted to one part of the venue. What do you think about Brightbox? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Google Glass

I remember walking around downtown San Francisco one afternoon, and I saw a guy that looked just like the guy from Star Trek. No, it wasn’t because he was wearing a black and yellow outfit. It was actually because he was wearing some weird contraption around his eyes. Turns out those are, what we call today, the Google Glass.

We’re sure you’ve seen the Google Glass, or if not, at least heard of it. However some people don’t really quite get it. Instead of being glued to your laptop or smartphone, Google wanted to create a hands-free way for people to still stay connected. However this technology isn’t without some downsides. Read on to see our breakdown of the Glass’ pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Convenience: As we mentioned before, it really gives users the chance to do things such as email, text, or take pictures, without the need of pulling out their phone. Users can do those things instantaneously by pushing a button, giving verbal commands or by small head movements.

2. Multitask: How many times have you had to fumble with your navigation system to look for directions? Or, how quickly did you have to flip through your cookbook to find how much liquid to add before everything gets burned? Well now you can use the glass to find things like directions or recipes immediately, without having to take your eyes off what you’re doing.

3. Open Platform: This is really great for companies and developers that want to implement new applications and programs. Thanks to this new technology, the sky is the limit for what people can create.

Cons:

1. Privacy: The video and camera could present a possibility for misuse. One could be recording someone else in a public place without them knowing.

2. Stress: Wearing the glasses all day and having the computer right in front of your eye might not be too good. This will definitely lead to social and information overload. The lack of winding down periods, like being fully disconnected from technology, is said to increase stress and anxiety in people.

3. Price: It’s estimated that these glasses will be $1,500. That’s a huge amount of money for a specific technology. Therefore not everyone will be able to get one. Fortunately the glasses are made with common parts that can be easily made in large quantities. Hopefully this will eventually help lower the starting cost of the glasses.

We think the Google Glass is a great invention. Of course it has some flaws, but the potential things we can do to change technology are endless. We’re sure the Glass would be fun to experiment with at one of our events, but for now we can’t seem to get over how ridiculous they look! What do you think about Google Glass? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Wifarer

If you’re anything like me, figuring out directions isn’t my strong point. I can somehow manage to end up on the complete opposite direction of where I’m supposed to be. That’s why I always have Google maps by my side! Unfortunately, I have this same problem when I’m inside really big venues. Thankfully there’s a new app called Wifarer, and it turns indoor mapping into an experience all on it’s own.

There are a few businesses that have indoor maps, like Google, however Wifarer takes it a step further. It actually makes sure you understand where you are. In order to do this, Wifarer has done three amazing things:

It created a way to find locations indoors without GPS.
It has drawing maps so detailed that they can guide you to anywhere you want to go, from the nearest bathroom to the emergency exit.
There isa ton of proximity-based content, just like if you were to walk past a sculpture, Wifarer can tell you all about it.

This can also be extremely useful for users when they attend events. Event planners can incorporate this app by including turn-by-turn directions inside the venue. They can also include location-specific content, such as information on a certain exhibitor when they walk past the booth. Planners can also charge exhibitors for what they want to share through the app, such as photos or videos.

We love this idea and can’t wait to test it out at our next big event. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Scentee

Choosing the right alert sounds for your phone can be pretty difficult. Some people like the longer tones, others like shorter ones. Some people like classical music tones, others might like a simple beep. Well, the days of hearing these alerts may soon be long gone. Thanks to some creative minds in Japan, they’ve come up with a device that releases different scents for each notification your phone receives!

This device, cleverly named Scentee, plugs directly into the headset of any smart phone. It works in conjunction with another app that tells it to spray a scent when the notification is received. There’s already a ton of scents available with the device such as lavender, mint, and rose, to cinnamon roll, corn, and even Korean BBQ!

Users can customize when the scents will be emitted too. It can be programmed to go off according to texts, alarms or Facebook alerts. Each model of Scentee is said to have 100 bursts of scents with only $5 refills. The company’s latest video features this device in a typical Japanese soap opera style. Watch it below and let us know what you think! Leave us a comment or visit us on Facebook & Twitter.

Tech Tuesday: Memory Meld

Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

Thanks to mobile technology, almost anyone can act as a photographer using their phone. People can easily post pictures all over Facebook, Instagram, or share in their personal group chats. With so many different platforms, it’s sometimes difficult to capture all of your photos in one spot. Thankfully, a new app called Memory Meld may be able to help!

Memory Meld allows users to capture, preserve, and share their memories safely. All pictures are uploaded directly to a private event page where guests can either upload more photos, or download ones already posted from others.

This is especially great for event organizers so they don’t have to bug everyone individually to send their photos. All the organizer has to do is visit Memory Meld and create a new event. Once an access code is created and shared, users are free to upload whenever they want.

The app works well for weddings, birthday parties, family gatherings, concerts, sporting events, and work outings. Be sure to give Memory Meld a try at your next event! Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Chirp

Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

There are tons of ways for people to share information via their phones. People can use Dropbox, “Bump” their phones together, or even use a good old text message. Well what about singing? Thankfully, you won’t have to belt out any tunes because now your phone can do it for you. Introducing Chirp, the newest iPhone app to use song to transmit information. When the song is heard by another phone, it triggers an automatic download of that file. Could you imagine sending event info, or recaps, to your customers using sound? This would revolutionize the way you transmit information to your clients.

The CEO of Chirp, Patrick Bergel said he turned to nature for inspiration. He also said other means of transfers, such as Wifi or Bluetooth, are alien like — invisible and inscrutable. The advantage of this app is that it can be used without needing an internet connection or being paired to another device. If a user is offline, the app will remember the “chirp” and download the file when internet connection is resumed. Another advantage of this app is how it can be used across different technologies. An example would be if a speaker system, such as a radio or TV, emits the chirp, the file can also be downloaded that way.

Chirp is a unique app that can eventually be developed to transmit information to tons of users at the same time. Not only will users be able to send pictures, but even tickets, coupons, and videos etc.

Do you think you would ever use Chirp for your events? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook!

Tech Tuesday: KeyMe

Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

Oftentimes when I’m in a rush to get ready, everything seems to go wrong. I end up spilling coffee everywhere, forgetting my wallet, or even accidentally locking myself outside the house. I don’t have anything that will keep my coffee in place or wallet by my side, but I do know a device that can prevent myself from being locked out, yet again. Instead of paying the local locksmith, I can download a new app called KeyMe.

KeyMe is an amazing new app that scans keys front and back. In doing so, users save time and money, instead of having the locksmith do all the work. KeyMe allows users to store keys on their iPhone through the actual app itself. The stored key can be accessed at any KeyMe kiosk, shared with family members or ordered through the mail as a replacement.

Just by simply placing the key on a flat white background, the app can begin to scan the front and back. One safety feature is that it only works on keys scanned with a white background. The reason is so someone cannot just take a random or oddly angled picture of the keys. Credit card information is also used to verify if the keys belong to the correct user. If going to a KeyMe kiosk, users also have to verify their keys via fingerprint. After scanning the keys, users can go directly to a locksmith to have the keys replicated! Awesome!

Do you think this app would be useful? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Gym-Spiration?

It seems that every time we make a promise to ourselves to get back in shape, it always ends the same way; a never ending list of excuses as to why it can’t happen. We’re too busy, our family is in town, our cat is dying, you name it. We’ve used them all.

We’ve discovered an app that makes going to the gym seem less like a chore and more like, let’s say, a job? GymPact is an app that holds you financially responsible for your physical activity (or lack thereof).

So how exactly does it work? First, you begin by deciding your “workout-per-week” goal. This simply means how many times per week you want to engage in serious physical activity. Secondly, users identify exactly how much money a missed workout means to them. Finally, all that’s left to do is hit the gym!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZoRT9iYPn4

For every day of missed activity, your credit card gets charged the amount you specified. But, for every day you do go, you get a share of the money that was collected from those who couldn’t stick to their “GymPact.” Yes, you read that correctly. You make money simply by doing something you should already be doing in the first place. This app eliminates the ability to miss a workout due to lame excuses.

What do you think of GymPact? Do you think it would help motivate you to get back into shape? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!