Recon Instruments Crowned Winner of MEMS Executive Congress Technology Showcase

New this year at the MEMS Executive Congress, held Nov. 2 and 3, 2011 at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Monterey CA, was the "MEMS Technology Showcase", which offered attendees an intimate look at some of the most unique MEMS-enabled applications in the business.

There was some stiff competition between the seven pre-selected finalists, as each had 5 minutes to wow the audience, demonstrating how their particular electronic device highlights the "MEMS inside the machine." to enhance the user experience. The seven finalists included:

• "Red Ridge" from Intel: a new tablet form-factor reference design enabling OEM customers and developers to design and manufacture products using the "Medfield" platform, Intel's next-generation, 32nm SoC processor.
• ShowWX+™ HDMI from MicroVision: a high-brightness, handheld pico projector that lets users project images, presentations and video as large as 100 inches across from an iPhone®, iPad® or laptop—onto any available surface.
• The Raisin System from Proteus Biomedical, which combines pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications and social networking in a seamless solution to deliver a fully integrated wellness experience, combining daily medications with the information, education and motivation consumers and their families need to maximize individual health outcomes.
• MOD Live from Recon Instruments is an interactive display for the world's first GPS-enabled goggles. New this fall, MOD Live snap-fits into Recon-ready goggles, delivering sleek graphics and smart optics that are completely non-obtrusive for front and peripheral vision.
• MEMS-Based Heart Rate Monitor from R0R3 Devices that provides advantages over chest strap electrocardiograms (ECG), offering accurate heart-rate measurement for wearers engaging in periodic motion such as running, doing push-ups or jumping jacks. It is also ideally suited for medical applications.
• The Air Mini Keyboard from Sunrex is an in-air remote control with integrated keyboard used by the PayTV industry for interactive TV applications and media control. It is also ideal for PC-connected home theater applications.
• Sys-Evo™ from Syride is a light (110g) and compact (12.5 x 10.5 x 2 cm) electronic module for surfboards that monitors wave height, direction, distance traveled, and the duration of the wave. It also monitors the surfer's actions (waiting time, paddling, riding), providing information on a surfer's strengths and weaknesses and benchmarking performance relative to the athlete's own goals and to the competition.

Attendees submitted their votes via web and text message. At the end of the day, panel moderator Bryan Hoadley of Movea, crowned Recon Instruments the winner, with 35% of the votes (Figure 1).

Figure 1. MOD Live is an interactive display for the world's first GPS-enabled goggles.

The ultimate "coolness" of the MOD Live goggles is evident in such features as real-time feedback, including speed, jump analytics, latitude/longitude, altitude, vertical distance travelled, total distance travelled, chrono/stopwatch mode, a run-counter, temperature and time. MOD Live also integrates with Android smartphones for additional apps and live connectivity, giving access to navigation, resort points of interest, caller ID, text messaging, MP3 playlists, buddy tracking, wireless camera sync, and much more.