Wireless Technology Meets Assisted Living - BeClose

I had the chance to visit with Dr. Mark Hanson late last week. He was part of the team that founded BeClose; their tag line is "Where Distance Disappears". I love that and you'll soon understand why. Mark received his doctorate in electrical engineering at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) where he researched wireless health technology with John Lach in the Integrated Networked Embedded Real-Time Technologies In Applications (INERTIA) group. He's an evangelist, along with his BeClose associates, for the coming wireless revolution.

BeClose is a breakthrough remote home monitoring system that allows you to be closely connected to your parents and loved ones as they age in the comfort of their own home. The solution is yet another example of how practical wireless applications are entering the marketplace: applications that solve real and pressing problems.

Increasingly we will see these mobile monitoring devices impact our world, and BeClose is an example of the beginning of that trend. The Internet is evolving to the embedded space. Intel Vice President Doug Davis cites the IDC prediction of 15 billion intelligent, connected devices by the year 2015, that is how big its going to get. Leveraging the power of Internet connectivity to a limitless variety of embedded devices, many communicating machine-to-machine without human intervention, has more far-reaching implications than most can imagine.

Health care, including wellness and fitness, will increasingly be affected by these technology trends. Check out BeClose CEO Liddy Manson, as she shares the details behind BeClose on this video.

Michael Bruno Acquires Star Trac

Consolidation in the fitness and wellness equipment business continues as Star Trac, a global leader in the commercial fitness industry, announced today that Michael Bruno and Star Trac signed an agreement whereby Bruno will purchase the controlling interest in Star Trac’s parent company. This will strengthen the company’s ability to provide the product innovation, quality, reliability and customer service that have been the Star Trac brand legacy since 1988. The parties expect to close within two business days. Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Bruno, a highly respected fitness industry veteran for more than 20 years, also has holdings that include Stairmaster based in Vancouver, Washington and Land America, a manufacturing firm in China that builds high-end consumer and commercial fitness equipment. His reorganization plan for Star Trac focuses on company continuity and aggressive streamlining.

“Our activities will create the foundation for the company to experience strong growth and profitability,” Bruno said. “This reorganization provides the resources for a strong balance sheet and positions Star Trac for long-term success.”

Star Trac is already recognized as a technology leader in the fitness industry, offering the very best in high performance cardiovascular and strength training equipment. The stability created by this reorganization allows the company to continue providing customers with market leading innovation and high quality service, directed by a strong management team led by President and COO Mike Leveque, a 17 year Star Trac veteran.

“Becoming a part of Bruno’s growing family of fitness companies is a tremendous opportunity for Star Trac,” Leveque said. “His other companies and Star Trac share a strong belief in serving customer needs, and Bruno is committed to supporting the ongoing product innovation investments that are critical for Star Trac to maintain its global leadership position.”

Star Trac will maintain its deep commitment to innovation and customer service. With the consolidation of U.S. operations to one Southern California location, the company will improve efficiencies and communication that will allow them to better serve their customers as a stronger company emerges.

Our Legal System is Killing Progress - Here Are 4 Fixes

Most people will tell you based on routine life experiences that our legal system is out of control. The land of the free has become a legal minefield particularly for teachers and doctors, whose work has been paralyzed by fear of suits. What's the answer? Lawyer Philip K. Howard shares his 4 basic ideas to fix what's broken.

Philip Howard is the founder of Common Good, a drive to overhaul the US legal system. His new book is Life Without Lawyers. Full bio and more links

Will Apple Stock Sour ?

Barron's minute asks wether Apple's stock will become less attractive. Now that the company is the largest technology firm by market cap questions are being raised as to whether Apple can continue to perform.

Global Migration - The Move to The Global Citizen

The third driver to the current revolution in business and institutions is shifting demography and not just age, but of culture. Global migration is the least understood and least governed area of globalization. The labor pool and customer base is being shifted in ways that have far reaching implications and you should take note of it. The video from the Economist above reflects migration patterns and economic implications.

Theorists sometimes call the movement of people around the world the "third wave" of globalization, after the movement of goods and the movement of money that began in the previous century. Trade and finance follow global norms and are governed by institutions: the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund. There is no equivalent group with “migration” in its name. The most personal and perilous form of movement is the most unregulated. States make and often ignore their own rules, deciding who can come, how long they stay, and what rights they enjoy.

A recent NYT report titled, "Global Mogration, A World Ever More on the Move" pointed to this and other important facts as the globalization of cultures is increasingly having an impact on our world.

"While global trade and finance are disruptive — some would argue as much as migration — they are disruptive in less visible ways. A shirt made in Mexico can cost an American worker his job. A worker from Mexico might move next door, send his children to public school and need to be spoken to in Spanish.

One reason migration seems so potent is that it arose unexpectedly. As recently as the 1970s, immigration seemed of such little importance that the United States Census Bureau decided to stop asking people where their parents were born. Now, a quarter of the residents of the United States under 18 are immigrants or immigrants’ children.

The United Nations estimates that there are 214 million migrants across the globe, an increase of about 37 percent in two decades. Their ranks grew by 41 percent in Europe and 80 percent in North America. “There’s more mobility at this moment than at any time in world history,” said Gary P. Freeman, a political scientist at the University of Texas.

The most famous source countries in Europe — Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain — are suddenly migrant destinations, with Ireland electing a Nigerian-born man as its first black mayor in 2007."

Watch the video clip below to learn more and consider - are we moving to the age of the global citizen where nationality will be less of an important factor?