GPS Bracelets for Alzheimer’s Sufferers

Without effective equipment, searching for Alzheimer's disease sufferers who have wandered off can be inefficient. Because time is critical in such situations, every minute lost increases the risk of a tragic outcome.

To help reduce potential injury to adults who wander due to Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia among older adults, a program called Project S.O.F.T. Ware has provided GPS bracelets to a group of people with a history of wandering sue to Alzheimer’s or dementia. S.O.F.T. stands for “Satellite Option Finding Technology,” and the bracelet works like a smartphone.

According to a recent report by Global News, the device sends a message to a secure tracking website that police can log on to. Police can call program participants on their bracelet to ensure that they are OK and know where they are. “The device has a speed sensor to detect unusual behaviour (like getting in a car for those who don’t drive) and also sends a notification if the person falls down and hits the bracelet,” the report says.

The technology isn’t perfect. For example, detection is difficult if the battery dies, if the device is submerged in water or if the wearer removes the bracelet. The GPS bracelet also relies on satellite signals and cellular service, neither of which is always accessible in certain locations or areas.

Nevertheless, after field-testing, GPS was found to be the most accurate technology available. It also requires fewer resources compared with radio signal tracking equipment such as RFID, which requires sending officers out searching with antennae and activating ground search and rescue.

With GPS, police can use a smartphone, locate the person and call them – all within 10 minutes. 

Reinventing the Microwave

Holiday time generally means cooking time, and lots of it. That’s why we’re highlighting this microwave that’s been on the market for just a couple of months. Except it’s more than a microwave, more than an oven, and more than a grill, although it can play each of those roles. The LG Lightwave has some additional features that take it above your standard “microwave-oven-grill” combo, a pretty non-standard offering itself.

For faster cooking without a microwave, the oven function uses halogen heaters. The major feature, though, and the reason this appliance has been so talked-about, is the addition of wireless access. That’s right, you can control your oven through your phone. When you just can’t tear yourself away from your favorite TV show, even with a minute of two of pausing the DVR, now you can just adjust the oven temperature from the comfort of the couch. Across the street talking to your neighbor and going a little longer than expected? Set the timer to shut off at the right time. And if you happen to be out at the movies and remember that you never cleaned up after your latest cooking experiment gone wrong, just log in and activate the oven’s self-cleaner from afar.

Of course, with the mix of cooking methods combined with wireless access, the electronic backbone of the Lightwave is complex and intricate. The electronic controls involved in hardware like this are a model for the type of work that Etratech excels at. Do you have the next big kitchen breakthrough? Get in touch to work with our engineers and bring it to fruition.

New Video Showcases Etratech’s Range and Capabilities

“Show, don’t tell” is one of the best-known methods of telling a story, and with the release of our first set of videos showcasing our capabilities, Etratech is fully embracing the philosophy. As part of our continued effort to reach out and share the full range of services that we offer, we’ve invited you for a look at our facilities – both in North America, and our fully Etratech owned-and –operated facility in Asia.

In the video below, you’ll see our machinery at work, as well as the expert operators without whom our equipment would be useless. This initial introductory video covers everything we do, including turnkey electronic solutions, prototyping, MRP software, SMT and dip-through PCB design and manufacture – including box build assemblies – and our signature Total Acquisition Management (T.A.M.) program that allows smaller and mid-size businesses access to the our extensive network of suppliers. We’d tell you more, but the video does a great job of covering everything.

As the first in a series of several looks inside our business, we’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our facility. Stay tuned for more on this blog, and be sure to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

The Quality Imperative in the Mobile Age

Smartphones, PDAs and tablets have made mobile connectivity a necessary component of everyday life in the 21st century. Mobile devices have changed the way people interact, do business and even do chores.

Last year, LG Electronics introduced a robotic vacuum cleaner that connects via Wi-Fi to stream live images with sound, which users can view and control over their smartphone. More recently, LG announced an update to its Lightwave Oven, which is fused with a microwave, grill, fermenter and toaster – and enables users to cook on the go using a smartphone with wireless connection. With the press of a button, the user can set cooking times and control temperature even when away from home.

Using just one of any number of mobile devices and the right app, we can control an ever-increasing number of machines, whether they are household appliances, home security systems or manufacturing facilities. Yet even as mobile tech adoption for remote-access applications rises, the internal controls of the machinery we’re accessing, e.g., a vacuum cleaner or an oven, still remain largely the same – and need to be well engineered for quality and reliability.

As an industry leader in the design and manufacture of electronic controls, Etratech ensures the highest standards of product quality and conformance to customer specifications. Our complete in-house product design includes full prototyping, testing and validation; agency approvals and product compliance; and extensive internal/external testing. We achieve total customer satisfaction through measurable continual improvement of our internal processes and systems. Quality is always a journey, and our goal with all of our customers is to exceed their expectations.

Younger buyers driving demand for more electronics and connectivity in today’s cars

Most Gen Y drivers want to stay
connected to their smartphones while driving.

Are today’s new cars “becoming smartphones”? A recent report in the Chicago Tribune says, “No connectivity, no deal for young buyers.”

The report cites a 2011 study that revealed that more than two-thirds of the youngest respondents (Gen Y – up to age 30) want to be able to connect smartphones in their cars, and they also want the convenience of being able to access applications from a dashboard interface.

"For Generations X and Y, technology is a must-have. They take it for granted; they have to stay connected," says Craig Giffi, Deloitte vice chairman and automotive practice leader.

Older generations aren’t as demanding when it comes to getting electronics and connectivity in their cars, according to the study. "The youngest buyers are looking for electronics that are innovative and have a high 'cool' factor while those over the age of 50 lean toward safety, comfort and control features," says Lara Koslow, a partner in BCG's Los Angeles office. “Young buyers want to be able to Twitter and send instant messages while older buyers view that as unsafe," Koslow adds.

With our commitment to safety and quality, Etratech’s electronics and controls are used by manufacturers in the automotive industry. We've developed and produced advanced electronic controls for leading OEMs around the world since 1989. We have the expertise and resources to compete globally, meeting strict standards of quality. Contact us for more information.

Responsible Recycling

At Etratech, we know the importance of environmentally conscious business, and how crucial recycling is to our planet.  We place great value on being RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) compliant.

WEEE is an EU directive that, in conjunction with RoHS, sets collection, recycling, and recovery targets for all types of electronic goods. The RoHs Directive set restrictions upon European manufacturers as to the material content of new electronic equipment placed on the market.   They both became European law in 2003.

We at Etratech believe it is important for manufacturers to research who their recycler is, as an excess of WEEE products has caused capacity issues for many recycling firms, leading to some sending their waste overseas, rather than properly handling it. 

Recently, it was reported that several WEEE recyclers, including those dealing in television sets, have seen an increase of up to 30%, leading to the need for temporary storage when they couldn’t handle the drastic increases.  This is just one example of WEEE increases, and that excess trickles down to all electronics, creating capacity problems across the board. 

We believe in the importance of proper recycling, and encourage manufacturers to do the necessary research, ensuring that they choose a recycler who follows the correct procedures and can handle the increases, dealing with excess in responsible ways.  We are all responsible for our planet.

Here’s a link to the aforementioned article on increases in excess televisions.

Cooler Controls

The dog days of summer mean the constant need for air conditioning; imagine those long hot days without a properly working AC.  If your AC unit is not functioning as it should be, it could mean costly repairs, higher electric bills, and overall discomfort on those brutally hot days.  

An AC that is working properly requires a number of standard features: well functioning safety controls, correct refrigerant levels, clean and maintained compressor and electrical components, checked and routinely changed filters, calibrated thermostats, and cleaned outdoor coils.  Correctly functioning AC controls are crucial to the life of your machine, and to the comfort of you and your family.  

At Etratech, we design and manufacture quality control components for HVAC systems, with maximum performance and efficiency in mind.  We develop and install these components to function at superior levels, ensuring that the machines in which they are placed function as best as possible.  

We’ll continue to produce the highest-quality components that will in turn create the highest-quality air conditioners, so that you and your loved ones can enjoy a cool, worry-free summer.