Royal Caribbean Brings IOT, Wearables on Board
Cruise company Royal Caribbean is launching a connected wearable to provide real-time information and services for its passengers. The wrist worn device, developed by Vancouver-based IoT company TraceSafe, will provide COVID-19 contact tracing in addition to serving as a room key, digital payment method, and a communications device. To assist Royal Caribbean’s cruise operations, the device will also provide location analytics, which will allow the cruise operator to better understand passenger movement onboard its ships.
The NPD Take:
- As the cruise industry looks to rebound, the safety of passengers in the age of COVID will be paramount. A connected wearable will allow Royal Caribbean passengers added convenience with digital payments and communication, however the real benefit will be the data gathered by device that will help the cruise operator manage voyages more efficiently and in real time.
Echo Speakers Now Detect People in the House
Earlier this month, Amazon updated fourth gen Echo and Echo Dot speakers, giving the devices the ability to detect people walking around the home. The feature was first mentioned at Amazon’s September hardware event and works by transmitting an inaudible ultrasound wave that bounces off objects in the room. The feature is listed under Motion Detection in the Alexa app and can be switched on and off. Newer Echo Show devices have a similar motion sensing feature using cameras to detect objects and motion.
The NPD Take:
- Using motion to trigger a routine in a room- turning on music when someone walks in for instance- provides a tangible benefit for users- and is a feature that becomes more valuable as the sensors proliferate throughout the home. The use of ultrasound to detect motion could also provide an advantage in dark environments where camera detection might underperform.