Like all communication technologies, Bluetooth is a better fit for some applications than others. If you're considering using Bluetooth, here’s an outline of the primary factors that determine the effective range of Bluetooth communications, plus some ways to improve it with networking. This article is now updated with the addition of Bluetooth 5 performance.

Let's imagine you've found a gap in the market for a great wearable device and, although some competitors offer similar products, you know that your idea adds unique, killer features that will mean people choose your product ahead of the others. The path from idea to market will still involve a lot of tricky decisions. One of the most important ones is how to connect your great product to users’ phones. This can have a huge impact on product design and usability so the sooner you start thinking about this the better.

Are you creating a wearable product, but not sure of what wireless technology to choose? The way modern APIs work, developers don’t necessarily need to know the technical details. But having a basic understanding of the underlying technology will help you make apps that are more efficient, more responsive and easier to use.

Which solution is best for your wearable product? This depends on your requirements for bandwidth, power considerations and range. Here’s a brief overview of the 6 most common wireless technologies to consider.

Advances in technology mean that smart clothes are moving away from the preserve of fitness fanatics and heading squarely into the mainstream. But what if our clothes could tell us not only how we’re doing but how they’re doing as well?

Outline

• Errata affecting the current measurements
• DCDC does not automatically switch off in System ON IDLE
• NFCT can draw current when not enabled
• Measurements
• Results
• Test setup: Power analyzer
• Power Analyzer Measurements
• Test setup: Oscilloscope and ampere-meter
• Oscilloscope Measurements

Preparing the development kit The USB connector must not be used to power the board during measurements as it will give unreliable results due to added supply and measurement noise when the debugger chip USB port is active. The board should be powered from a coin cell battery, or using the External Supply pins P21 for current measurements.

Below you will find general information on measuring current with the nRF52 chip and basic test equipment setup and techniques.

Smartphone battery life remains a frustration for many users. The same problem also applies to a wide range of IoT devices. Although it’s easy to bury yourself in detail seeking a perfect solution, it’s important not to lose sight of the broader picture.

The amount of connected devices is projected to grow from 2 billion objects in 2006 to 200 billion by 2020. That’s the equivalent of 26 smart devices for every person on the planet! The time to sit up and take notice is now, so let’s take a look at the impact this trend will have on your business.

In the fast-moving world of the Internet of Things, it’s more important than ever to make sure you can keep your products up to date quickly, securely and easily. Updating firmware remotely brings benefits to both companies and consumers.