Tag Archive for: Consumer Electronics Association

CEA’s 2014 Technology Trends To Watch

Consumer Digital Health Care: Featuring GrandCare Systems and VP Business Development, Laura Mitchell
By Rachel Horn

An excerpt from Remote Monitoring and Health Maintenance

Some remote monitoring products combine software and hardware to track and transmit multiple data points and virtually connect people with doctors and loved ones. The GrandCare System, for example, incorporates daily living monitoring with health data capture technologies, socialization tools, video chat capabilities, entertainment features and medication management tools. “We’re a platform that interacts with and engages with a ton of different technologies and different sensors,” explains Laura Mitchell, vice president for business development at GrandCare. The system is designed to be fully customizable and very easy to use. “The system is as intuitive as an ATM or a microwave. It’s very simple,” Mitchell says.

On FDA Approval for Medical Apps

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell says it makes sense for the FDA to get involved with software in the same way they get involved with hardware, to make sure these services work properly. GrandCare is in the final stages of securing FDA approval for its aging-in-place system. “We had to prove that our software is actually accurately reading those devices,” Mitchell says. “Does it stop innovation? A little bit, definitely, but it’s also sort of a necessary evil because we’re dealing with someone’s health and wellness. It makes sure that we’re giving them the right information and sound advice.

Additional Articles included in CEA’s 5 Technology Trends To Watch include:

  • A Hundred Billion Nodes, By Shawn G. DuBravac, CFA
  • On the Road to Driverless Cars, By Jack Cutts
  • Robots Ahead, By Richard Kowalski
  • The Curators of New Video, By Mark Chisholm

Download the full report at http://content.ce.org/PDF/2014_5tech_web.pdf

CEA Announces GrandCare Systems as Innovation Entrepreneur Awards Winner

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct 16, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)(R) today announced the winners of the first annual Innovation Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by its new flagship publication, It Is Innovation (i(3)) and CEA’s Small Business Council. The Innovation Entrepreneur Awards honor excellence in business and recognize visionaries leading companies with revenues under $30 million.

“We had a standout group of finalists for the inaugural year of the Innovation Entrepreneur Awards,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president and CEO.

Charlie Hillman, CEO GrandCare Systems, accepts the CEA Innovation Entrepreneur Award at the 2012 CEA Industry Forum.

“Congratulations to ecoATM and GrandCare, winners of the 2012 Small Business Awards; and Sandy Gross, winner of the 2012 Small Business Executive Award. Each of the winners epitomizes the entrepreneurial drive and spirit of innovation that powers our industry and the American economy.” To select the inaugural class for the Innovation Entrepreneur Awards, a panel of media and industry professionals met at CE Week to judge the nominations. From the group of seven finalists selected by the judges, one executive and two small businesses were announced today at CEA’s Industry Forum as the winners.

“Innovative companies like GrandCare are moving our economy forward. It’s a great example of how the consumer electronics industry is allowing seniors and people with disabilities to use technology to enhance their lives and allow caregivers to have access to their loved ones anytime.”

-CEA CEO & President, Gary Shapiro

The 2012 winners are:

  • Small Business of the Year: ecoATM – Originally called reMobile, ecoATM was founded in 2008 by Tom Tullie as an automated eCycling Station for eWaste recycling. Its automated kiosk buys back used cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, iPads and game media and provides cash or an in-store credit. The company incentivizes consumers to participate in reselling and recycling to cut down on CE eWaste.
  • Small Business of the Year: GrandCare Systems – This innovative company integrates daily activities, telehealth monitoring, social networking, medication management and cognitive assists into a user-friendly touch-based system for seniors. Charlie Hillman, founder and CEO, originally created the system to help his great-aunt live independently. The system connects to the Internet allowing caregivers to communicate with their loved ones.
  • Small Business Executive of the Year: Sandy Gross – Gross is co-founder of Polk Audio, Definitive Technology and his latest business, GoldenEar Technology. At Polk he was in charge of marketing and product concepts. In 1988, Gross left for a stint in Hollywood, then founded Definitive Technology in 1990. The company designed high-end models of center channels and surround sound speakers. He retired as president in 2009, and started his third loudspeaker company, GoldenEar Technology, in 2010. Gross is often called upon by other entrepreneurs, in the early stages of developing their companies, for advice.

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GrandCare, 2012 CEA Innovation Entrepreneur Award, Small Business of the Year Finalist

We have been nominated by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA, the organization that hosts CES) for the Innovation Entrepreneur Award, Small Business of the Year. CEA flew to our offices and did a fantastic video interview with Charlie Hillman, founder of GrandCare Systems. He explains how our technology assists seniors to age within the comforts of their own home, stay connected to their friends and loved ones and ” to have something to look forward to live for.” Take a look at the short video below.

From these four  finalists,  two small businesses will be announced as this year’s winners at the 2012 CEA Industry Forum, October, 14 -17 in San Francisco.  The 2012 finalists for the Innovation Entrepreneur Small Business of the Year Award include:

·         Audio Video Interiors – Middleburg Heights, OH
·         EcoATM – San Diego, CA
·         GrandCare – West Bend, WI
·         iBiquity – Columbia, MD

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell chosen as CEA Mark of Excellence Judge

GrandCare’s Vice President of Business Development, Laura Mitchell, has been selected as a CEA Mark of Excellence Judge!

The Mark of Excellence System Integrator Awards Program recognizes the best in custom integration and installed technology. There are 14 categories in which custom installers can submit projects for.  The judging begins in early October and the winners are announced at the Mark of Excellence Systems Integrator Awards Reception in January 2013 during the International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The MOEs [Mark of Excellence Awards] mean more than any other industry association award and they represent the best the electronics and installation professional industry has to offer.” – Robert Archer, EH publisher

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CEA Announces Finalists for Inaugural Innovation Entrepreneur Awards

Our very own GrandCare founder and CEO, Charlie Hillman, has been nominated as one of the finalists in the CEA Innovation Entrepreneur Awards.

“We are excited to announce the finalists for the Innovation Entrepreneur Award which honors small business visionaries. Watch this short video to learn more about this standout group. Check back every Monday and Wednesday until Industry Forum to see a new video highlighting each finalist.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nxvzj6UD_E&w=460&h=259]

Be sure to keep an eye out for Charlie’s video on the CEA Facebook Page

We would like to give our congratulations to all of the nominees!

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