This week’s Smart World Series features new wearables for swimmers and those using wheelchairs, partnerships and investments for innovation in the world of Internet of Things (IoT), solutions to help fight the California drought, and more.

For those who missed last week’s Smart World Series, here’s a chance to catch up on the exciting developments in the connected world.  Each week, SiliconANGLE rounds up the top news trends regarding smart homes and cars, smart data centers and IT, smart infrastructure and all things related to IoT.

New marketplace for smart car apps

The connected market continues to grow as new Internet-connected devices are released every day. Mojio, Inc. recently launched a marketplace for apps compatible with its car plugin, iHome has a Control Smart Plug that can be controlled using Siri on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, and Insteon launched a universal smart home app that would allow users to control compatible connected devices using their Toshiba laptops.

Read more about these smart products in our Smart Living roundup.

Wearables for wheelchairs

The wearable market is also growing as devices now cater to more niche activities. Misfit, Inc. has partnered with Speedo International Ltd. to create a tracker specific for swimmers called Speedo Shine, while Chaotic Moon Studios unveiled a prototype of a tracker for the specific needs of those using wheelchairs. Fossil, Inc. also demonstrated its new line of connected wearable devices during the Intel Developer Forum.

In other wearable tech news, a recent survey revealed that although interest in wearable tech is increasing, its usage drops after a few months. But hope is still alive. In our weekly Smart Health roundup, we also learn ways in which wearables can help governments reduce spending on healthcare and other public services. 

Read more about these devices and industry developments in our Smart Health roundup.

Can Amazon’s Dash Button scale? Experts weigh in

The Amazon Dash Button is a nifty little device that allows users to quickly replenish regular household products without pulling out the laptop or picking up the phone. But each button can only order one specific item, and that begs the question of scalability. Is ordering a single item the only purpose of the Amazon Dash Button, or can it possibly do more?

Read about what experts have to say regarding this innovative button here.

Sensor saviors: Oil & gas invests big in IoT

A survey conducted by Accenture plc and Microsoft revealed that the oil and gas industry will be heavily investing in digital technologies by as much as 18 percent in the next three to five years. A good example of this huge investment is BP plc’s recent announcement that it will connect 650 of its oil wells to General Electric’s Predix Cloud data platform by the end of 2015.

Read more about these investments here.

Smart City fined $750k for blocking Wi-Fi hotspots

Staying connected while you’re out and about is easy, thanks to personal hotspots offered by network carriers via smartphone data plans. But if other providers, such as Smart City Holdings, LLC, prevent you from doing that, the Federal Communications Commission makes sure they get fined.

Also featured in this roundup is how Aclara Technologies, LLC is helping fight drought in California and how Schréder Group’s Shuffle Pole delivers light and connectivity.

Read more about these developments in our Smart City roundup.

Wearables for first responders demo’d for DoHS

The Tech Wildcatters, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Center for Innovative Technology have created a seed fund accelerator for startups, called EMERGE. What makes EMERGE different from other accelerator programs is that it focuses on wearables for first responders.

Some of the startups showcasing products include LanguageMAPS, Inc’s 1st Minute app that deals with language barriers, MindTalk’s patent-pending bone conduction technology to enable the transmission of audio through mouthguards, SensorSphere’s which investigates dangerous situations first, and CyberTimez’s Cyber Armz solution that connects household fixtures like doors and drawers to the Internet so they can be controlled using voice commands and gestures.

Read more about these innovations for first responders here.

Logogate: Apple Watch defect riles users

Some Apple Watch owners are in dismay over one of the market’s most fashionable wearable, complaining of the smartwatch’s logo rubbing off all too easily. For a $300+ wearable, many consumers expect more. Now Apple is dealing with Logogate, the name given to this particular device issue, which seems to affect the gray sports Watch edition in particular. Perhaps the smartwatch is too pretty to handle a bit of sweat and everyday wear.

Read more about fanbois’ gripes about their Apple Watch here.

How Intel, others help IoT developers: Latest SDKs

Intel has expanded its IoT Developer Program to now include IoT Commercial Developer Resources and Kits, which will be more beneficial for IoT developers.

Also featured in this roundup: api.ai raising $3 million to further develop its natural language tools, as well as a partnership that showcases the benefits of IoT to companies.

Read more about these news items in our Smart DevOps roundup.

Straight Outta Water: Smart tech solving Cali’s drought

The drought in California has gotten worse over the past four years, which has led to mandatory drought restrictions, as well as changing plants to drought-tolerant ones so water consumption may be reduced. Thanks to IoTs, water consumption and leakage may be better monitored to prevent the further depletion of California’s water supply.

Read more about how technology is helping California get through this drought here.

Cisco, Red Hat’s platform for IoT innovation

At the recently concluded OpenStack Summit, Cisco Systems, Inc. and Red Hat, Inc. announced that they are collaborating on an open-source platform for IoT innovation. This partnership is seen as something that will enable entrepreneurs to capitalize on the IoT market.

Read more about this partnership here.

Tune in next week for more interesting stories, discoveries and innovations in the world of smart and connected things.

Photo by seanmcgrath