This week’s Smart World Series features a device that monitors when your pet is about to give birth, a building management system that battles sleepiness at the office, why the Internet of Things doesn’t need a unifying platform 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 the Internet of Things.

 .

Fujitsu offers up cool liquid answer to smartphone overheating

Fujitsu Ltd. may have found a solution to overheating smartphones that could be a game changer in the mobile industry. Called Liquid Loop Cooling, smartphones can be fitted with a loop heat pipe less than one millimeter thick that absorb the heat being produced by the smartphone. The cooling pipe is an added measure to protect from devices’ metal sheets of graphite with high thermal conductivity in an effort to deal with the heat.

Read more about this cool new contraption here.

 .

Head-turning wearable devices at SXSW 2015

SXSW is not all about music and film, as the annual festival is also known for launching successful tech startups. This year is no different. Various wearable devices graced SXSW 2015 and we have featured some of the notable launches such as wearable drones, smartwatches for the elderly, smart textiles and wearable devices to help you express yourself. Other notable SXSW-bound startups we’ve been watching for some time include the ShotTracker and FreeWavz.

Read more about these wearable tech here.

 .

Microsoft updates Azure cloud & Windows 10 for the Internet of Things

Microsoft announced the integration of an Internet of Things solution to its Azure cloud platform and upcoming Windows 10 operating system. The Microsoft Azure IoT Suite is slated to be released later this year and will be powered by the Azure Stream Analytics that gathers real-time data from connected devices and sensors, and will be targeted at the enterprise. As for the Windows 10 IoT offering, Microsoft aims for the operating system to be the unifying system for everything from PCs to mobile devices and IoT devices.

Read more about Microsoft’s endeavor in the Internet of Things here.

 .

99 problems but Nest ain’t one: Smart home research leads best security practices for device makers

Though the Internet of Things promises convenience for its users, there is still the problem of security when dealing with anything that can connect to the Internet. Symantec Corp. released a white paper that details how device makers are handling the data gathered from their consumers and revealed that many of these connected devices have basic security flaws. TrapX Labs conducted a similar study which also revealed how insecure these connected devices are, noting that the Google-owned Nest thermostat is among the most secure of smart home solutions.

Read more about the security problems of these connected devices in out Smart World Problems roundup.

 .

Don’t want to miss your fur child giving birth? Then this is the device for you

Of course, you don’t want to miss the magical moment of your pet giving birth. Enter a new project on Kickstarter that aims to connect pet owners, breeders or animal shelter volunteers to their furry pals so they won’t miss that precious moment. Called the Addik Pet, the device has what is called a smart membrane that informs users that amniotic fluid has been detected in the birthing animal, which gives them about 20 minutes to get there before the animal gives birth. If you can’t make it, Addik Pet also has a webcam which allows you to remotely view the birthing process.

Read more about the Addik Pet and how much it costs here.

 .

Health trackers may soon be required in workplaces

A report from Verizon Enterprise Solutions revealed that health trackers will be introduced in workplaces by 2018 to help employers adopt an incentivized wellness program, addressing the rising cost of healthcare.

Also featured in this roundup is My Recovery, an app developed by surgeons to help people know if their post-op wound is healing correctly, Microsoft’s Band’s availability in the U.K., and Pornhub’s Wankband that lets you charge your mobile devices after some ‘alone’ time.

Read more about these in our Smart Health roundup.

 .

TAG Heuer to launch luxury smartwatch in partnership with Intel

Luxury watch maker TAG Heuer S.A. has partnered with Intel Corp. to create its own version of the smartwatch. The planned smartwatch will feature a digital replica of its Black Carrera watch, complete with the sporty look and bulky aesthetics. TAG is going for the classic watch look but the device will offer more than just time keeping.

Read more about TAG’s smartwatch here.

 .

Smart office wakes up sleepy employees

Getting sleepy in the workplace may soon be an avoidable afternoon ritual thanks to a smart energy building management system developed by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and Cumbernauld-based Gas Sensing Solutions (GSS). The system utilizes sensors to monitor air quality, anticipate a drop in atmospheric oxygen and reacts to correct it.

Also featured in this roundup is the partnership between Eseye Ltd. and Device Insight GmbH for connected vending machines and Robotbase, a smart desk with a built-in virtual assistant.

Read more about these innovations in our Smart City roundup.

 .

Why the Internet of Things doesn’t need a unified platform after all

Steve Gallagher, CEO of Vix Technology, believes that the Internet of Things doesn’t need a unifying platform, contrasting what many in the industry are pushing for. For Gallagher, pockets of connected communities work perfectly well, and rather than trying to convince all these pockets to adhere to a single platform, what we need to address is how connect these pockets to create smart cities.

Also featured in this roundup is Script.io, a platform that allows you to connect things using JavaScript, and Infobright joins ThingWorx Ready Partner program to allow integration of its IoT solutions to ThingWorx’s IoT platform.

Read more about why IoT doesn’t need a unifying platform here.

 .

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

photos by: Thomas Hawk, System Lock and  160/365 – out of gas via photopin (license)