Shelly’s Blog

Wearable technology usually evokes images of fitness-tracking wristbands such as the Jawbone UP or FitBit Force. More athletic types might envision Polar H7 strap-on heart rate monitors or Nike Fuel bands, while others might think about Samsung’s Galaxy Gear or try to imagine what Apple’s new iWatch might look like. But wearable technology is quickly Continue Reading →

I’m sitting on the terrace of my hotel room overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem… the mid-afternoon Adhan can be clearly heard coming from the Muslim Quarter, the sounds of construction add a strange drum beat to the traditional call to prayer. The juxtaposition of old and new is ubiquitous in Israel, as are heated Continue Reading →

Should driving with Google Glass be allowed? There’s no precedent; technology is almost always ahead of strategy, tactics and the law. In my book Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV, 2nd Edition (York House Press, 2008), I looked for lessons from the Civil War: “Often described as the first modern war, the Continue Reading →

According to the Radio Advertising Bureau, radio advertising in the United States topped $16 billion in 2012. While it was much bigger before the expansion of cable television and the advent of digital, it’s still a thriving, profitable business. That said, the success of radio in the US is (and always has been) inextricably linked Continue Reading →

Here are 10 reasons why a US dollar is worth the paper it’s printed on: USS Nimitz (CVN-68) USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) USS George Washington (CVN-73) USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) USS George Continue Reading →

After I wrote my review of the Basis B1 fitness-tracking wristband, the people at Polar reached out and asked me if I would like to try the Polar Loop. It’s a relatively new, $99 device that tracks steps, calories, sleep and other activities, as well as heart rate with an optional device such as Polar’s Continue Reading →

In 2009, Blair Levin was hired by the FCC to help the agency craft a national broadband plan. Way back then, it was clear that FCC chairman Julius Genachowski intended to reclaim a significant amount of television spectrum and repurpose it for broadband. A telling Craig Moffet quote (usually cited as a Julius Genachowski quote) Continue Reading →

There are literally dozens of fitness-tracking wristbands, companion apps and stand-alone apps available today. Fitbit, Jawbone, Basis, Withings, Garman, Nike+, Polar, BodyMedia, LifeTrak, Sync, Lark Life, Shine… just to name a few. The rumor mill says that Apple will soon introduce iWatch with HealthBook and speculation is wild about what capabilities such a combination would Continue Reading →

After wearing the Basis B1 fitness-tracking wristband for a week, my first thought is that it is really uncomfortable. If I wear it tight enough so that it can track my average heart rate, it actually hurts. If I wear it loose enough to tolerate the steel case and sensors over my wrist, it can’t Continue Reading →

According to MyFitnessPal (the calorie tracking app I use on my smartphone), Friday was the 189th day I’ve logged in and, in that time, I’ve lost 58.3 lbs. That’s approximately 2.16 lbs. per week, or… for the quantified selfies out there, approximately .3 lbs. per day. One nanosecond after, “You look great… I bet you Continue Reading →