21 Feb
Blog

6 Surprising Ways To Use Eminence Organics Apricot Body Oil

Whether you're struggling with cold weather or drying hot days, a delicious body oil is the perfect choice to invigorate your senses and soothe your skin. ON Fashion. ELLE and Marie Claire The award-winning apricot body oil is a mixture of fragrant fruits, moisturizing grape seeds and moisturizing jojoba oils for skin that is irresistibly smooth and supple from head to toe. Warm this luxurious oil in your hands for a deeply moisturizing, sensory massage – and if you feel more inclined due to your blissful state, try these unexpected options to incorporate this body oil into your personal care routine.

Eminence Organics Apricot Body Oil

Mix one to three drops of apricot body oil with your favorite body lotion to get a particularly rich pleasure. We recommend combining it with ours Coconut Firming Body Lotion – another ELLE favorite – provides dry skin with intensive moisture. The coconut, shea butter and grape seed oil in the Coconut Firming Body Lotion makes the skin look firmer and firmer, while the apricot seed oil and jojoba oil in our apricot body oil give an exceptionally soft and smooth feeling. Massage into dry hands and elbows for an additional dose of long-lasting moisture.

For a comprehensive skin care treatment, add one or two capsules of apricot body oil to your bath. Dim the light and close your eyes for a pampering aromatic experience. Muscles tired and painful after a hard workout? Add two cups of epsom salt to your apricot-infused bath for ultimate relaxation. As soon as you get out of your heavenly bath (if you can!), Smooth a few drops of the oil onto slightly damp skin so that the feel-good ingredients can penetrate deeper.

Woman applying oil on leg

Say goodbye to dry and flaky skin by mixing a few drops of apricot body oil with two shakes Strawberry and rhubarb Dermafoliant. Rub your hands together to get a creamy paste and apply to dry areas as a gentle full body scrub. The rice powder and lactic acid in the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant remove dead skin cells and polish the skin structure so that they look perfectly polished, while the oil adds a dose of deep moisture for beautiful, velvety skin.

Our apricot body oil is not only a rich massage oil – it is also fantastic for moisturizing dry, rough parts of the body such as elbows and knees. This skin remedy is comparable to any body lotion that sinks moisture into your weather-tanned skin and smoothes uneven problem areas.

Woman looking at dry hair tips

Don't limit this oil to just skin care! If you suffer from thirsty, damaged hair tips, our apricot body oil can be used as an emergency intensive hair conditioner. Dab a few drops of oil on the ends of your hair to rehydrate and repair them.

Nails and cuticles tend to suffer, especially in harsh winter months, and develop a ragged and unkempt appearance. If you find your cuticles desperately need some TLC, rub in a drop of apricot body oil to smooth them out and take care of your nail beds. Your nails (and hands!) Will look smooth in no time.

Dry off dry skin (and hair) with our apricot body oil – discover this abundant multi-purpose oil in a partner spa of Eminence Organics and bring home relaxation at the spa level. Or even better – experience it in the spa with the healing effects of a professional massage. Find the closest partner spa and let us know in the comments below or on social media. What is your favorite way to enjoy this body oil?

21 Feb
Blog

Vision Drills for Better Performance in Physical Movement

Everything you have ever experienced will be experienced, all exercises or personal bests that you have ever performed have started and ended in your brain.

All the movements, skills, thoughts and everything that makes you special are contained in this 3 pound organ,

  • How does your brain know what to do at a certain time?
  • How does your brain collect information?
  • And how does it decide what to do with the information collected?
  • More importantly, how does your brain collect information and what does it do to your training, performance, or recovery?

You bet your ass does!

This is not a neurological lecture, but before we look at the importance of how your brain collects information and how it can be improved, we need to understand in a very basic way how the brain works.

Brain Basics

Your brain uses sensory inputs to collect information, These sensors receive input, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) send these signals to the brain, which then essentially decides on the action and then generates a motor output that is relevant to the decision.

At a very simple level, it is.

The brain has three ways to collect information or input:

  1. Exteroception: surveillance of the outside world
  2. Intercept: body awareness and feelings
  3. Proprioception: awareness of the body and limbs in the room

These inputs are then integrated together to create and update the map of the brain of everything. Of you, the world around you and how you move through it. The brain updates past experiences, senses, and prediction processes to make decisions that dictate the body's actions.

Now that we've largely understood how the brain does things, we need to find out why it does them.

The answer is simple: survival.

The goal of your brain is to keep you alive, Point. Do not keep alive in ten years, but today.

How it does it is through prediction. Our brain masters pattern recognition. Every second of every day, the 120 billion neurons in the brain process information based on past experiences to predict the results of actions. This is your brain that uses pattern recognition to decide actions.

The inputs your brain uses to move around the world have a hierarchy:

  1. Visually
  2. vestibular
  3. proprioceptive

If these sensory inputs match (i.e. there is clear information from all three systems and good integration into the brain), you can work well with your brain and perform when it matters. No matter whether CrossFit, Powerlifting or just lifting something off the floor.

If there is a mismatch, we run into problems, If there is bad information that informs the brain maps and pattern recognition skills, I fear that they will try to limit the likelihood of death – usually by creating pain to attract attention or inhibit movement.

In this article, I will focus on exercises to improve your visual system, as 70-90% of all sensory inputs are visual.

The role of seeing

There are two classifications of human vision::

  1. Looking stabilization: A fundamental element of all other eye movements and enables us to see objects and interpret the visual scene to create perception.
  2. Shift view: This allows us to focus on a moving target. Think the ball is racing towards your face on the field.

There can be any number of things that affect these two patterns and interfere with your visual system, which in turn can dramatically affect your performance without you even knowing it.

The key to training your visual system for performance is training your eye muscles to function properly. Finally, poor muscle function leads to problems with gaze shifting and gaze stabilization.

We'll cover one drill for stabilization and one for shifting. In my video you will find a demonstration of the individual exercises.

I recommend that you record the practice and watch it again to see how you do it, This way you can adjust accordingly.

Drill 1: eye stabilization

  1. Put yourself in a neutral position.
  2. Hold a target (pen) at arm's length directly in front of you. Stare at the target for 30 seconds.
  3. You need to focus on the goal because an inability to stabilize your eyes usually means very small, quick movements of your eyes away from the goal and then back to the goal.
  4. When looking back, try to notice excessive facial tension, eyelid flutter, excessive blinking, or tears in the eyes while trying to focus on the target.
  5. Once you've done this assessment in a neutral position, do the same test in each of the other four positions. Above, right, left and below.
  6. Pay special attention, as it is very likely that you will find one or more positions in which to struggle with your eye stabilization.
  7. It is important that the goal remains in focus at all times. If it becomes blurred, reduce the distance to the neutral conductor, keep it pressed.
  8. Do this exercise three times through each position.

Exercise 2: shifting eyes

Stand in a neutral position and hold a pen in front of you in a neutral position.

Try to smoothly follow the pen as you move it from the neutral position to one of the following eight positions and then back to the neutral position:

  1. Above
  2. Low
  3. Right
  4. Left
  5. High and right
  6. Above and left
  7. Down and to the right
  8. Below and left

You should repeat this test three times at each of the eight positions, You will look for two things when you look at the drillback:

  • Excessive swaying of the body.
  • Poorly coordinated eye movement. This is usually seen as some kind of ratcheting or jumping movement that prevents them from following the target smoothly.

Each of these can indicate poor visual motor control.

Make your vision clear

The goal of these exercises is to make your eyes work properly so that the information your brain receives is as clear as possible, This way, your brain is not afraid of being able to move fully in all available ranges of motion.

Remember, if the brain can predict, you can perform.

references::

1. Gaymard, B. & Pierrot-Deseilligny, C. (1999). Saccade neurology and smooth tracking. Current opinion in neurology.

2. Hughes, A.E. (2018). Dissociation between perception and smooth tracking of eye movements when assessing the speed of moving Gabor targets. Journal of Vision.

3. Ingster-Moati, I., Vaivre-Douret, L., Bui Quoc, E., Albuisson, E., Dufier, J.L. & Golse, B. (2009). Vertical and horizontal eye movements in children: a neurological development study. European Journal of Pediatric Neurology.

4. Krauzlis, R.J., Goffart, L. & Hafed, Z.M. (2017). Neural control of fixation and fixative eye movements. Royal Society B Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences.

18 Feb
Blog

Apple CarPlay (2020) Review: The Last Word In Auto Infotainment

What is Apple Carplay new 3

Apple CarPlay (2020) Review: The last word in infotainment

"Continuous improvements have made Apple CarPlay an essential feature for new cars."

  • responsive

  • Clean, intuitive interface

  • Extended third party app support

  • Apple Maps is still tightly integrated into the user interface

As with many automotive technologies, the quality of OEM infotainment systems can vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer or from model to model. Even if a manufacturer uses infotainment technology correctly, there is hardly any incentive for companies to develop and support a specific system as soon as the car rolls out of the showroom. This can lead to outdated information, permanent errors in the software and functions that no longer work right away.

When Apple closed CarPlay at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014, it tried to put an end to this nonsense by creating a unified interface with its own design that would help you avoid the problems often associated with Cupertinos' OEM systems self-grown, self-supported solution. By adapting the user interface specifically to drivers, Apple wanted to make the roads safer by reducing possible distractions that would distract the driver's gaze (and attention) from the road.

In a way, CarPlay delivered straight from the gate. The user interface was intuitive and responsive, so drivers could access what they wanted with minimal effort so they could focus on the task at hand. But there were a few wrinkles that needed to be ironed out after the debut.

Apple has refined and improved CarPlay over the years. With some of the key changes made in the recent updates, we thought it was time to take a look at the state of Apple CarPlay in 2020.

compatibility

You need a few things to use CarPlay. On the mobile side, you need an iPhone 5 (or newer) with iOS 7.1 (or higher), and most vehicles need a wired USB connection. Some companies like Audi and BMW now support wireless CarPlay. We love the convenience of the function – but be warned, it can affect battery life.

Apple CarPlay iconsApple CarPlay icons

CarPlay compatibility is now almost ubiquitous on the vehicle side – at least as part of an option package for new vehicles. While it is supported even more than Android Auto, it is worth noting that the launch of the Google platform is currently not as widespread.

Some automakers have problems with CarPlay support, but most are boutique brands. For example, if you own a 2020 Aston Martin Vantage or a 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullian, you're out of luck with the OEM hardware. However, something tells us that you will make it.

interface

Distracted driving was associated with nearly 3,200 fatal accidents in 2017 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with cell phone and SMS use identified as the main drivers for a significant proportion of these incidents. Apple developed CarPlay to minimize these distractions, and Siri is the star of the show.

Incoming text messages are shown by a pop-up banner at the top of the CarPlay display and read out by the system when they are accessed. Once you're done, you'll be asked if you want to respond by voice. The answers will be read back for accuracy and confirmation before being sent. It is a function that has worked excellently in recent years and continues to do so today.

The implementation of Siri (and general utility) left something to be desired when CarPlay was originally launched. Fortunately, Apple has reworked Siri with iOS 13, which leads to noticeable improvements in CarPlay.

From a visual standpoint, it is now less intrusive and appears as a translucent waveform overlaid on the screen that is active at the time the function is invoked, rather than Siri simply taking over the screen completely.

Apple has also expanded the tools available to app developers to integrate Siri features into their own software. For example, you can go to a Spotify playlist or go to instructions with a voice command.

Apple CarPlay dashboardApple CarPlay dashboard

In addition to an improved dashboard layout that divides the area between navigation and frequently used apps, CarPlay for iOS 13 allows a device bound to CarPlay to be used for other tasks without affecting the display on the CarPlay display. For example, when a passenger queues a song on this iPhone, the vehicle's infotainment screen does not suddenly change from the navigation screen to the music app. This may seem trivial, but it makes a big difference in everyday use.

iOS 13 also introduced a redesigned music interface in CarPlay. The album art is now emphasized more, both in Now Playing and elsewhere. The user interface has been optimized to make navigation through your album collection more intuitive.

navigation

Apple has completely revised its native Maps app for iOS 13. These changes lead to more details and expanded functionality in CarPlay. The biggest game changer in CarPlay's relatively short history made its debut a year earlier when iOS 12 introduced support for third-party navigation apps. This immediately brought two heavyweights into play: Waze and Google Maps.

Apple CarPlay Google MapsApple CarPlay Google Maps

Although Apple Maps has improved since its rocky debut in 2012, it is still catching up. Google Maps in particular leaves little to complain about in 2020. With real-time redirection of traffic, offline maps (useful when cell coverage is not or insufficient) and Siri integration, which are now all part of the mix, it is fully functional. CarPlay-compatible navigation program that iOS users have been waiting for.

For many users who were used to the look and feel of Google Maps, iOS 12 support transformed the overall usefulness of CarPlay from temporary curiosity to car navigation.

App support

As mentioned earlier, iOS 12 has greatly improved CarPlay's third-party app support, but Google Maps and Waze aren't the only apps that will benefit from the change.

The list of supported apps by CarPlay now includes WhatsApp, Spotify, BBC-Sounds, Amazon Music, Google Play Music, iPlayer-Radio, CBS-Radio, Pandora, Slacker-Radio, Gezeiten, Audible, NPR One, VOX, Clammr , Downcast and Here This applies in addition to the native iPhone apps that are compatible with CarPlay.

Our opinion

CarPlay has come a long way since its original iteration and shows this. Apple has reduced fat while improving the strengths of the user interface, which enables more meaningful integration of third-party apps. These changes have resolved many of the previous frustrations. In short, it is now the infotainment replacement solution it should be.

Should you get it

If you have a compatible iOS device and infotainment system, you owe it to yourself to try CarPlay. It is (usually) free of charge. So what do you have to lose?

Editor's recommendations




18 Feb
Blog

Makeup Mistakes That Are Bad For Your Skin

It happens to the best of us – some days we are really good at taking care of our skin, others much more effort. If you notice increased breakouts, increased dryness, or other signs of irritated skin, this may be due to one of the most common makeup mistakes:

1. Wear makeup in bed

After a long day or night, it can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task to wash off the makeup before going to bed, but it needs to be done. Why?

Your skin produces oil and sebum naturally throughout the day. When combined with makeup that stays in your pores for hours (not to mention bacteria that come in contact with your skin by touching your face or pollution), there is great potential for breakouts. Clogged pores, dull complexion and increased blackheads are just a few of the problems that can arise if you go to bed without washing your face.

The best way to avoid these skin problems is to Do a double clean before you call it a night. An oil-based cleanser is best for breaking up and removing makeup, followed by a second cleaning with your favorite formula that works deep in the pores to remove makeup impurities and traces after the first cleaning.

Eminence Organics rice milk 3 in 1 cleaning water

2. Exercise in make-up

Sport is actually great for the skin, however If you do this with a full face of makeup, you can expect breakouts and irritation!

When sweat, oil, and makeup are combined, there is an increased risk of clogged pores, dull complexions, and uneven texture. Before going to the cardio machine, cleanse your skin quickly with a gentle but effective formula like Eminence Organics Rice Milk 3 in 1 Cleanser that moisturizes and moisturizes the skin while makeup is cleaned, strengthened and removed.

3. Skip an SPF moisturizer

You know that Sun protection is important to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Did you know, however, that using a sunscreen moisturizer brings double benefits to your skin? When the skin is dry, the make-up is difficult to apply and often dries out the skin even more, which leads to a dull complexion and increasingly visible fine lines and wrinkles.

Firm and moisturize the skin with an SPF cream before applying makeup – especially with a formula that addresses certain skin problems, such as a protective or corrective moisturizer.

4. Use expired products

You may have spent a pretty penny on this foundation or love the color of your favorite lip gloss. However, if you use the products for six months to a year, you're probably using expired makeup.

For some reasons, it is important to note the expiration dates of cosmetics. First, aged or expired makeup doesn't work as effectively due to changes in the consistency or degradation of active ingredients like SPF. Second, your skin could react to compromised ingredients. It is known that when using expired cosmetics, irritation, inflammation, redness, bumps and even blisters occur on the skin.

Bacterial growth is much more likely with expired products and when applied to the skin can increase the risk of infection or swelling in the eyes, lips and skin. Always pay attention to the expiry dates of cosmetics and throw them away if they look a little suspicious!

Woman applying lipstick

5. Apply makeup to dry skin

Have you ever tried applying lipstick to dry, flaky lips? You know that the results are less than excellent.

Apart from the appearance, the lipstick is not so easy to apply to dry lips and, depending on the formula, can zap traces of remaining moisture. The best way to keep your lips plump and healthy is to use a moisturizing balm before applying the lipstick.

Dry lips can tear or become irritated. Therefore, always use a lip balm rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which deeply replenishes the moisture and at the same time promotes collagen production.

6. Do not clean tools properly

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes and tools? If it's longer than a month, your breakouts or dull complexion may be the result of using dirty brushes.

Make-up brushes and sponges absorb oils, dirt and bacteria from the skin every time you use them – imagine walking for weeks or months without thoroughly cleaning them! Dirty makeup brushes can bring bacteria and debris into your pores and endanger your overall skin health. Wash all makeup brushes and reusable sponges monthly – weekly if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Our leading skin care trainer, Natalie Pergar, tells us all about these makeup mistakes and more in her video "In The Mix" below:

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65BF3Tpxbfo (/ embed)

These are some of the most common makeup mistakes that ruin your skin – have we missed any? What are your tips to keep your skin healthy and glowing? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.

17 Feb
Blog

Determining Heavy Loads and Understanding Intensity in Weight Lifting

Many books on strength training contain chapters on intensity and their meaning. They describe 100% intensity as the weight of which you can only do one repetition in a given exercise. If you can do more than one repetition of the exercise, its intensity is lower. The more repetitions you can do, the lower the intensity of the weight.

This discussion then inevitably leads to how high the maximum repetitions will be at certain intensities, Any trainee who has reached the intermediate level will be interested because he wants to make sure that he works with the right intensity for the repetitions he does.

They don't want to work with too low an intensity and they don't want to work with too heavy an intensity either. Many trainees become a little too ambitious and are wrong on the side of the serious. The lazybones or Timider does the opposite. Therefore, knowing the repetition intensity diagram is critical.

The relationship between intensity and 5×5

For newer advanced trainees it can be decided that they follow one of the standard strength development programs, in which they go through five sets of five (5×5) each. This is prescribed by Berry, Starr, Ripp and many others – because 5×5 works.

So they take the appropriate percentage for 5 reps for the athlete. This is about 89% give or take, often rounded to 90% on average to simplify the math (as I will do here). They can start at 85% if they want to familiarize themselves with a new program – and that's fine because the improvement will happen quickly.

Then the trainee does 5×5 for the squat, bench and other strength exercises. However, 5×5 doesn't work as well with deadlifts as it can be tiring, but 5×5 works fine for most other lifts.

After about a week, the trainee consumes a full 90%. But it doesn't always run as smoothly. For example, the fifth iteration may fail on the last sentence. What happened? Are they getting weaker now?

The answer is no. Everything is fine, even if the last repetition is missing. It is indeed a good sign. Why? Because it means that their intensity is at the ideal point, How is it so you have been taught that you always do your full five reps.

What happens is that the repetition intensity graphs are based on only one set, not on multiple sets. Her creators have forgotten the important concept of fatigue. We only have so much in the tank for a particular workout or a day before we need to rest. We cannot work 100% indefinitely. We are all intuitively aware of this.

A sprinter can't keep up with a marathon runner for long. Even the marathon runner has to save his speed for the end of the race. This also applies to intensities of less than 100%. The 90% repetitions cannot continue indefinitely either because the trainee eventually shows signs of fatigue. At the last sentence he runs out of gas.

Actual, relative and perceived intensity

This is especially true when the sets have just gained weight. Suppose the PR squat was 300 pounds and he did 270 for 5X5 as recommended and all 25 reps were completed. You can then have tested their maximum and found that they can now make 320. In this case, the trainee dutifully adds £ 18 to his work sets (the £ 20 increase x 90%).

With renewed enthusiasm for squats, they find that the last set may have consisted of only 3-4 repetitions, while the fourth set consisted of only 4. The trainee is not weaker, instead they are not yet used to working with the extra pounds.

On their next workout, they often do a full 4th set and 4 reps on the 5th set. Finally they can do the full 5×5. With that extra weight, they actually got stronger. It only takes a little adjustment time,

Most trainees will be familiar with this pattern when they gain experience. What may require more awareness is what happens within a single sentence. It should be noted that the fatigue factor is effective from the very first sentence. Let's look at the first set of a 5×5. The above trainee takes £ 270 for five as this is the mandatory 90% of his 1RM.

On the first repetition, 270 feel like 90%. This repetition takes a little time for the trainee, so that the second repetition feels like 275. Not a jump big enough to notice a 300 squatter. Then the 3rd repetition may feel like 287. Number 4 will feel like 296 and the last iteration will feel like 300. Further repetitions are by definition impossible because it is a 5RM.

Only one set behaves at 5 rpm. Things get hairier when we go to multiple sets in a 5×5. Depending on the fitness of the individual, the effects of fatigue appear in the last sentences. On the 5th or even the 4th set, 270 first repetitions feel more like 285. Subsequent repetitions feel 300 closer and closer until at some point the perceived intensity is greater than 300. These repetitions fail.

All of this means that if you say 90% sentences about yourself, for example, you have to realize that not all sentences or even all repetitions feel like 90% to your organism. You will actually work with a slightly higher perceived intensity, As such, you have to take that into account when programming. But how can you counteract these factors when planning a training session?

One way is to try the full 90% for all sentences, knowing that the last one or two sentences may fail. At this point, you can continue with the next exercise and hope that your strength will improve in the next session. Alternatively, you can take a 6th set and make up for the missing repetitions if you don't add one or two additional repetitions. This leaves you in a better mood after making mistakes.

Another way, especially if you are compulsive to do all 25, is to start at less than 90%, so repetition 25 is just about successful. This is a more conservative method, in which the perceived intensity is lower at the beginning but higher at the end.

Regardless of the exact method, the working weights are only increased when the trainee can do all 25 repetitions with the prescribed weight – this keeps everyone honest,

Use the drop set

Another way is the drop set method, which was borrowed from bodybuilding, If you feel the last reps are failing, the bar can be lowered 5 to 10 pounds to ensure successful reps. You will still feel like maximum repetitions so little is lost.

The only problem is that the lifter has to stop in the middle of the set to change the weight. This can be avoided if there are two wizards who can quickly remove the unnecessary plates before the last repetitions. In such cases, these plates should only swim outside the collar. Finally, the entire last sentence can be removed if no help is available.

Think of the 3 forms of intensity

This whole article is about the trainee making the difference between the actual intensity (actual resistance), the relative intensity (% of 1rpm) and the perceived intensity (i.e. how heavy the weight is for the organism actually feels).

When programming, the latter is most relevant in terms of customization and recovery considerations,

16 Feb
Blog

Ecovacs Deebot 960 Review: So Much Wasted Potential

Deebot 960 absorbs chips

"While the Deebot 960 has impressive AI and a mop function, its potential is not being exploited."

  • Great pull

  • Don't eat socks

  • App is not reliable

  • Connecting to the app is difficult

  • Dust container is small

  • Features don't work well

We love many of the other intelligent robotic vacuum cleaners that Ecovacs has released. A few even made our best robot vacuum on the annual list. So I was pretty excited to try it out Deebot 960, It comes with advanced AI and it even wipes, so it sounded like a vacuum that our best-of list could do with the others. After trying it out, I was deeply disappointed.

The app

First, let's talk about the app. The Ecovacs Home app was the most aggravating app I've ever dealt with. As with most smart devices, you need to connect them to an app before you can use them with the app. Typically, this is a quick process that takes a few minutes at most. Not with the Ecovacs Home app.

It tends not to find your Deebot. Therefore, you need to go through a number of troubleshooting steps for it to work. Some of these steps include accessing the Wi-Fi settings on your phone and selecting the Deebot from the list.

If that doesn't work, you will need to try turning off the data on your phone, at least 5 feet from your router (or getting closer depending on the direction) and turning the bot on and off at the charging station. Pressing different buttons on the Deebot and so on.

After trying the various troubleshooting tips for the app and support pages on the website for hours, a customer service representative gave me an eleven-step process to try to get the app up and running. Yes, it didn't work either.

The app tends to stop working for no reason.

If you get the bot to connect to the app, you won't get too excited. The app tends to stop working for no reason. Then you have to delete the app from your phone and start over.

I thought I might have a problematic deebot right now, but a look at the app's reviews on the Google Play Store shows that these issues are common. (I contacted Ecovac to check for an update to fix the app issues, but I haven't received a response yet.)

mapping

This intelligent robotic vacuum cleaner offers many great functions. They just don't seem to work very well. The main feature is the ability to map your entire home using AIVI technology. The problem with this is that you have to scan your whole house. There is no way to create separate maps for each room.

If you choose to create just a map of your bedroom (like me), the vacuum cleaner won't clean any other room. While mapping your house, you need to have plenty of light in each room and leave the house with all of your pets so that the Deebot can create an accurate map. I just jumped on the bed and stayed there while it was pictured, but most people don't have that luxury.

However, it avoided the sock I threw in front of it, so that's something.

AIVI is supposed to scan the room so the Deebot can avoid objects that are too large to absorb, but the little bot didn't seem to know at times that it had this technology. It would ram into furniture legs with a force that set my teeth on the edge. It got caught on cords and I had to keep pulling things out of my grip. Deebot even came across its own charging station. However, it avoided the sock I threw in front of it, so that's something. It also didn't try to get under furniture where it would get stuck.

Ecovac Deebot 960 scanning

It has a feature that you can use the app to block certain areas on the cleaning card to tell the bot where to stop cleaning. Unfortunately, it didn't work that well. Sure, the Deebot won't go where you set up the non-clean area, but the app doesn't let me set up a non-clean area within 10 feet of the charging station. We have found that the Neato Botvac D6 works much better when it comes to restricted areas and avoiding obstacles.

You can also instruct the Deebot to clean only certain areas to get good stain cleaning. Like the other features, this was frustrating. I often tapped the screen to set up a spot cleaning area and nothing happened. After about a dozen taps on the screen, the square would finally appear on the screen and I could adjust its size and position.

Ecovacs Deebot 960 cleaning cards

In the following screenshots you can see how the Deebot maps areas. The green box is a spot clean. The red boxes are not clean areas. The lines are the paths that the vacuum has taken to clean the room. As you can see, the bot can be unpredictable and even miss spots.

vacuum

While Deebot does a great job at corners, backing it up and vacuuming it several times to make sure the area is clean, it still seems silly to an intelligent vacuum cleaner. However, the suction power is great. It actually sucks enough to fluff the carpet fibers over time, giving the floor the satisfactory vacuum lines like a post. When it comes to noise, the carpet is a bit noisy. It distracts quite a bit on hardwood and linoleum.

Alina Bradford / Digital Trends

My biggest complaint about the functionality of the vacuum cleaner is that the bot doesn't tell you when its dust container is full. It just keeps going throughout the cleaning cycle and fluffing lint around on the floor until it finds it's done and returns to the charger.

In addition, the dust container is tiny because it takes up space for the wiping equipment, so you have to empty it several times during a cleaning cycle. It is not very practical. The Deebot really needs to be able to dispose of its own container like the iRobot Roomba s9 Plus. The s9 Plus can empty its own container up to 30 times in a special waste container without having to touch anything.

One feature I really like is that there is a small tool next to the dust container that you can use to clean and unravel the roller. When you're done, the tool snaps back into a small slot so it won't get lost.

Wipe

While wiping seems to be an obvious and necessary function for an intelligent robotic vacuum cleaner, I feel that it didn't save me any time. Instead of filling a bucket, I had to fill the Deebot's reservoir and attach his little wipe. It also took ages to do a job that I would have done with a manual mop in less than 5 minutes.

Then I had to drain the dirty water out of the bot and clean and dry the wipe pad. In my opinion, this feature is not useful for any robotic vacuum cleaner unless it can self-clean like the new Narwal T10 that we saw at CES 2020.

Our opinion

The Ecovacs Deebot 960 seems to be a great idea that just didn't work. Though annoying like a champion, its features simply have too many problems to make it a good choice over so many other great intelligent robot vacuum cleaners on the market. While the wipe function appears to be a great addition, it doesn't save you time. Overall, the Deebot 960 is a missed opportunity to be something very special.

Are there any better alternatives?

Although it has good suction power, it quickly fills up with dirt and then doesn't tell you that it needs to be emptied. For this reason alone, I would probably use the Neato Botvac D6 or the iRobot Roomba s9 Plus. $ 1,150 is also far too high for what the 960 has to offer.

Will it take?

Ecovac generally makes well-designed robotic vacuum cleaners, and the Deebot 960 is no exception. It is made of very thick plastic with a metal plate that spans the top of the device. It seems like it will take a long time. It comes with a 1 year limited warranty.

Should I buy it?

The Deevac 960 has a lot of potential, but is insufficient in many ways. I would not recommend buying one. Even if you overlook the crazy problems connecting to the app, the features don't work as well as they should.

Editor's recommendations




16 Feb
Blog

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020: Entering A New Decade Having Finally Made Peace With Myself Inside & Out

Well that passed in a jiffy, didn't it? It seems as if I called a half a liter of Prosecco a few weeks ago in 2019 and wondered what the next twelve months would bring, just so that it would last a lot in bloom and come by in a flash. Perhaps it is a sign that we are getting older, that time is passing faster, and that we are constantly recognizing this fact out loud, or maybe just because we all seem to fit so much more into our days, weeks and months. But it's a little scary to be back in a brand new decade – and still no sign of hoverboards.

The past ten years have been revolutionary for me personally: They have transformed me from a social butterfly living in London, who spent her weekends feeling incredibly lonely (and her weeks incredibly stressed), into a married, country-loving homeowner, freelance consultant and dog mother. Frankly, it's more than I could have ever dreamed of – even if it wasn't necessarily the dream that I would have admitted to everyone (including myself).

Although the years have been full of lessons, struggles and successes, I can think about how I can finally love and respect myself internally and externally. And that's the only achievement of the past decade that I'm really proud of.

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020: Enter a new decade after finally making peace with myself Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020: Enter a new decade after finally making peace with myself Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020: Enter a new decade after finally making peace with myself

As a 37 year old (honestly, how the hell did that happen?) I wish I had spent a lot less time and energy shaping myself into what I thought the world wanted and more time, just to embrace the joys of youth.

Too much of me was used for yo-yo dieting, wearing uncomfortable shoes, pretending to like sports, and impressing people I wouldn't remember a few years later. Too much of me was put on putting on a brave face, creating an impenetrable exterior, proving myself worthy, and analyzing every encounter. Too much of me was used to measure my value by the size of my jeans and seek approval from the opposite sex.

Not enough time was spent just laughing, enjoying the energy and wrinkle-free complexion of the youth. And boy, what would I give to have the liver / figure / face of my 27 year old self!

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020: Enter a new decade after finally making peace with myself Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020: Enter a new decade after finally making peace with myself

Partly driven by age, partly driven by love and partly driven by the fact that I make my living by posting photos of myself on the Internet, my own self-acceptance brings peace. I no longer feel like I have to adapt to an ideal because I have learned that it is impossible to try: I know that I am as fabulous as I am and I do not need someone else's approval to cement that.

So when we start a new decade, may it give you the confidence to love and celebrate your best self – in whatever form, overclad * or otherwise.

* You really can never be over-dressed!

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16 Feb
Blog

Vision Drills for Better Performance in Physical Movement

Everything you have ever experienced will be experienced, all exercises or personal bests that you have ever performed have started and ended in your brain.

All the movements, skills, thoughts and everything that makes you special are contained in this 3 pound organ,

  • How does your brain know what to do at a certain time?
  • How does your brain collect information?
  • And how does it decide what to do with the information collected?
  • More importantly, does the way your brain collects information and what it does with it affect your training, performance, or recovery?

You bet your ass does!

This is not a neurological lecture, but before we look at the importance of how your brain collects information and how it can be improved, we need to understand in a very basic way how the brain works.

Brain Basics

Your brain uses sensory inputs to collect information, These sensors receive input, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) send these signals to the brain, which then essentially decides on the action and then generates a motor output that is relevant to the decision.

At a very simple level, it is.

The brain has three ways to collect information or input:

  1. Exteroception: surveillance of the outside world
  2. Intercept: body awareness and feelings
  3. Proprioception: awareness of the body and limbs in the room

These inputs are then integrated together to create and update the map of the brain of everything. Of you, the world around you and how you move through it. The brain updates past experiences, senses, and prediction processes to make decisions that dictate the body's actions.

Now that we've largely understood how the brain does things, we need to find out why it does them.

The answer is simple: survival.

The goal of your brain is to keep you alive, Point. Do not keep alive in ten years, but today.

How it does it is through prediction. Our brain masters pattern recognition. Every second of every day, the 120 billion neurons in the brain process information based on past experiences to predict the results of actions. This is your brain that uses pattern recognition to decide actions.

The inputs your brain uses to move around the world have a hierarchy:

  1. Visually
  2. vestibular
  3. proprioceptive

If these sensory inputs match (i.e. there is clear information from all three systems and good integration into the brain), you can work well with your brain and perform when it matters. No matter whether CrossFit, Powerlifting or just lifting something off the floor.

If there is a mismatch, we run into problems, If there is bad information that informs the brain maps and pattern recognition skills, I fear that they will try to limit the likelihood of death – usually by creating pain to attract attention or inhibit movement.

In this article, I will focus on exercises to improve your visual system since 70-90% of all sensory inputs are visual.

The role of seeing

There are two classifications of human vision::

  1. Looking stabilization: A basic element of all other eye movements and allows us to see objects and interpret the visual scene to create perception.
  2. Shift view: This allows us to focus on a moving target. Think the ball is racing towards your face on the field.

There can be any number of things that affect these two patterns and interfere with your visual system, which in turn can dramatically affect your performance without you even knowing it.

The key to training your visual system for performance is training your eye muscles to function properly. Finally, poor muscle function leads to problems with gaze shifting and gaze stabilization.

We'll cover one drill for stabilization and one for shifting. In my video you will find a demonstration of the individual exercises.

I recommend that you record the practice and watch it again to see how you do it, This way you can adjust accordingly.

Drill 1: eye stabilization

  1. Put yourself in a neutral position.
  2. Hold a target (pen) at arm's length directly in front of you. Stare at the target for 30 seconds.
  3. You need to focus on the target, as an inability to stabilize your eyes usually means very small, rapid movements of the eyes away from the target and then back to the target.
  4. When looking back, try to notice excessive facial tension, eyelid flutter, excessive blinking, or tears in the eyes while trying to focus on the target.
  5. Once you've done this assessment in a neutral position, do the same test in each of the other four positions. Above, right, left and below.
  6. Pay special attention, as it is very likely that you will find one or more positions in which to struggle with your eye stabilization.
  7. It is important that the goal remains in focus at all times. If it becomes blurred, reduce the distance to the neutral conductor, keep it pressed.
  8. Do this exercise three times through each position.

Exercise 2: shifting eyes

Stand in a neutral position and hold a pen in front of you in a neutral position.

Try to smoothly follow the pen as you move it from the neutral position to one of the following eight positions and then back to the neutral position:

  1. Above
  2. Low
  3. Right
  4. Left
  5. High and right
  6. Above and left
  7. Down and to the right
  8. Below and left

You should repeat this test three times at each of the eight positions, You will look for two things when you look at the drillback:

  • Excessive swaying of the body.
  • Poorly coordinated eye movement. This is usually seen as some kind of ratcheting or jumping movement that prevents them from following the target smoothly.

Each of these can indicate poor visual motor control.

Make your vision clear

The goal of these exercises is to make your eyes work properly so that the information your brain receives is as clear as possible, This way, your brain is not afraid of being able to move fully in all available ranges of motion.

Remember, if the brain can predict, you can perform.

references::

1. Gaymard, B. & Pierrot-Deseilligny, C. (1999). Saccade neurology and smooth tracking. Current opinion in neurology.

2. Hughes, A.E. (2018). Dissociation between perception and smooth tracking of eye movements when assessing the speed of moving Gabor targets. Journal of Vision.

3. Ingster-Moati, I., Vaivre-Douret, L., Bui Quoc, E., Albuisson, E., Dufier, J.L. & Golse, B. (2009). Vertical and horizontal eye movements in children: a neurological development study. European Journal of Pediatric Neurology.

4. Krauzlis, R.J., Goffart, L. & Hafed, Z.M. (2017). Neural control of fixation and fixative eye movements. Royal Society B Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences.

16 Feb
Blog

5 Biggest Myths About Eating Fat

In the 80s and 90s, food was bought that did not have the low-fat label, which was taboo. At that time, egg yolk and butter were on the “worst offenders” list, while processed carbohydrates and packaged goods weren't even taken into account. But a lot has changed since then. Nowadays, nutrition experts recommend fat as an essential nutrient, and full-fat foods such as avocado, coconut oil and ghee butter are among the largest “superfoods”.

However, some people still wonder what kind of fats they need to eat and how exactly this affects their bodies. In this article, we clarify all contradicting information and myths around this topic and give you the exact facts that will ultimately help you to build a healthier diet.

Myth No. 1: Fat on the plate corresponds to fat on the body

The reality is that while this term is the basis for various low-fat diets and foods, it is completely wrong. Fat consumption does not make you fat. Eliminating or reducing the amount of fat in your diet can lead to weight gain because you very often feel deprived of the essential nutrients. On the other hand, several studies have shown that foods high in fat can help you lose weight.

The main problem with most diets is that they lack the essential ingredient that makes eating delicious and inhibiting your hunger. And this ingredient is fat. Healthy fats are actually the best source of energy for your body, not to mention that they keep your metabolism and other fat burning processes as they should.

Many studies have been carried out to support this claim and show that a low-fat diet could actually slow down the metabolism. This means that now and then you can enjoy a spoonful of peanut butter with some fruit on the side before your workout or a nice piece of steak for dinner without feeling guilty.

The fats you don't have to fear and the carbohydrates you do

Myth # 2: Saturated fat should be avoided at all costs

Well, not that quickly. Though saturated fat has gotten a lot of bad reputation in the past few decades, current research actually says it's not that scary. This does not mean that you should always choose a meal with red meat or butter, but eating it occasionally will not significantly harm your health or your waistline.

Although butter has a higher saturated fat content, it is a healthier product, especially the grass-fed variety. As we said earlier, it is worse than eating high-fat foods to replace them with sugar-filled foods. Processed carbohydrates can increase the likelihood of developing diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Sugar VS Fat: Which Is Worse For Your Health And Waist?

Myth # 3: All types of fat are harmful to your health

Consuming different types of fat can improve your health. Omega-3 fatty acids normally found in fish and some seeds and nuts can help you strengthen your heart, and some say that you are also sane. In addition, the monounsaturated fats in olive oil, avocados and nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease. There have even been a few cases where patients have type 2 diabetes simply reversed through a high-fat diet.

Continued on next page…

16 Feb
Blog

Logitech Ergo K860 Review: The Most Comfortable Keyboard Ever?

logiech ergo k860 review logitech keyboard 06

Logitech Ergo K860 review: the most convenient keyboard you can buy

"With its unique shape and padded palm rest, the Logitech Ergo K860 is an extremely comfortable ergonomic keyboard."

  • Adjustable palm lift

  • Comfortable keycaps

  • Lots of wrist support

  • Attractive design

  • Can connect to multiple devices

  • Not backlit

  • Non-rechargeable

Logitech has a tradition of making super comfortable and well designed products. Both the MX Ergo and the MX Vertical have a cozy design to reduce muscle fatigue as you scroll and drag yourself through your workday. With the new Logitech Ergo K860, some of these elements are now on a keyboard.

At $ 130, the Logitech Ergo K860 completes Logitech's Ergo range. But it is not an ordinary economic keyboard. Be it the unique curvy design and ergonomics or the cozy palm rest, the K860 is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable keyboards you can buy.

It's all in the curve

At first glance, you know why the Logitech K860 is not your traditional ergonomic keyboard. Instead of lying flat on your desk like the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, the Logitech K860 has a slight elevation and curvature on both the front and the back. Logitech calls this a "split curved keyframe".

This name seems strange, but you have to see the keyboard to believe it. The K860 floats off the desk and invites you to play with it. Unlike the Kinesis Freestyle2, this is not a medical or industrial looking keyboard. Apart from a single power switch on the top, there are no additional cables or unnecessary switches here.

You will also find that it is made entirely of plastic and carries a metal plate under the top layer. Although this keyboard is curved and made of plastic, it is solid and comfortable, and there is a good reason for it.

Not only can you slide your cell phone cables or chargers under the keyboard, but the curve and height also allow more comfort when typing. It is designed to help you put your wrists in a more neutral position. It also helps reduce stress on your wrists and forearm, and keeps your hands, neck, and shoulders more relaxed while typing.

This is something Logitech has put a lot of effort into. The company informed me that there was a research and development laboratory in which up to 40 different prototypes of this keyboard were developed and in which actual people were invited to test the products. These people were even connected to sensors that measured muscle strain and pressure.

According to Logitech, 15% of computer users feel pain every day and the K860 offers up to 54% more wrist support than traditional keyboards. This statistic was particularly troubling for me, a person who spends the whole day at my desk typing and scrolling with the mouse. It is definitely convenient. When I used the Logitech MX Keys as a daily driver, I was curious how this ergonomic keyboard could also improve my typing experience.

Enter a storm on any device you own

Admittedly, it took me some time to get used to this curvature and the new layout, in which the keys have a downward V-shape. It felt strange for a day or two, but when my fingers got used to the curve and layout, it felt natural. It forced me to become a touch typist more than normal, and I noticed that I looked less at the keyboard. In combination with the MX Vertical mouse, my daily computer tasks felt organic when my hands slid smoothly between the keyboard and mouse.

The Logitech MX Keys were one of our favorite keyboards for everyday typing, but they may have found their equivalent in the Ergo K860. The Ergo has "scooped" keycaps with a small circle in the middle of the cap that allows you to align your fingers in a more natural position. It also helps with durability. Logitech even claims the Ergo K860 is designed to last 10 million keystrokes, but these are just numbers. Is it true?

After using the Logitech K860 to cover CES 2020 from my home office, I can at least say that this keyboard is very comfortable. Thanks to the "split curved keyframe" and the design, I didn't have to keep my fingers crossed while typing. Thanks to the padded palm rest, I didn't have to pull my wrists to the side as I moved between the words.

However, this is not a mechanical keyboard. If you are looking for long trips or a click of a button, you have to look elsewhere. This is more of a laptop-class keyboard that uses rubber domes instead of mechanical switches under the keycaps. However, there are more trips here than on ultra-short keyboards like the MacBook Pro.

My average writing speed is 90 words per minute, but with the Ergo K860 I have reached almost 95 words per minute. It's a modest improvement, but it was a new record for me. It's also a quiet keyboard, which is important if you work in an open office environment and don't want to bother your employees.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Like the MX keys, this wireless keyboard is cross-platform, so you can use it with multiple devices at the same time. You can connect it to a PC via a USB dongle or use it via Bluetooth and switch between them with a key on the keyboard. I used it with both my Surface Laptop 3 and my Google Pixel 3 XL and was able to switch between PC and laptop with the push of a button and respond to texts on my phone.

The type of function keys also reflects this. As with the MX keys, there is a double "Start" and "Options" button for Mac and Windows. Above this is a series of buttons for media and function control. Brightness, apps, search, lock, battery status – you will find everything here. And the number pad is also a good measure. With Logitech, you can even customize the keyboard using the Logitech Options software, which allows you to customize the function keys.

Unfortunately, the K860 is not illuminated and is not rechargeable. Logitech tells me that this was a deliberate design decision they made. They didn't want to do without the clean keyboard design or the 2-year battery life that came with the two AAA batteries. They also believe that the keyboard is used in office environments where backlighting is less important.

It's pretty cozy

The other important element of the Ergo K860 is its wrist support. Of course, you can find them in other ergonomic keyboards like the Adesso Tru-Form 150, Matias Ergo Pro or Logitech's own K350, but the Ergo K860 goes far beyond that.

Instead of using just a single layer of foam or fabric like the palm rest, Logitech chose three layers of material. These include a high-density foam, a memory foam and an easy-to-clean, coated fabric that increases the comfort of the keyboard and its ergonomics. It surely surpasses the double-padded layer on the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

During my time with the keyboard in my home office, I often touched her just because it felt so cozy that it was almost like a pillow on my bed. I even had an accident and spilled some water on the palm rest and it wiped off immediately.

Logitech also thinks of the modern office. The underside of the palm rest has an adjustable hinge with which you can tile the keyboard for standing or sitting desks at 4 or 7 degrees. It also helps you keep your wrist in a naturally comfortable position when you are sitting or standing.

Our opinion

The Logitech Ergo K860 for $ 130 isn't just a convenient keyboard. It is the best ergonomic keyboard we have ever used. Everything from the typing experience to the simple exchange between devices makes it an extremely modern and comfortable office tool. If you're worried about your wrists after long hours in the office, the K860 may be the keyboard for you.

Is there a better alternative?

The Logitech K860 is the best ergonomic keyboard you can buy, but there are plenty of alternatives. One of the leading options in the same $ 130 price range is the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, which has a similar design and palm rest, but not the "heightened" feel and compatibility of multiple devices in the K860.

You can also opt for the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop, which has ergonomics similar to the Logitech, but is cheaper at around $ 100. And if backlighting is important, there's the Adesso Tru-Form 150 for $ 40.

How long it will take?

As a keyboard with USB dongle, Bluetooth, durable plastic surface with a metal layer underneath and a long battery life, the K860 holds the test of time.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you are looking for a keyboard that is extremely comfortable, the Logitech Ergo K860 is the right choice for you. It has a super comfortable wrist rest and was developed overall to relieve the pain when typing. Only the lack of backlighting and not charging prevent it from being perfect.

Editor's recommendations




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