From Fitbits to Apple Watches, wearable technology has taken center stage when it comes to monitoring health, keeping track of notifications and even a general fashion statement. The American Kennel Club has been strengthening the bond between human and dog for well over a century and has taken the leap to provide wearable tech for our furry friends.
So, how did such a far-fetched vision come become reality? The American Kennel Club reached out to some of the top software development firms in the country and landed on AndPlus, the renown software company just outside Boston. They're known for their exceptional mobile apps and web development services and provided the AKC with game-changing insight. I had the chance to talk to a couple of the engineers that made this vision a reality and learned a few things.
We're the only true end-to-end software development firm in the Northeast at least. Every other company outsources at least part of their design, prototyping or engineering but we do all of that in-house.
- Tom Golden, Senior Engineer, AndPlus
Software companies are known to outsource parts or even most of their code to overseas contractors. This fragmentation of development often leads to delays, compatibility issues and of course bugs all in the hope of cutting costs. AndPlus takes the Made-In-The-USA approach a step further - none of he code ever leaves the building. From the kickoff meetings to the QA Testing, all is done by an in-house team.
Beautifully designed with supple latigo leather, the Link AKC smart collar is ergonomically shaped to sit comfortably on a pup of any size's neck. The aesthetic appeal of the collar is obvious, but the real magic is what's inside. The key features of the smart collar are:
- Activity and Health monitoring: Like the human counterpart in wearable tech, activity and health monitoring is a key feature. This helps pet owners track their dogs wellness, daily activity and set appropriate goals for any specific dog breed.
- GPS location tracking: The smart collar uses a smart GPS chip that gives owners the location of their pet at any given time while still maintaining the 30 day battery life.
- Custom Mobile App: iOS or Android, Link AKC has you covered. Access your dog's health records, activity levels or location right from your mobile device no matter where you are.
- Remote controlled flashlight: Never be left in the dark when out for a walk. This LED light provides light for your dog, acts as a safety feature and makes it easy to find your dog in the darkest conditions.
- 'Adventures': Smart collar owners can create a scrapbook of any journeys you take with your dog. From photos to routes you can create precious memories and share them to social media.
- Weather and Temperature alerts: Instantly be alerted when weather conditions may be unsuitable for your dog.
- 30 Day Battery Life: The Link AKC smart collar has industry leading battery technology. Only charge it once a month. That's just 12 times a year that you have to undo the easy-to-open latch and place on the charging station.
- Any Breed, Any Size: Whether you've got a tiny chihuahua to a big ol' St. Bernard, there's a Link collar just for you. The ergonomically curved collar provides a comfortable and accurate fit for any furry friend.
Connecting complex hardware to software is no easy task but AndPlus has been doing it for over a decade. From medical devices to fire control systems they seem to have the industry down pat and it shows by the demand in their work.
Being the best software development company in Boston isn't an easy reputation to live up to but the AndPlus team showed a fundamental understanding of implementing wireless technologies to mobile and web applications. This proved especially true when Link AKC won the CES 2017 Best of Innovation in Wearable Technologies award just last month.
AndPlus is proud of what we accomplished here. Wearable technology isn't the future, it's now. Pushing wireless tech to the limits is what we do best and it's been an exciting journey to develop this product.
- Brian Geary, Account Manager - AndPlus
A fashionable product that serves a multitude of deeper functions, Link by AKC is a revolutionary step in Internet of Things implementation. This is the most advanced platform ever created for a pet-oriented device and it's just the beginning. AndPlus plans on iterating the application and adding features with time to make this the quintessential accessory for your furry friend.
The Link by AKC smart collar launches in February 2017 for $199. This is the only IoT product of its kind and opens the door for a bright future in both mobile applications and wearable technology. Order yours today at LinkAKC.com and be sure to learn more about the leading software development company in the nation, AndPlus.