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Modular smartwatches and cow stomach monitors in Bluetooth showcase (pictures)

Add Bluetooth to your cow and create your perfect smartwatch with these new Bluetooth devices shown off at an event in London.

Andrew Lanxon
Andrew is CNET's go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
Andrew Lanxon
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Bluetooth is finding its way into more and more devices, from phones, tablets and laptops, to watches, home appliances and now even the humble cow.

The WellCow, pictured here, was among a range of new Bluetooth devices shown off at a Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) event in London.

Rather than giving you remote control of a cow (what I dreamed when I first saw it), the WellCow device sits in a cow's first stomach (they have four, don't you know) and provides information regarding the stomach levels of the cow, back to the Android device in the farmer's hands.

Correct acid levels results in better milk yield, so with the WellCow, dairy farmers can accurately monitor the cow's diet to ensure that they're able to properly produce the white stuff.

Although it looks massive, the device is apparently small enough for a cow to swallow without difficulty and will remain in the stomach for the cow's lifetime.

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Bovine biometrics aside, this cool modular smartwatch concept was also shown off.

It's called Blocks and each individual square of the band can incorporate a different type of sensor (GPS, heart-rate monitor, accelerometer etc). The idea being that you can add only the functionalities that you want.

It'll also run on Google's newly unveiled smartwatch software Android Wear.

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Blocks is only a non-working prototype for now, but will be hitting Kickstarter later this year with an aim to be available to buy late next year.

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These lights are part of what's known as a "mesh network," developed by CSR. The mesh network allows hundreds of Bluetooth devices to be controlled by one device.

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When used with these lights, a mesh network would let you fill your house with hundreds of connected lights and have them all turn on and off or change colour at once. It might cost you a fair amount though.

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If you'd rather ensure that all your house lights are off when you leave home, cast your eyes over Oort.

Oort is a hub that's able to communicate with any number of connected gadgets, regardless of what manufacturer made them. In a neat demonstration, I was shown how a Jawbone Up fitness band can be linked to lamps, that will automatically turn off when you're not nearby.

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This Bluetooth heart rate monitor by Qardio is small and easily portable. It's particularly handy for those of you who need to keep regular check of your blood pressure.

As well as giving you a handy readout on your phone's screen, you can also send the results through to your doctor, who's able to alter your medication or suggest a visit, without you having to waste yours and their time with unnecessary appointments.

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Qardio also makes this electrocardiogram (ECG). It records the electrical activity of the heart, but is much smaller and much cheaper than regular ECGs and can be worn unobtrusively throughout the day.

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The iPacifier by Blue Maestro meanwhile is a regular baby's dummy (fine, pacifier) that's packed with sensors measuring things like the baby's temperature. In theory, it makes it easy for you and your doctor to see changes in the baby's health and how it's reacting to medication.

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Blue Maestro also make these room sensors that can track temperature and humidity in your room, helping you make sure environmental conditions for your offspring are ideal.

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These BluCub sensors also track humidity and temperature, but are designed to be small enough to pop all over your house in areas where humidity is important.

Want to monitor your tomatoes in your greenhouse or your vintage port in your wine cellar? These little chaps should help you keep conditions optimal. Although they will set you back £50 each.

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If you're heading to a dodgy area or are just plain careless, these Bluetooth security tags by Lupo should definitely be on your wish list. Pop one on your bag and an alarm will sound when it moves too far away from your phone, or vice-versa.

When someone tries to walk off with your bag when you're sat at a cafe in Barcelona (this happens often, in my experience), you'll be alerted hopefully in time to catch the would-be thief.

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