Physical fitness is a virtual reality with smart devices, online trainers - Denver Post

NEW YORK — Even in the vastness of the online fitness universe, it all comes down to the human touch on your touch screen.

The latest, smartest devices and websites are enlisting online dating and gaming technology to forge real relationships in the virtual fitness world.

"We sell the relationship between trainer and client," said Jeff Marinucci, president and chief executive of InerTrain, an online personal-training service launched in 2010.

To unite clients with the personal trainer of their dreams, the Chicago-based company uses algorithms similar to those of Match.com, the online dating service.

"This is the next generation of fitness," Marinucci said. "Too much online fitness was generic. Our trainers will fit your workouts to your needs anytime, anywhere, just not in real time."

He said his company targets world travelers, stay-at-home mothers, and others with tight and shifting schedules.

"When I was a client, my biggest problem was that workouts were not customized around the individual," Marinucci said. "I need that person that's looking over my shoulder, even virtually."

The game designers, artists and technicians at Striiv, which is based in Redwood City, Calif., have aimed to build a Smart Pedometer that is as habit-forming as a computer game.

"The power of a simple pedometer is mind-boggling, but people get bored so fast," said Striiv chief executive David Wang. "We put technology inside ours that learns your behavior and gives you challenges depending on what motivates you."

Wang said the pedometer's learning algorithm resembles the one that delivers recommendations on Netflix, the Internet subscription service for movies and television.

"People are addicted to game mechanics," said Wang. "We can get people addicted to fitness."

The pedometer can connect to competitions involving friends, family members, strangers and prizes.

Santa Monica, Calif.-based exercise physiologist Amy Dixon believes that when you create a community around an activity, people are more likely to come back.

"There are numbers people who like to know how fast they ran, how many calories they burned," she said. "This (website) allows them to go back home, post their information and communicate with other people."

Similarly, she said, the Nike Plus website allows users to share information from the pedometers built right into their Nike shoes.

Unfortunately, Dixon said, this brave new world can be daunting for some.

"It makes some people just not try," she said. "Maybe if you wore that smart device you'd get fitter. But it's just too complicated."

For Marinucci, online fitness is simply the logical future.

"I think this is where things are going, like online dating, online education."

Dixon agrees that smart technology is spreading: rapidly and everywhere.

"It's all pretty amazing," she said. "Sometimes I look at (the latest) washing machine and think, 'Can't I just turn it on?' "

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Yamax Digiwalker <b>Pedometer</b> SW701 | Sport Arbs

 Measures steps, distance and calories consumedYamax Digiwalkers are widely considered the most accurate availableStride length can be set precisely in 0.25 foot intervalsLarge, easy to read displayMade in JapanThe Yamax Digiwalker SW701 measures steps, distance and calories consumed. Counts the number of steps taken walking or jogging up to 100,000 steps. Measures the distance covered while walking or jogging from 0.01 - 1,000 miles. Stride length can be set precisely in 0.25 foot intervals. Measures calories burned while walking or jogging from 0.1-10,000 kcal. Body weight can be set between 30 and 300 lbs. Large, easy to read display and easily operated buttons. Battery life approximately 3 years an Price: £27.57
Article by Erwin Merrill

A published author books and articles related to health and well being

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Rise of the Fadget: How we spend £900million on faddy gadgets which we never use - Daily Mail

All of us are occasionally tempted by impulse buys of shiny toys.

However it costs us dearly - Britons spend ?900million a year on household gadgets, from ice cream makers to melon ballers, that we rarely use.

Top of the list of faddy gadgets, or ‘fadgets’ which languish unused in kitchen cupboards is the fondue set, which costs an average of ?41.65, but is used just once or even never at all by 56 per cent of owners.

Who wants fondue? Lots of us, judging by the number in our nation's kitchens - but we rarely get them out of the cupboard

Ice cream makers: Just one of the items that we buy each year but rarely use

The next gadget we love to own but never use is the soda stream fizzy drink maker, which retails at an average cost of ?48.39, but is typically used less than once a year or never by four in 10 owners.

At three is the melon baller costing an average ?5.95, but is used never or less than once a year by 35 per cent of owners.

Fourth is a pedometer - a keep fit device which measures walking distance - which costs an average of ?24.98 but is rarely used by 44 per cent of owners.

And at five - and most expensive - is the ice-cream maker costing an average of ?107, but is typically used just once every three to six months by four in ten owners, giving it a cost per use of ?26.92.

The research, based around 2,000 shoppers by comparison website Pricerunner, set out to find which gadgets are good investments and which are best left on the shop shelf.

Fondue setSoda stream fizzy drink makerMelon ballerPedometer keep-fit deviceIce-cream maker

The most cost-effective items were a tablet computer like an iPad, espresso maker, smartphone speakers, spaghetti measurer and garlic press.

Other useful gadgets included the paper shredder, used at least once a month by six in 10 people keen prevent identity fraud, along with the the smoothie drink maker, and the toasted sandwich grill.

Alison Guise, of PriceRunner, said: 'In the current economy shoppers are on the lookout for ways to save money, such as investing in an espresso machine to make coffee at home rather than buying a take away cup, but our study shows that many of the items we think will save us money turn out to be fads that are rarely used.

'Before making an investment, think realistically about your lifestyle and if it will make a difference: will it save you time and money?

'If you think yes - then make sure you look around for the best deals to keep that cost per use low.'

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Maritz Wellness Program Study Identifies Factors that Motivate Healthy Behaviors - YAHOO!

Study Shows Rewards, Choice and Social Networks Drive Results

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) May 17, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control say most chronic health problems are preventable with lifestyle changes. As a result, employers are turning to wellness programs. However, an Aon Hewitt survey released last June found that 56 percent of wellness program managers say “motivating participants to promote behavior change” is the most significant challenge to accomplishing health care program goals. In light of these challenges, Maritz recently conducted a study with its own employees to test a science-based wellness approach, rooted in understanding the individual in order to motivate healthy behaviors.

Using the work of The Maritz Institute as a foundation, professionals from Maritz Research, Maritz Motivation Solutions and The Maritz Institute formulated a point of view on wellness programs. This point of view aligns with The Maritz Institute’s people principles, which are based on the latest research and thinking in the human sciences.

“We tested a progressive health approach focused on four key aspects of health: physical activity, prevention, mental well-being and nutrition,” said Amy Kramer, solution design strategist and wellness expert for Maritz Motivation Solutions. “In this study, we leveraged rewards, choice and organizational and social support to help people engage and take ownership of their health.”

Specifically, Maritz tested different healthy behavior adoptions with varying combinations of rewards, a choice between walking and journaling, and a social aspect. Approximately 300 Maritz employees participated in the study, which examined the following:

The findings reported more physical activity among those who received rewards (points) and among those given a choice about their wellness behavior (walking with a pedometer vs. positive attitude journaling). Rewards had twice the impact for people who didn’t do much walking before the study. Additionally, those who were assigned a social aspect as part of their activities reported an increase in average daily steps on a pedometer.

“These results tell us that by considering personal motivators and giving organizations the right tools, we can design a wellness program that engages people,” added Kramer.

“Our experience in designing best-in-class motivation and employee engagement programs translates well to improving the impact of wellness programs. For example, we found that people naturally bonded over having a pedometer, which actually sparked competition among participants,” Kramer noted.

However, results weren’t limited to walking. Those incented with rewards points completed positive attitude journaling 25 percent more often than those who were not incented. There were also self-reported positive results across all treatments:

For full results of the Maritz study and details on creating more effective wellness programs, download the executive summary and accompanying whitepaper, “Starting a Wellness Revolution.”

About Maritz Motivation Solutions

Based in St. Louis, Maritz Motivation Solutions is part of the Maritz family of companies. It offers full-service reward and recognition, sales incentive and channel loyalty programs to U.S. and global companies. Maritz Motivation Solutions delivers best-in-class rewards and fulfillment services, including purposefully-chosen merchandise and experiences that excite, motivate and recognize people. The people who work for Maritz Motivation Solutions are dedicated to being the best in the business, fun to work with and their clients’ most valuable ally. For more information, visit http://www.maritz.com or call 1-877-4MARITZ. Follow us on Twitter @Maritz_LLC.

About The Maritz Institute

The Maritz Institute is a network of thought leaders advancing the human sciences in business. Through a deeper understanding of people, Maritz solutions help companies achieve strategic goals by engaging stakeholders in ways most meaningful to them. Simply stated, our mission is to help create “Better Business. Better Lives.”

Jennifer Larsen
Maritz
636-827-1523

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Using libraries in Toronto that intensify you your training - Toronto Star

2012-05-07 19: 00 Borrow a pedometer of the Toronto public library to assist in the form.

In the coming months, public health of Toronto and the Toronto public library will be expanding its loan program of the pedometer to all branches of the library of the city. Currently, there are 1 000 pedometers available in 40 branches, but the plan is approximately 1,500 pedometers available in the year all Bookmobiles and all branches of 98.

Pedometer, a small tool which account the number of steps a person takes - is popular in most of the library, but the busiest branches include Agincourt, Fairview, North York Central, Sanderson and Thorncliffe. Last year, they signed on about 3 times.

The Toronto Star has asked the nurse public health Melissa De Jesus on the program:

Q: Why the program was presented?

A: Our motivation is to encourage people to be more active. Walking is an easy activity that people can do at any time of the year, indoors or outdoors, and it costs nothing. Pedometers are excellent tools for motivational to get people to go and to keep the people go.

Q: How long the program since?

A: Since 2007, but we only started with 12 branches because it was a pilot project and we wanted to see how it would work. And it has been successfully if we continue expanding it.

Q: Is a session a pedometer just as they would a book?

A: Yes. The library loan period is three weeks (similar to a book) and then it can be renewed. People can keep it up to nine weeks, that you are authorized to renew twice.

Q: What was the reaction?

A: We have received many positive reactions. Our statistics go up each year in terms of traffic, more and more people are impersonating them. We get calls all the time from people who love the pedometer and want to buy their own. It was really, really successful.

Q: Who uses it more?

A: Everyone uses it. When the program started we were trying to encourage adults, but we had a lot of interest from young people and seniors.

Q: What is the average number of steps, a person must be in a day?

A: When you borrow a pedometer, must be with our walk in the health record. It explains how to use the pedometer accurately and lists a goal of 10,000 not per day. It is a goal people should strive. In a 30-minute walk, the average person takes anywhere between 3 000 and 4 500 steps in half an hour.

Q: What are the benefits of walking?

A: The benefits are enormous. It improves mood, sleep, energy levels and reduces the risk of certain diseases. And, it's fun.

Borrow a pedometer of the Toronto public library to assist in the form.

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Striiv Launches 2nd-Gen Smart Pedometer - Twice

REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. – Striiv is shipping the latest iteration of it Striiv smart pedometer, a small, touchscreen fitness device that accurately tracks steps and motivates its users to walk more.

The always-on device can track steps, distance, calories burned, stairs and minutes of activity throughout the day.

With its proprietary Fitness Motivation System, Striiv learns a user’s behavior and then encourages activity via personalized challenges and goals, games and donation opportunities.

Launching with it is Striiv Connected, a new, built-in social component that also lets users compete in activitybased challenges with other users for energy points or other prizes. Once the stakes are established, users connect devices, choose to walk together or separately, and Striiv keeps track of who reaches the finish line first. New animated characters also provide opponents.

Each time Striiv is connected to a computer, the latest activity information is stored. Syncing lets users record steps, stairs, calories burned and donations made, so they can keep track of progress.

Since the original Striiv entered the market in January, on average, Striiv users are walking nearly 60 minutes per day, logging 3 miles per day, and averaging eight flights of stairs every day, according to the company.

“Striiv isn’t just for athletes or datadriven early adopters. It’s for everyday, busy people who also want to get fit, give back and have fun. Striiv is fitness for the rest of us,” said David Wang, CEO and co-founder of Striiv. “Research shows getting fit doesn’t require a gym or a crazy routine. It’s about seizing dozens of opportunities throughout the day to move more and then enjoying the countless benefits of a more active, healthy life.”

The new Striiv smart pedometer retails for $99.95 is now available on BestBuy.com and in select Best Buy stores, as well as HSN.com, Amazon.com and Striiv.com.  

BrightPoint is a global leader in mobile device lifecycle services. We provide a full suite of end-to-end supply chain and customization solutions to manufacturers, retailers and carriers in the mobile device industry. In a world that is increasingly connected with ever-evolving ..more

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London 2012: Olympians Sally Gunnell and Chris Boardman in race across London - Newham Recorder 24

Sally Gunnell is racing against Chris Boardman today.

Oympians Sally Gunnell and Chris Boardman will race against each other today to find the quickest route across London.

1. Make the most of the commute – The journey to or from work can be a really easy way for your employees to get in a bit more walking, either by walking all or part of the way. Encourage staff to walk down to the next bus stop or get off a stop early. They will feel invigorated and inspired for the day ahead or, if walking home, they can unwind and leave the working day behind.

2. Plan your business travel – If employees have a meeting that is a walkable distance, encourage them to walk instead of getting public transport or a taxi.

3. Record your runners – Conduct regular ‘running and walking census’ to count the number of people running and walking on-site and record any changes and progress.

4. The pedometer test – Issue a pedometer to each employee – they can be a great way to get people thinking about how much walking they really do.

5. Start a running club – Group running is good fun and can really help to motivate people to keep up their exercise routine, so set up a running club for employees.

6. Host a walking meeting – Call a walking meeting and you’ll get a change of scenery, boost your energy, get some fresh air and burn a few calories too.

7. Motivate staff – A workforce that regularly walks and runs will be fit and healthy. Consider incentives to encourage and reward staff who run or walk. These include cheap breakfasts for runners; free fruit; or discounts on running accessories or clothing by arrangement with a local sport shop.

The pair will start at Liverpool Street station and make their way to Stour Space, a gallery and cafe opposite the Olympic Park on the River Lea.

The race aims to get people to think about alternative methods of travel to and from work during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It has been inspired by research from London 2012 and Transport for London (TfL), which says 86 per cent of central London businesses are planning one or more initiatives to encourage employees to use a different way to get to work during the Games.

Gunnell, a former 400m hurdles Olympic gold medallist, will run the race. She said: “Walking and running part or all of a journey around London and other hotspots is the ideal way to travel around during the Games.

“There are 47 Tube journeys that can be walked in under 10 minutes and this is even quicker if people run it, so commuters should consider letting their trainers, rather than the train, take the strain this summer.”

Former cycling world champion and Olympic gold medallist Boardman will cycle his route. He said: “Today shows how quick and easy it is to cycle around London and it’s now up to businesses to encourage their staff to get on their bikes during Games-time.

“Cycling offers a cheap and convenient way to get around London and is an alternative that businesses wanting their employees to get around hotspots quickly should definitely consider during the Games.”

TfL estimates that up to three million additional journeys will be made in London on the busiest days of the Games.

Hotspots on the travel network have been identified by TfL, which is encouraging people to use its Get Ahead of the Games website to plan journeys ahead of time.

Ben Plowden, director of surface planning at TfL, said: “We are asking all businesses in Games hotspots to encourage their employees to consider cycling or walking for all or part of their journey instead of getting the Tube.

“London will be a hugely exciting place to be this summer but the transport network will be much busier.

“Whether it’s travelling to work on foot or by bike, firms need to ensure their business can continue to run smoothly during the Games.”

Gunnell and Boardman have produced top tips to help businesses encourage their employees to cycle, walk or run to work during the Games.

The tips have been developed with businesses that have cycling and running schemes for their staff, including GSK, which has cycle showers, lockers and parking, plus a bike miles scheme, and Unilever, which has created an online community to encourage staff to form their own cycling clubs.

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Get Rihannas body in just 25 minutes! The workout secrets behind singers hot body (involving a fitness gadget thats just £3) - Daily Mail

Achieving an A List body doesn't mean you have to have the bank balance of one, according to a personal trainer to the stars.

Harley Pasternak says he keeps celebs like Rihanna and Megan Fox in shape by getting them to wear a pedometer, which can be bought for as little as ?3.

'I tell her (Rihanna) to make sure she takes 10,000 steps a day,' the fitness expert told Grazia magazine.

In shape: Rihanna showed off her slim figure at this week's Met Gala... and got in a few of her 10,000 steps a day walking the red carpet

As well as walking, Harley gets the singer to do a workout five days a week that takes just 25 minutes and can be done anytime, anywhere.

'I've put her on a special 25-minute-day workout that consists of five mini workouts,' he explains. 'She does it five days a week, wherever she is in the world... it's easy for her to fit around her busy schedule and even her holidays.'

The workout involves five phases - the first and last are a cardio warm up/down of jogging or skipping, while the middle section involves repetitions for the upper body, lower body and abs (for more information see box below).

Results: Rihanna has been asked to model Armani underwear and this shot shows how her workouts have paid off for her figure

Five minute cardio warm-up eg joggingFive minute upper body workout eg push upsFive minute lower body workout eg squatsFive minute ab workout eg sit upsFive minute cardio cool-down eg skipping

The exercise regime has clearly been paying off as Rihanna has been showing off her toned figure while on holiday in Hawaii recently and hasn't been shy of tweeting pictures of herself in a two-piece.

But the results aren't just achieved through exercise alone.

Harley also gets Rihanna to follow his 'five-factor' diet plan, which he details on his website www.5factor.com.

Instead of the traditional three meals a day, his diet recommends eating small five meals. Each of these meals must contain five key ingredients - protein, fibre, 'healthy' carbs, (eg fruit and vegetables) a 'healthy' fat (eg avocado or nuts), and a sugar-free drink such as green tea or vitamin water.

One perk of the eating plan is that dieters can have a 'cheat day' once a week, when they are allowed to eat treats like chocolate. Harley says this helps his clients like Rihanna keep their diet on track.

'If you're good all the time, you're more likely to slip up and feel bad about your self. If you allow yourself to have a day where to eat anything you like, you'll stay on track the other six days. That's the secret to a great body and it keeps Rihanna happy,' he revealed.

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Gadget of the week: FitBit Ultra fitness on the fast track - Gulf News

What is it?

It's summer and we're getting our fitness on. And to help us along the way is this tiny gadget that does big things, such as analyse our eating, exercise and sleep patterns. Say hello to the FitBit Ultra.

So what exactly does it do?

The essence of the FitBit Ultra is that it is a pedometer. So once you've clipped this to your belt, or shirt or bag, it will keep track of how many steps you have taken and stairs you have climbed, calculate mileage and estimate the amount of calories you have burnt. It's tiny and light, so basically it can go anywhere.

But the beauty of the FitBit Ultra is that it does more than that. Once you've hooked it up to your computer, it will take you to the Fitbit.com website where you will be required to download a software. After you've entered a few details, this will encourage you to set goals and maintain a food diary. All that information is then matched to the information the tiny device collects throughout the day — whether you're walking, running or climbing stairs. For instance, it will calculate your food goals for you after you've entered your target weight, with the number of suggested calories per day, depending on just how active you've been.

To make your activity more fun, the device also comes with a clock and, at various points during an activity, will beep you encouraging messages to egg you on.

Another interesting feature of the FitBit Ultra is that it doubles as a sleep tracker. With the help of a Velcro wristband to which the device is clipped, it gives you an analysis of your sleep quality the next morning: What time you went to bed, what time you fell asleep, how many times you woke up during the night and your actual sleep time. This way, you get a better understanding of what makes you sleep better.

Let me warn you, though, that initial reviews have been quite contentious about the accuracy of the device's sleep tracker. Some early reviewers have said that the device often calculated sleep even if you are lying still but awake. Still, I'd say it's a great device to help you get a general idea of one of your most important activities.

The FitBit Ultra also uploads all your activity logs wirelessly to your computer whenever you are 15 feet of the base station, which has to be plugged into your Mac or your PC.

So where is it available and for how much?

The FitBit Ultra is not retailed in the UAE, and the Fitbit.com website only ships to the US and Canada. However, Amazon.com will happily ship it to you for about Dh355, plus Dh55 for shipping.

Technology gone flying

This one's bound to get the geek in you all electrified. Paris-based wireless products maker Parrot on Thursday showcased a new version of their AR.Drone in Dubai. This flying machine sports its own Wi-Fi access point and an HD camera to transmit videos in real time. What's more, it connects via a free application available for iOS and Android devices, so you control it with your phone or tablet. The free app gives you a number of options to navigate and play games. We'll bring you more once we have our hands on it. The AR.Drone 2.0 will be available in the UAE in July for Dh1,499.

Dell goes ultra-slim

Dell's new ultrabook 13-incher, the XPS 13, is now available. This very attractive laptop comes in an aluminium chassis and has a curved silver shell measuring 7mm at its thinnest point. With all the regular niceties included, Dell promises a battery life of up to eight hours. Available at Dh5,999 at Jacky's Electronics.

Go goldeneye

Video game and cosplay fans, listen up. A Korean company called InnoVision has just showcased a gold contact lens that they claim is inspired by Arabia, at the Vision-X exhibition in Dubai this week. We're not quite sure if it's something you'd want to wear out of character, but we think it's definitely worth a look — forgive the bad pun. The manufacturer is still looking for retail partners in the UAE, so no word on availability yet.

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5 techie gift ideas for mom - USA Today

For 364 days a year, the hard work of moms goes unappreciated. With Mother's Day around the corner, it's time to brainstorm gifts. Here are our picks for techie mamas.

With Mother's Day upon us, it's time to brainstorm gifts.

With Mother's Day upon us, it's time to brainstorm gifts.

BiKN finds lost items

As superhuman as they might seem, moms can't keep track of every last thing. This is where Bikn comes into the picture. Treehouse Labs' Bikn (without coincidence, it is pronounced like beacon) uses a radio-enabled iPhone case, an iOS app and clip-on tags to help locate lost items.

The CES innovations honoree has three modes — find, leash and page — that work up to 100 feet indoors and 500 feet outdoors. In find mode, the tag begins chirping and the iOS app shows how far away and in what direction to begin the search. When the case and tag are near each other, paging turns on the alarm for further audio cues.

Finally, the leash feature ensures mom never leaves without her valuables (keys, purse, young offsprings), sounding the alarm when the case and tag are separated.

But let's face it: People are just as likely to lose their iPhones as they do keys, which is why the system works both ways. The tags can also phone home, so to speak. The Bikn starter kit, which includes a smart case and two tags, is available for $129.99.

Terra Tote can carry it all

The Terra Tote can hold gadgets and other essentials.

Mom bags are known to be bottomless pits that hold everything from Tic Tacs to Tasers. Upgrade her worn out purse with the stylish Incase Terra Collection Tote Bag. Modern, elegant and utilitarian, this tote touts an au naturel look, with a cream-colored cotton exterior accented by red leather zipper pulls. The bag is spacious enough to carry all of mom's essentials and then some. In addition to the main compartment (suitable for books, lunch, diapers and other miscellany), a padded compartment can hold laptops measuring up to 13 inches, and internal pockets organize pens and smartphones. An included adjustable shoulder strap can also transform this versatile tote into a messenger bag. The Terra Tote retails for $79.95.

Striiv fitness tracker motivates with games

A fitness-tracking app designed for middle America, Striiv (pronounced like strive) stands out from the pack with its vibrant touchscreen. Why would mom want a pedometer with a screen? For one, it is easier to see at a glance how many steps she's walked. But it allows her to be social with her favorite people (that's you!).

When the company revamped its smart pedometer at the end of April, it added Striiv Connected, a built-in social component that allow users to compete in real-life physical challenges with friends and family. In San Francisco, for instance, users can race each other across the Golden Gate bridge to earn points (and bragging rights). Striiv also learns user behavior, suggesting personalized challenges and games. Cheesy as they might sound, these features have been surprisingly effective in motivating this relatively inactive writer to walk a couple more steps. Built-in games also give Striiv a very Zynga feel. If mom's a Farmville addict, this pedometer's for her.

E-reader: Your mom probably wants one

E-reader adoption is especially high among women and those 45 and older, according to Nielsen. What can we infer from this data? That mom probably wants one. Amazon's Kindle is preeminent but one of its biggest weaknesses is the inability to read in the dark without an external light.

In time for Mother's Day, Barnes & Noble introduced the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. The soft glow makes it possible for mom to read in bed without keeping dad up. The built-in anti-glare screen protector means reading in direct sunlight isn't a problem either. Still, it's worth considering if the glow is worth $40 — the price difference between this ($139) and the comparable but unlit Nook ($99). If you're going the budget route, it's also worth considering the Kindle, which starts at $79.

The gift of Karma

Still stumped? Have her choose. Designed for people with plenty of disposable income, Karma is a mobile app that makes gift giving a cinch. The app mines Facebook friends' profiles, posts and updates to alert you to new events worth celebrating, such as birthdays, job changes and holidays.

Karma excels in simplicity. Once you figure out the recipient and gift category, you're close to being done. No need to buy wrapping paper or track down shipping addresses; the former's taken care of by Karma, the latter by the giftee. And if mom's not happy with your gift suggestions, she can choose something else within the same price range or even donate that amount to charity. Karma is a free app for iOS and Android devices.

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