Weekly health and fitness agenda: World Braille Day, CES

January 4 marks World Braille Day (National Braille Week in the UK), which raises public awareness of blindness issues around the world. Also Las Vegas is ramping up for CES, which plans to spotlight new trends in mobile health care.

World Braille Day
January 4
International

Celebrating Louis Braille's birthday on January 4, 1809, this annual event is an opportunity for blindness organizations to promote Braille literacy, showcase their work, and raise public awareness of blindness issues around the world. UK television show X Factor winner Joe McElderry has launched the first ever Braille CD booklet to mark the occasion. In addition, an exhibition of artwork by visually impaired artists, including paintings, photography, and sculptures, as well as Braille messages from UK celebs including Susan Boyle, Michael Ball, and Stephen Fry, is on display through January 4 in the main banking hall at the Royal Bank on St. Andrew Square in Edinburgh. Visit websites such as the World Blind Union and the UK-based National Braille Week for details and information.
http://www.worldblindunion.org
http://www.nationalbrailleweek.org/page/news


44th International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
January 6-9
Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Medical, fitness, and health technological innovations will be on display at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which features thousands of exhibitors and last year attracted more than 120,000 attendees. The event will also feature a Digital Health Summit conference on January 7, focusing on the booming market of consumer-based health and wellness innovations including telehealth systems, therapeutic and diagnostic medical devices, remote monitoring devices, robotic prosthetics, and secured wireless communication medical devices. This year, CES will also introduce the "Fitness TechZone," an area dedicated to showcasing high-tech innovations and tools for sports enthusiasts such as digital weight scales, pedometers and fitness companions, software programs and applications, and peripherals and games for gaming systems. An Exhibits Plus Pass allows access to all exhibits, keynote addresses, and selected conference sessions, including the Digital Health Summit. On January 1, the price for that pass raises from $100 (€75) to $200 (€150).
http://www.cesweb.org/
http://digitalhealthsummit.com/


36th Arab Health
January 24-27
Dubai, UAE

Now in its 36th year, Arab Health is an international business networking event among healthcare, medical, and science professionals held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. The event expects to draw more than 2,700 exhibitors from 60 countries in 2011, including pavilions for Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The event is unique in its focus to draw an international community to Dubai's fast-growing health market, with more than 30 percent of last year's exhibitors and attendees from outside the Gulf States.
http://www.arabhealthonline.com/

2nd International Fitness Week
February 1-7
International

The second annual International Fitness Week presented by Fitness First, an international fitness club, with a range of partners including Fitness Industry Association and the British Olympic Association. Health activities will be taking place in 12 different countries throughout Europe and Asia. While the site is not yet updated, stay tuned to internationalfitnessweek.com to find out what is taking place near you or learn more on how to create a healthier lifestyle.
http://www.internationalfitnessweek.com


25th GSMA Mobile World Congress
February 14-17
Barcelona, Spain

GSMA Mobile World Congress, a four-day event dedicated to cutting-edge mobile technology, will feature a GSMA Mobile Health program, focusing on remote monitoring, wellness, and assisted living technologies. A full program of conferences, keynotes, and panel discussions runs alongside an exhibition of the hottest new products and concept designs from the top mobile companies in the field. 1,300 exhibitors and 50,000 industry members from 200 countries are expected in 2011. Tickets range from €4,999 for a platinum executive pass to €649 for an exhibitor pass. A standard gold pass, allowing access to all exhibitions, conferences, and networking opportunities, is priced at €2,699.
http://www.mobileworldcongress.com