You attach it around your water bottle and it monitors your fluid intake, reminding you, with sounds and LED indicators, that, perhaps, its time to drink more water.

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Up front there are minimal LED indicators including one for power, another for network connectivity and finally Sling's upside-down "U" that lets you know when someone is using it.

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The topmost section features a physical volume dial that also serves as a mute switch when pushed, surrounded by a circular cluster of LEDs (for clockwise-flowing level indication) and then a secondary outer ring of capacitive buttons and LED indicators.

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With the press of a button, LED charge indicators provide the user with the amount of battery charge left in their device.

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"Whilst the service has made significant strides in reducing burglaries and vehicle crime by concentrating its efforts on these government-led performance indicators, it could be argued that such targets have detracted attention away from traditional patrolling, " he said.

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The report argues that knee-jerk responses to past tragedies have led to a defensive child protection system that tries to prevent mistakes by setting performance indicators and procedures for what needs to happen.

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But, in recent months, a weakening of economic indicators and easing of underlying inflation pressures (falling oil, food and commodity prices) have led the central bank to take out its scissors and slash the borrowing rate (see: " An Ominous Signal From The Bank Of England").

FORBES: Market Scan