Showing posts with label Ring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ring. Show all posts

Monday, August 7, 2017

WATCH | Introducing: The ‘smart ring’ for the visually impaired

A ‘smart’ ring developed in Hong Kong aims to help the visually impaired by allowing them to answer phone calls with a touch of a finger. Reuters’ Amy Pollock has more.


Answering a phone call could become as simple as touching your ear.

Wear new smart ring Orii on your finger and connect to your phone using bluetooth… And pick up calls using bone conduction technology that sends sound vibrations through your hand straight into your ear. It’s a way of ditching the screen and paying attention to world around us, say its developers.

“We’re very well connected, very digital-savvy. We also know that in some way we want to shift our habits towards something else. We want to keep our heads up, we want to be able to stay more in the moment. I think this device represents a different way of using our devices,” Origami Labs co-founder Kevin Wong, saying.

Hong Kong-based start up Origami developed the Orii as a way of improving smartphone functionality for visually impaired users. They typically rely on screen reading software, but that has its problems.

“It’s loud and other people can hear it. Can you imagine it reading out your password? That’s inconvenient and inappropriate,” Origami Labs Technical Advisor, Peter Wong, saying.

Origami found its discreet device had wider appeal.

“So one thing that we discovered was that making screen-free tech was more than just about accessibility, But really about making something easier to use for all of us,” Kevin Wong, saying.

The Orii gives around one hour of continuous listening time, according to its developers. And it links up with voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant to complete calls, text messages and setting reminders.

source: interaksyon.com

Monday, December 23, 2013

‘Smart ring’ now in the works


MANILA, Philippines — A crowdfunded device wearable on one’s finger and is able to act as a remote control and notification platform to one’s smartphone is now set to be manufactured.

The developers behind “Smarty Ring” has so far raised $241,483 at Indiegogo, way past the developer’s fundraising target of $40,000.

“Spending more than eight months of technical research, we have finalized the feasible prototype model,” the group wrote in their status update.

“We have confirmed the possibilities of manufacturing micro-components with the manufacturing companies and we are all set to go,” they added.

The ring is compatible on both iOS and Android, enabling its to receive notifications on calls, text, email, and social media updates from the smartphone it is hooked up with, which could either be inside a bag, pocket, or any place nearby.

It could also be used a remote control on basic smartphone functions such as accepting or rejecting calls, using the camera, and controlling the music player.

It’s default LED display is a clock and could also be used a tracking device in case of theft.

Depending on the functionality, the device can be currently bought from $50 to $175.

source: interaksyon.com