Wearable Device Wants to Humanise Technology

by Startacus Admin

Nowadays we live in a society that is immersed in technology. We find it very difficult to disconnect and appreciate the real world. In a lot of ways, technology has become very impersonal, alienating and distant.

However thanks to Smartstones, the distance between you and your loved ones caused by ever-present technology could be a thing of the past.

If you have trouble communicating with a loved one due to an illness or physical impairment, or want to find an easy way to keep in contact with family and friends who you don’t see very often, we reckon you’ll definitely be intrigued by Smarstones

The innovative device puts remote communication in the hands of the people with physical challenges, as well as those who struggle to keep in touch.

The inspiration for the device came to co-founder Andreas Forsland after his mother spent weeks on life support due to being diagnosed with severe pneumonia, and kidney failure. He wished that he had some way of communicating with her - some way of knowing if she was okay or if she needed any help.

And so, Smartstones was born. It is a non-verbal communication device, no bigger than a palm sized stone and is controlled through simple touch and motion gestures. Because of its simplicity, you are able to send messages, reminders and alerts to your loved ones using Smartstone’s :connect app. It allows you to create a private network for you and your loved ones so that you can keep in touch.

A smartphone isn’t absolutely necessary, but with the app, users are able to create a library of gestures and programme it to respond to a specific one. For example, two squeezes with a hand could mean “I’m okay” or your loved one could tell you they’re worried about something with the rub of a thumb. If this isn’t enough, they also have a :prose app that lets you easily speak words or phrases aloud through different movements such as swipes, taps and shakes.

It’s really easy to use and can be used by absolutely anyone. What’s more is they work with any device that has Bluetooth – smartphones, tablets and laptops! If you want to let your loved ones know how you’re getting on all you have to do is shake, tap or swipe your stone and the recipient stone will either vibrate or light up with a variety of colours.

Sounds fantastic, right? Most of us do take communication for granted, and like they say, you never know what you have until it’s gone. Thankfully, Smartstones is effective enough to make us realise that not everybody has that luxury.

In a world that is absolutely obsessed with technology and communicating online, those behind the Smartstone want to humanise technology again. Over time we have forgotten how much can be said with a simple squeeze of the hand – but hopefully the device will change how we think.

As well as this, the fact that they are so small, portable and wearable means that they can be taken absolutely anywhere at any time, so your loved ones can always be with you no matter where you go. But perhaps you don’t want to put something that could end up being so precious into your handbag or your pocket along with your other bits and bobs?

If that’s the case, you’ll be pleased to discover that the Smartstone team have created a whole range of accessories for users, so you keep your stone close to you at all times in a fashionable way. Whether you want to attach your stone to your favourite necklace with a gold or silver pendant, snap a leather cuff onto your wrist or are always on the go and want your very own travel case – the possibilities are endless.

If you want to know more about Smartstones and exactly how they work, check out the video below and enjoy!

We really like this idea as it seems so sincere and humanises technology in a way that has been lost thanks to our obsessive need to constantly be on the likes of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Their indiegogo campaign has recently ended and they have raised $35,000 – so who knows where it could lead!

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Published on: 20th April 2015