We have too many “smart things” these days with fancy gadgets such as the Google Glass, smart phones, smart watches, and we now even have smart rings. Yes, a ring that goes on your finger and does various “smart” activities. I’m not even that old and I kind of miss the “good ol’ days” when we didn’t have so much access to technology. I’m certainly not anti-technology and these gadgets have been beneficial to us. The MOTA SmartRing kind of seems like an overkill for me but there is definitely a market for it as it has already reached its crowd funding goal of $100,000 over at Indiegogo.
The MOTA SmartRing connects to your phone wirelessly and updates you on the notifications you have chosen to be notified about, right at your fingertips. You can specifically choose what types of notifications you want, from which app, and from whichever contact. As with most gadgets, the MOTA SmartRing has an app for Android and iOS devices and connects to your phone via a low energy Bluetooth 4.0 providing a stable connection between your SmartRing and your phone.
MOTA SmartRing Video
The SmartRing features a tiny touchscreen which lets you scroll through text at your own speed and can be charged wirelessly by simply placing the ring on its charging station. These days, it’s quite common for people to be having a nice conversation only to be interrupted by one person checking their phone to see what’s happening on their favorite social media site. With the ring, at least it can be done in a more discreet manner without coming off as rude (even though it still is).
I think I consider this device as the modern day pager. If you have an emergency phone call coming through while you’re in a meeting, on a date, or in a classroom; you can set the SmartRing to vibrate and you can politely excuse yourself and return the phone call.
The MOTA SmartRing is available in two colors: midnight black and pearl white. The ring is said to be rugged enough to daily use and can handle a little rough play. The ring is also water and shock resistant while the screen is readable even in bright outdoor conditions. Out of the box, it will support notifications from phone calls, SMS messages, calendar notifications, and email. Facebook and Twitter notifications are currently being worked on and with enough support, the company will extend the device to be compatible with other apps such as Weather Network for example.
The SmartRing will be available in either a small or large size while user-changeable interior pieces will be provided to adjust the ring’s shank to provide the perfect fit. The early bird price of $60 is already sold out but $145 will get you a black SmartRing and a white one.
Is it worth it? Perhaps to some people but I’ll stick to my phone for the time being. For more details, check out the MOTA SmartRing Indiegogo page.
