For most of us, smartphones don’t necessarily mean smarter communication. There are still unread emails cluttering our inboxes; text messages to reply to and missed calls that need to be returned. It doesn’t matter how smart technology gets, it’s impossible to stay on top of it all, right? Wrong. And the best part is that you don’t need to get decked out in Google Glass, designer though it may be, or hold out for the Apple Watch. All you need is a ring. You know we love Ringly, but we’re also really fond of jewelry stacking — so how about we add a SmartRing, the newest smart tech sensation from MOTA, onto your hand? With it, you’ll never miss another call or message again. Unless you choose to, of course.
You wouldn’t say so looking at it, but MOTA’s SmartRing is an undercover secret weapon. The ring wirelessly connects with any Android or iOS smartphone to make sure you’re aware of the notifications and calls that matter most to you, even if your phone is at the bottom of your bag. At least that’s the aim of this smart device which has already surpassed its $100k crowdfunding goal on Indiegogo.
Initially the SmartRing will only alert you to calls, text messages, email and calendar notifications. In the future, it will be possible to integrate the ring with apps like Facebook and Twitter, too. When you receive a notification, the ring will vibrate like the others. It’s different from a lot of the other tech-sessories we’ve told you about, because it also displays snippets of messages. When you receive an email, you’ll see an envelope icon, possibly the subject and you can control the speed at which text appears by how fast or slow you swipe. There is also the option to decide who you want to receive notifications from. This is useful if you’re expecting an urgent call or email and don’t want to be overwhelmed with all of your messages.
If you’re anything like us and can’t wait to put a Ringly on it, you’re probably wondering what makes MOTA’s ring so smart. Available in midnight blue and pearl white, and a little on the clunky, chunky side, it’s not wooing our fashionable selves just yet. Nope, with the SmartRing there’s no moonstone, sapphire, onyx or emerald to look forward to. And while this accessory is also more limited than Ringly, which alerts you to a range of notifications including social networks, Uber, eBay, Tinder and more, its text display is impressive. With just one look at your SmartRing, you’ll know exactly who’s calling or whether an email is important enough to respond to now.
If everything goes according to plan, this ring could be ready to ship as early as spring 2015. But that’s a big if. You may remember MOTA from their recent $99 3D printer Kickstarter campaign, which was cancelled after raising $64,000. While that isn’t enough to give us cold feet about the SmartRing, it’s something to keep in mind. We’ll have to wait and see what becomes of this ring and whether it manages to find a place in a market already saturated with quality wearables.
Would you wear a smart device like SmartRing or is Ringly more your style? What would you like a smart ring to be able to do? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
