While companies like Samsung, Motorola, Sony and Pebble are
busy making wearables for the general public, there are a couple of firms that
are developing wearables for certain market niches.
On one hand we’ve got kickstarter Hicon who recently
announced a campaign on Indiegogo for its social networking bangle that allows
users to view social media notifications on the fly without having to unlock
their phones.
Aside from providing real time notifications, the bangle
also features a number of smart features including the ability to share a
preset profile to other Hicon users nearby as well as warn users whenever they’re
about to leave a place without their phones.
The smart bangle connects to compatible iOS, Android and
Windows Phone devices via Bluetooth and comes equipped with an accelerometer, a
14-day battery life and water- and sand-proofing. The device can also be
customized with removable charms for different social networks.
Hicon is asking people on Indiegogo $49 to help push the
smart bangle into mass production, so if you’re interested the company will
certainly appreciate your support.
Meanwhile, LG has also introduced a new watch specifically
designed for parents and their kids. The LG KiZON wristband features several
kid-friendly designs and comes with a GPS and Wi-Fi that allows parents to
track the device when their kids are wearing it.
The watch is also capable of making and receiving phone
calls to a pre-programmed number. And if the child is unable to answer a parent’s
call within 10 seconds, the watch automatically picks up the phone so their
folks can listen in on what the kids are doing using the device’s built-in
microphone.
The KiZON smartwatch is equipped with a battery that can
last up to three days on a single charge. The device will also notify parents
once battery levels fall below 25 percent. The LG KiZON will be available
sometime in Q3 2014, although pricing information hasn’t been announced yet.
