Jewelbots has come up with smart bracelets with the express purpose to encouraging teen and tween girls to start coding, the developers worked with groups of teen girls during this project in order to get their feedback and tweak form and functionality based on that feedback. Two phases of prototypes have been created already and a final round remains before testing and then manufacturing will finally begin later this year.
The smart bracelet from Jewelbots has four LEDs, Bluetooth connectivity and a vibration motor, they can connect with each other to create a mesh network meaning that a smartphone is not required to communicate with friends who also have the bracelet.
By default a Jewelbot bracelet is capable of detecting nearby friends and sending secret messages, it can be configured to do much more with simple logic and a couple of taps.
The functionality can be extended by using a smartphone and a if this then that” style workflow. For example the bracelet can be programmed to light up when a particular friend is nearby.
Further expansion of its capabilities is also possible by plugging the bracelet into the computer and using the Arduino integrated development environment.
Jewelbots had a $30,000 funding goal on Kickstarter and it has already raised double that, pledging $59 gets a single bracelet and $89 gets a pair, shipping is expected to begin by March 2016.
Filed in . Read more about Crowdfunding and Kickstarter. Source: thenextweb