Straight out of Star Trek is this inspired communicator badge, called XOWi.
XOWi is a small wearable badge that enables you to engage in simple, quick voice interactions without hijacking your hands and eyes. On push on your badge, let go and speak. No screens to look at or phones to hold.
XOWi Inc. was founded by Ahmed Bouzid and Weiye Ma, two speech technology innovators with a life long passion for bringing voice solutions and products to the mainstream. The two became convinced in the past few months that the time for Wearable Voice had come. The XOWi Personal Voice Companion badge is their first product towards fulfilling that mission.
They have now set up a 30 day KickStarter to help fund the project.
Just push a button then speak and listen: get a quick weather update, request a song to be played, get quizzed on a topic, turn on the coffee machine, get an update on the latest twitter activities, etc. And do all that with minimal interruption to what you are doing.
- The device can be clipped on your collar or worn as a necklace.
- The wearable badge pairs and connects with your smartphone via Bluetooth and charges via micro USB.
- XOWi comes with a companion App. The companion app is available on all the major platforms: Android, iOS, Blackberry and Microsoft.
- XOWi can also be connected to Siri, Google Now, or any other Mobile Voice app running on your phone.
- XOWi uses the latest in automated speech recognition, natural language processing, and text to speech technology.
They hope to raise $100,000 to complete the production. They are also offering some great rewards for people who back the project.
- $5 – THE XOWi FAMILY – Your name will be added to the XOWi Family Page
- $35 – THE XOWi INNER CIRCLE – Grab one awesome XOWi T-Shirt in your choice of size
- $149 – THE INNOVATOR Package – One XOWi unit, your choice of Classic Black, Snow White, and Hot Pink + matching XOWi earphones + XOWi strap + Micro USB charging cable
- $179 – THE EVANGELIST Package – One XOWi unit, your choice of Classic Black, Snow White, Hot Pink, Mango Orange, XOWi Blue, Sherbet Yellow + matching XOWi earphones + XOWi strap + Micro USB charging cable
- $199 – THE VISIONARY Package – One XOWi unit, your choice of any of the 9 XOWi colors + matching XOWi earphones + XOWi strap + Micro USB charging cable
- $499 – THE PARTNER DEVELOPER Package – One XOWi unit, your choice of any of the 9 XOWi colors + matching XOWi earphones + XOWi strap + Micro USB charging cable + Early Access to the XOWi API + XOWi Partner Certification Training + Early access to the XOWi Voice App Store
- $10,000 – THE PRODUCT ADVISORY BOARD Package -> Reserve your seat on the XOWi Product Advisory Board (PAB) (limit is 10 seats) and engage with the Product team once XOWi has been delivered. You will be able to join and participate in quarterly conference calls, receive early heads up on the Product Road map, and have direct access to our Product managers. We will also fly you in, all expenses paid, to Washington DC for the inaugural Annual XOWi PAB Meeting, to be held in September 2014. You will of course also get one XOWi unit, your choice of any of the 9 XOWi colors + matching XOWi earphones + XOWi strap + USB charging cable
Here is a video of CEO Ahmed Bouzid demoing the device:
For more information and to back the XOWi project visit their KickStarter
