From smartwatches to hoverboards, technologies that were once the stuff of sci-fi movies are making their way to the real world. The latest invention to come out of Silicon Valley is a new personal communication tool that will certainly delight Trekkies.
Meet Onyx, a small, flat, circular disk that works pretty much like the personal communicator that Captain Picard wore on his chest in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." People who use Onyx can easily communicate in real time with 14 other people by simply pushing a button in the center of the hockey puck-like tool from wherever they may be in the universe, as long as they have an Internet connection.
In other words, Onyx works pretty much like a two-way radio but with two major differences in functionality. First, Onyx does not have restrictions when it comes to the distances of the persons communicating. One person in New York, for instance, can easily communicate via voice with his business partner in California while working on their projects. Second, Onyx is a lightweight device that can be clipped to the user's shirt, jacket or handbag so that users can continue to engage in whatever they are doing while communicating with other people.
Onyx, which was developed by startup OnBeep, was made not mainly for Trekkies, although OnBeep CEO Jesse Robbins says the final design was actually "inspired" by the personal communicator. The new wearable was actually borne of the OnBeep founders' experiences as emergency responders, where continuous communication is a crucial part of their everyday lives.
"During an incident, an emergency responder needs to be able to communicate with the rest of the team without losing focus," says Robbins in a blog post. "The last thing you want is to have your attention pulled away from the scene in an emergency."
Robbins says that the use of Onyx, which is connected to a user's iPhone or Android phone via an Onyx app, extends beyond emergency situations. He says a market for a hands-free personal communication tool exists in workplaces where teams of construction workers, restaurant staff or events organizers can use Onyx for more efficient communications. He also gives specific examples where Onyx can prove useful in personal communications, such as when a family is planning a surprise birthday party.
Onyx is available in single or double sets. Buyers can make their pre-order for one unit for $99 and $195 for two units on OnBeep's website.
