Sony has found a solution to make heatwaves, which scientists say will become more frequent and more intense due to climate change, bearable.
On Sunday, July 21, the tech company launched a crowdfunding campaign for The Reon Pocket, a small, portable air conditioner.
Dog Days Are Over
The Reon Pocket is from Sony's start-up acceleration program. It is a Bluetooth device that connects to a smartphone app that lets the user control temperature and other features.
According to the product's site, the portable air conditioner is slipped into a special undershirt with a pocket near the base of the back of the neck. It is only about the size of a card wallet and, therefore, will not be visible when worn. It is also very light, weighing only 85 grams.
The Reon Pocket utilizes a Peltier element, which is typically uses in cars and coolers. Sony said that hundreds of simulations have been conducted to assess the efficacy of the device's cooling capabilities. The company claimed that the device can lower the user's body temperature by 13 degrees Celsius.
The technology can also serve as a portable heater during winter. Testing revealed that it can raise the user's body temperature by 8 degrees Celsius.
Spec-wise, the Reon Pocket has a battery life of about 90 minutes. It only needs to be charged for two hours before it is ready for use. It also uses USB-C.
Reon Pocket Release Date
Since launch, the crowdfunding campaign for Reon Pocket has already raised 50 percent of the funding it needs. Prices range from 12,760 yen (about $117) to 19,030 yen (about $175). It still has over 23 days to reach its goal.
It will come in two variants: the Reon Pocket Standard and the Reon Pocket Lite. The latter will be cheaper because it can only be operated manually. An automatic mode will be introduced to the Standard version in future updates.
Sony is hoping to release the product by 2020, in time for the Tokyo Olympics. Unfortunately, right now, the company is planning to release the portable air conditioner only to customers in Japan.
Watch the promotional video below.
