Glance, which recently launched its own Kickstarter page, is a smart accessory that will take anexisting watch and transform it into a smart watch.
Glance has a thin and light curved design that will allow the user to fit it under a watch's wristband or used with a premium leather strap. The device features precision crafting and machined aluminum to give it an elegant look as the device molds to the user's personal style.
The Glance team is composed of Ali Nawab who leads product and mobile applications, Olivier Mayrand who leads industrial design and visuals and John David Chibuk, who leads hardware and motion recognition. With the team's knowledge on wearable technology, they created Glance "to let you focus on the conversations that matter most, and live in the moment."
With Glance, users don't have to take their smartphones out of their pocket for basic functions. Glance's screen displays the name of a caller; it also allows users to read received messages quickly through the help of the Spritz speed reading app. In addition, wearers can respond to communications with preset messages through a single press of a button, which will come in handy if the user is driving, for example.
Glance can also help users look for their phone; a press of a button will alert users to its location.
Glance also gives users the ability to control their computer or smart TV. Glance can be used as a computer's air mouse, moving the cursor through motions and clicking using button presses. It can also be used as a remote control for certain functions of a smart TV.
Glance also has the ability to track the wearer's activities. The device can count activity levels such as walking, standing and sitting, along with sending alerts to promote a healthier lifestyle for the wearer.
All these functions of Glance can be accessed and set up through an accompanying iOS or Android app, with versions of the app for Windows Phone and Blackberry to be created if the crowdfunding campaign reaches its stretch goal of $500,000.
The Kickstarter campaign for Glance is aiming for $150,000 in funding for the project's further development. Aside from the aforementioned $500,000 stretch goal, achieving the $300,000 stretch goal will include engraveable massages on the Glance, while achieving the $750,000 stretch goal will add a speaker and microphone to the device.
Glance measures 35mm long and 10mm wide. It uses Bluetooth Smart/4.0 to connect to the user's iOS or Android device, and is compatible with iOS 7 or higher, Android version 4.3 or higher, Windows 7 bluetooth enabled computers and OS X computers with bluetooth newer than 2013. Glance has an OLED screen, haptic feedback, a 1-week battery life and is water resistant.
