You could be excused for dismissing wearable tech after 20 years of corny 3D glasses, Nintendo Power Gloves and goofy Bluetooth jackets, but there might just be a light at the end of the tunnel. Not only are Samsung and LG both hard at work on watch phones you might actually want to show off, one company is actually working on a new concept we haven’t seen before: a ring that converts into a Bluetooth headset.
The Orb Wireless Earpiece looks like a ring, but twists into an S-shaped Bluetooth headset that loops over the ear when you need to take a call, making it one part fashion accessory and one part phone accessory. Like the Jawbone, it also harnesses bone conducting technology to block background noise. A deluxe edition of the headset will use a flexible OLED display to provide caller ID and calendar reminders. An even more limited version will incorporate gemstones.
At the moment, Hybra plans to roll out the first Orbs “as early as” January 2010 in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Despite the super-premium design, the company will shoot for the same price point currently occupied by the Jawbone – $129. More details are available in Hybra’s press release.
