A raft of hardware-based devices emerged, aimed at the future, productivity, or personal growth. This includes devices made from Plaudits and Pocket; Pendants from Friend, Boundlessand None; and waist from Beewhich is now part of Amazon.
Currently, two meta employees working on interface design have been released Sand bara startup that created a ring called a stream for the same purpose. The company calls the ring a “mouse for voice” because it can take notes, help you interact with an AI assistant, and let you control your music.
Sandbar’s CEO, Mina Fahmi, has an extensive background in designing human computer interfaces. He worked on Bryan Johnson’s kernel and later on hanging magic glass. Kirak Hong, Sandbar CTO, worked at Google before joining CTRL-Labs, where the duo met. Meta Get started It’s 2019, and his work has finally led to a neural interface for Tech’s intelligent lecture load.
Fahmi says that when the big language model started to emerge a few years ago, it created an experimental journal application. However, he found that the app was a barrier to capturing his thoughts. Given the hardware experience of the hardware interface, he began to explore the hardware interface of the conversation.
“A lot of my ideas bubble up when I’m walking or when I’m commuting, and I don’t want to pull out my phone in the world. I don’t know anything.
The ring, designed to be worn on the index finger of the dominant hand, has a microphone.
In the virtual demo, Fahmi wore a stream ring on her index finger and recorded her thoughts by pressing down on the TouchPad. By default, the microphone is off, turn it on with this gesture. The microphone proved to be sensitive enough to pick up whispers and transcribe them in the iOS Companion app. Other apps like stream and willow allow people to capture their thoughts in a calm manner.
The stream app includes an Ai Chatbon that chats with you while recording your thoughts. You can organize these notes with pieces that you or the AI can edit. The app also allows you to snap and review what you’ve discussed over the course of days or weeks. Sandbar has added a personal layer so that the assistant’s voice sounds the same as the user’s.
Fahmi said that in crowded places, users can wear headphones to have a private conversation with the assistant. Without headphones, the ring provides enough feedback to take notes, allowing you to top up your dose, take notes, or check items off your grocery list in peace.
Beyond the sound function, the ringtone surface is a media controller, allowing you to play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume. While many headphones offer similar controls, the ring can prove useful when your hands are occupied or when you’re in transit.
The company revealed the concept for the stream on Wednesday at $ 249 for the silver version and $ 299 for the gold. Sandbar aims to start shipping next summer. A Pro Value subscription – Free for three months for those who preorder, then $10 per month – offers chats, notes, and early access to new features.
Fahmi said the company gives users full control over data at any level, with encryption both at rest and in transit. He added that the sandbar does not believe in walled gardens and plans to support the export of data to applications like understanding.
Sandbar has raised $13 million in funding from the right venture, the venture above, and betaworks.
Toni Schneider, a partner in the venture, said that they have been frustrated with the AI device, as demos that they have seen before were not impressive.
“I think a lot of people agree with the voice and the AI is good. And (they also agree) that they have a phone or more. When Mina comes in, and there’s nothing like it.
Competition is fierce in the AI-AI hardware space, with many builders exploring the ring as a Factor formSee rank-. Fahmi said that he did not want the stream to be an assistant or a friend, but rather an interface for users to express their ideas.
Hardware AI has yet to achieve mainstream success. Humane sold to HP, the rabbit tries to improve the experience and engagement through Update softwareand friends try to use it User backlash to grow fuel. Sandbar must prove that its form factor offers the comfort and value that a pendant, pin, or wristlet cannot.