15 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

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Every Friday, we’re taking a look at some of the smartest, most innovative projects that have caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

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Model 01

This open source ergonomic keyboard is giving your overworked pinkies a break and putting your thumbs to work. Keyboardio is currently seeking $120,000 on Kickstarter.

Doppel

This performance-enhancing wearable can naturally make you feel more alert or relaxed on demand using the innate human response to rhythm. Team Turquoise is currently seeking $155,412 on Kickstarter.

Pebblebee Stone

This all-in-one device allows you to track your belongings, control your favorite music and snap selfies along the way. Pebblebee is currently seeking $30,000 on Indiegogo.

Aria

This clip-on unit lets you use finger gestures to command your Pebble Time or Android Wear smartwatch. Deus Ex is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Wino

This small board is like a smaller Arduino with built-in Wi-Fi. IAN is currently seeking $28,019 on Kickstarter.

Micro Drone 3.0

This palm-sized, fully-customizable drone can livestream footage right to your smartphone. Extreme Fliers is currently seeking $75,000 on Indiegogo.

Bartesian

This Keurig-like machine enables you to create delicious cocktails at home without fancy recipes or multiple ingredients, just a capsule. Bartestian is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

MYLE TAP

This voice-powered wearable automatically converts your thoughts into actions by way of mobile apps. MYLE is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Hank the Beer Tank

This kegerator plugs right into your 12V outlet and lets you enjoy draft beer from anywhere, whether that’s your next tailgate or picnic. Hank the Beer Tank is currently seeking $75,000 on Kickstarter.

Instamic

This small unit wants to do the same for microphones as GoPro did for cameras. Instamic is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Laser Cube 2.0

This laser cutter and engraver comes with supper easy Gcode software to bring you a more delightful experience. Makers Wei and Sunny are currently seeking $2,000 on Kickstarter.

T-Rex

This pair of earphones connect via Bluetooth to any device, providing you with completely wireless-free listening. T-Rex is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Flitchio

This first-ever smartphone case with a built-in controller lets you play games, browse the web, pilot drones and more. SUPENTA is currently seeking $77,809 on Kickstarter.

Tyia

This luxurious smart bracelet filters notifications to discreetlly alert you only when it’s important. Viawear is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Suli

This portable, multi-functional solar module can be adapted for a variety of uses in everyday life. Suli is currently seeking $20,000 on Indiegogo.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out here. Also, if your project is powered by Atmel MCUs and you’ve been featured on our blog, be sure to download the respective badges here for use in your ongoing marketing efforts. 

Aria adds gesture control to Android Wear and Pebble Time

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Deus Ex has come up with a solution to one of the biggest drawbacks of wrist-adorned gadgetry: having to use both hands.

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As if handheld computers and wrist-adorned gadgets weren’t enough in today’s tech-savvy world, a new smartwatch accessory wants to make controlling a wearable device as simple as moving a finger. In what would appear to be some sort of Harry Potter wizardry at work, Aria employs a layer of sensors to enable users to perform on-screen functions without ever having to physically touch the gadget.

More times than not, people’s hands are constantly full of things whether it’s a caregiver with a child, a housewife preparing dinner or an engineer hard at work. In any case, what if accessing a step count, checking a recipe, or playing a song was as easy one tap of the index finger? Capable of exactly that, a wearer slaps Aria around their wrist, calibrates it and then uses it to scroll through menus, launch apps and answer calls.

Aria is compatible with a wide range of watches including Pebble Time, Samsung Gear Live, Sony Smartwatch 3, LG G Watch R and Urbane, Motorola Moto 360, Asus ZenWatch, as well as any other Android Wear device. What’s more, users can customize their gesture controls for various functions, like scrolling down a menu with a ring finger or flicking a thumb to read an email.

The brainchild of London-based startup Deus Ex, the hands-free remote is comprised of a water-resistant silicone material that attaches to the underside of the watch and is held snug against the person’s wrist. This allows it to sense and analyze distinct tendon movements.

For its Kickstarter launch, Deus Ex has made Aria available in two different models: a clip for Android Wear and a smartstrap for  Pebble TIme, both of which feature varying connectivity options. The clip is Bluetooth Low Energy compatible, meaning that it should sync with countless electronics ranging from drones to action cameras. Meanwhile, the smartstrap communicates via a serial interface. Plus, the startup has revealed that it will be releasing an SDK for developers who want to explore their creativity and design apps of their own.

“Our focus is giving the best support and the best tools to the developer community. There are still thousands of applications and use cases for Aria that we want to empower you, the developer, to discover and exploit them all,” the team writes.

Interested? Head over to Aria’s official Kickstarter page, where Deus Ex is currently seeking $100,000. Shipment is expected to get underway in June 2016.