Unique can turn any watch into a smartwatch

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This strap discretely adds smart features to any ‘dumb’ watch.

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Smartwatches are pretty useful — but despite advancements in technology, a lot of us still value the look and feel of a traditional or classic timepiece. If you wish you could keep your Rolex watch yet also have some of today’s connected features, the makers of Unique have good news for you.

The brainchild of Polish startup uBirds, Unique is a luxury, handmade strap that replaces your watch’s original strap and transforms it into a smartwatch. It gives you the best of both worlds — the look of your favorite wrist-worn accessory with all the capabilities of modern-day devices.

Hidden in the strap lies a discreet multi-color LED, vibration alerts and gesture recognition, allowing you to receive notifications, reject calls, send pre-written texts, monitor your fitness, store your passes and even be reminded if you leave your phone behind. On top of all that, it can all be customized to a wearer’s liking.

With cutting edge technology, Unique integrates electronic components into the strap so the functions aren’t visible on the strap itself. What’s nice is that the unit still fits nicely with any conventional timepiece, meaning any treasured heirloom or precision chronograph can be turned into an IoT-friendly gadget. Leveraging gesture recognition, users can now control their phone directly from the strap, as well as integrate near field communication.

Once connected via Bluetooth, users can configure their strap’s capabilities and displayed information using its accompanying app. According to its creators, this includes everything from programming the NFC tag with your business card, hotel room key or gym membership to tracking fitness goals and counting calories with every step.

As for battery power, Unique can run for two to three days with frequent use. Charging is simple, too — just give the watch strap a boost using its included wireless inductive charger. Interested? Then it’s ‘time’ to check out their Kickstarter page, where they are currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is slated for sometime in April 2016.

This wearable device lets you touch your virtual reality world

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UnlimitedHand is the world’s first video game controller with newly-developed haptic feedback technology.

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It’s safe to say that virtual reality has grown leaps and bounds in recent years; however, despite these advancements, one thing that has been lacking was an interface that actually let you ’touch’ the VR world. This is exactly what one Tokyo-based startup set out to develop.

The team over at H2L has created what they’re calling the world’s first video game controller that enables you to feel things as if they existed in your real environment. UnlimitedHand is essentially a haptic sensor that goes around your arm and syncs with your hand to interact with onscreen objects.

Through Bluetooth, the wearable contraption delivers your finger and arm movements to the game while receiving data back that is felt in the form of haptic feedback. In other words, you will be able to grab, push, throw, hit and manipulate your digital surroundings as if you were really there.

The device, which straps around your forearm like an Ace bandage, is equipped with a muscle sensor, a 3D motion sensor, a multi-channel electronic muscle stimulator (EMS) and a vibration motor. The embedded motion and muscle sensors are tasked with recognizing user input, just like any other haptic gadget. UnlimitedHand then stimulates your muscles through EMS, controlling your fingers and hands while mirroring what’s happening in the game. By integrating this technology into the accessory, you will be able to ‘feel’ whatever your character experiences.

What will surely be appealing to developers, UnlimitedHand has made it easy to integrate with existing games through Unity plug-ins. Furthermore, its circuit is also Arduino-compatible, allowing Makers to hack it for a wide range of other applications. Whether it’s feeling the strings of a virtual guitar as it’s being played or commanding a robotic arm, the possibilities are endless. Intrigued? Head over to its Kickstarter campaign, which has already garnered well over its asking goal of $20,000. Units are expected to begin shipping in March 2016

ZeroPi is an Arduino and Raspberry Pi-compatible dev kit

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ZeroPi is an ARM Cortex-M0+-based development board for robotic motion structure systems, 3D printers, CNC machines and more.

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ZeroPi is an Arduino and Raspberry Pi-compatible development kit for robotic motion structure systems and 3D printers. Based on the mighty Atmel | SMART SAM D21, the next-generation board is capable of controlling 11 micro servos and either eight DC motors or four stepper motors simultaneously.

Equipped with a four-channel SLOT interface, the module is compatible with today’s most common stepper motors and DC drivers, and supports open source sensors. ZeroPi will certainly be an appealing option for a wide range of applications, from 3D printing and CNC machines to mobile robots. In fact, the board boasts specially designed M4 holes that are well suited for Makeblock aluminum mechanical parts used in many DIY projects.

Additionally, Makers can take comfort in knowing that ZeroPi can be programmed with the highly popular Arduino IDE, giving you access to a number of easy-to-use libraries. According to its creators, a series of example codes for ZeroPi will be made available, such as an encoder readout and temperature monitoring.

And that’s not all. By simply plugging the SAM D21 powered board into the Raspberry Pi’s connector, you can also unlock countless features, spanning from tablet and wireless control to Bluetooth connectivity. With RPi, you can install a web browser to command the motors and servos directly, as well as remotely monitor your 3D print job. It can even interface with Java Script.

On top of all that, the team was able to successfully port the Marlin and Repetier firmware to ZeroPi for use in a vast majority of open source 3D printers. Not only does this eliminate the need for an expansion board, the kit is four times faster than the Arduino Mega, cheaper and half its size.

“ZeroPi is also specially designed for motion structure systems. We have built many projects to test its functions and discover more possibilities from simple to complex systems of robotic,” the team adds. “We built a Johnny-Five robot, based on [the] Johnny-Five library by using ZeroPi to control this large motion structure and achieve the image recognition function and wireless control.”

Aside from the SAMD21J18 at its core, other key specs of the ZeroPi include:

• Operating voltage: 3.3V
• General purpose I/O pins: 35
• UART: 2
• Analog input pins: 4, 12-bit ADC channels
• Analog output pins: 1, 10-bit DAC
• DC current per I/O pin: 7mA
• Flash: 256KB
• SRAM: 32KB
• Clock speed: 48MHz

Intrigued? Head over to ZeroPi’s Kickstarter campaign, where it is currently seeking $5,000. Delivery is estimated for December 2015.

RePhone is the world’s first open source, modular smartphone

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Seeed Studio’s new kit enables Makers to create their own phone and hack inanimate things with the power of cellular communication.

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When it comes to electronics, the concept of modularity continues to rise in popularity — and rightfully so. Rather than have to endure the high cost of a new gadget every few years, you’ll soon be able to swap out individual parts and simply upgrade your existing device whenever necessary. Reminiscent of Google’s Project Ara, our friends over at Seeed Studio have joined the party by launching a Kickstarter campaign for a DIY smartphone made entirely from open source components.

Called RePhone, the modular kit enables you to create your own phone as well as hack other objects around you by giving them the power of cellular communication. Pretty cool, right? The unit itself is built around the RePhone GSM + BLE module, or the RePhone Core 3G module which provides faster data connection yet lacks Bluetooth. But that’s not all.

Seeed will offer an assortment of Xadow add-on modules, each with their own set of unique features. These include a 1.54” touchscreen, an Arduino-compatible MCU (ATmega32U4), a basic sensor board, a GPS board, an audio board, a 5×7 LED board, a GSM breakout board and an NFC board. These can be connected using an FPC cable (11 or 35 pin), soldered wires, conductive thread or a breadboard. Plus, the DIY device is powered a 520mAh battery.

Additionally, Seeed has unveiled a RePhone Create Kit, which lets you design and customize a phone enclosure out of kraft paper. This material is sewable, washable, and most importantly, easy to draw on. Makers will be able to personalize their cases in all sorts of shapes, colors and styles.

The modular gadget is indeed a fully-functional tool, which can be used like any other everyday phone to make and receive calls, send text messages, and play music. Seeed has devised Arduino, Lua and Javascript libraries, as well as a full power SDK based on Eclipse for C/C++ developers. What’s more, the RePhone can be programmed with IFTTT logic. This allows you to define and implement recipes for various actions, such as being notified if your dog wanders off or your bike gets lost.

“The modular design of RePhone brings limitless DIY possibilities. Those tiny neat blocks can be fit into a phone enclosure of any size, shape, or style you like,” Seeed Studio writes. “You can make your RePhone even cooler with different materials like leather, fabric and bamboo. Build a sturdy case with 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC and injection molding.”

To top it all off, the device is compatible with both the Arduino and Pebble. RePhone creates alternative ways to communicate with inanimate things in your physical world over GSM and 3G, whether that’s a walking cane phone for grandpa, a GPS pet collar, an interactive t-shirt or a rigged desk lamp. The possibilities are endless.

Ready to piece together your own RePhone? Although Seeed Studio has already completed its Kickstarter campaign, which garnered over $276,000, you can still pre-order yours today here.

Block ads and charge your phone with InvizBox Go

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InvizBox Go is a portable privacy device that can connect to public Wi-Fi and act as a Tor or VPN gateway.

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In the form of a small box, InvizBox Go solves true problems that people face on a regular basis. Although just about every hotel, airport and coffee shops has a hotspot these days, browsing the web while connected to one isn’t necessarily secure.

Fortunately, InvizBox Go was created to safeguard your activities from anywhere — whether that’s online, at home, or while out and about — by serving as a security gateway to wireless networks for computers and mobile devices. Not only was it designed to protect, but it boasts several other features like the ability to block ads without installing anything, recharge your portable gadgets, and even extend your Wi-Fi network. The connection keeps you from being tracked and profiled by people, governments, companies and hackers using a connection to VPN or the Tor anonymity network.

“You can simultaneously connect every Wi-Fi-enabled device in your house to the InvizBox Go to secure them all. You connect just like you would with your normal Wi-Fi,” the team explains. “You can also take it with you while traveling to keep all of your devices safe from untrusted public networks.”

InvizBox Go serves as a Wi-Fi access point and a power source for smartphones and tablets when plugged into a USB port. What’s more, it enables you to view blocked content from anywhere in the world, as well as gain full access to TV shows, sports and programming in areas where it would otherwise be nearly impossible to receive.

“One of the great features when using our fast VPN network is the ability to watch all your favorites online media anywhere you are — making the Internet truly global. Believe it or not, some services restrict or block content depending on where you are. We’ve designed the InvizBox Go to work in those scenarios by the utilizing our global VPN service,” the crew adds.

InvizBox Go’s software is entirely open source, providing two major benefits. First, it gives other security experts the ability to examine the project, ensuring optimal security, and secondly, it lets the user see that there is nothing malicious in the code. Aside from the standard Tor client, the device can also use Tor’s “pluggable transports” in the form of obfs2/obfs3/scramblesuit to mask Tor’s traffic signature and prevent its detection by deep packet inspection firewalls.

Beyond that, InvizBox Go packs a few more privacy features. These include built-in “HTTPS Everywhere,” which attempts to elevate insecure HTTP to secure HTTPS whenever possible, along with optional blocking of the Windows 10 “tracking domains.” Intrigued? Head over to its official Kickstarter page, where InvizBox is seeking $113,377. Units are expected to begin shipping in February 2016.

Angee is an autonomous home security system

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This smart system doubles as both your security guard and personal assistant.

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Did you know that every 13 seconds, a home is broken into in the United States? In fact, 41% of burglaries happen when a system isn’t armed. Although it’d be nice to have guards protecting our homes, not all of us have that luxury or the convenience.

Angee is an advanced security and communication system that changes how you protect and connect to your humble abode. The device provides a 360-degree view of your household and is loaded with several valuable features, including voice recognition, at-the-door identification, motion-detecting rotation, advanced learning and cordless portability. By learning the daily habits of your family members, Angee can autonomously arm and disarm herself.

Setting up Angee is easy — you simply connect the device with your smartphone and add security points around throughout your rooms to secure your home. The unit provides full perimeter protection by using security tags on your doors and windows so the system knows exactly who comes and goes. In fact, it can determine suspicious activity such as movement by someone it doesn’t recognize through detecting entry and exit patterns, changes in background noise, Bluetooth signal in phones and voice differentiation. If Angee happens to sense suspicious activity, a notification is sent to your smartphone (or smartwatch) via its accompanying app so you can stream video in real-time. Plus, you can receive updates on temperature, humidity or just take a look around, if you so choose.

At roughly five by three inches, Angee boasts an ARM processor at its core and weighs about 1.3 pounds. Angee’s camera rotates to provide full coverage of a room and employs an array of six passive infrared sensors for 360-degree motion detection. The security tags are powered by two AAA-batteries and feature Bluetooth connectivity, which is not only used to wirelessly communicate with Angee, but also sense nearby phones to identify who is home. And should the power go out, not to worry. The gadget’s built-in battery enables it to sustain energy, and more importantly, continue monitoring. Similarly, if your Wi-Fi goes offline, Angee will alert you while still recording any activity and saving the footage to its local storage.

The makers of Angee built the system by learning from people’s experience with early versions of smart security systems. The team has focused on creating the smartest home security system ever — one that is useful, convenient, and tailored to each individual’s needs. And that’s not all. It can double as a personal assistant by recording all-too-often missed moments for a family member who is away, answering calls, checking the calendar and even reminding you to close the windows if rain is in the forecast.

“In the future, smart hardware and technologies will be omnipresent. They will be easy to use and perfectly integrated into our environment. These systems will understand and predict what we need, saving us time and energy, and making our lives easier and more productive. Angee is a big step toward this future,” explains CEO and co-founder Tomas Turek.

Sound like the system you’ve been looking for? Head over to Angee’s Kickstarter campaign, where the team is currently seeking $250,000. Delivery is estimated for October 2016.

Turn your kitchen toaster into a reflow soldering oven

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Reflowster turns your standard toaster oven into an easy-to-use reflow soldering oven without breaking the bank.

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If you recall from its successful Kickstarter campaign last year, Reflowster is an Arduino-compatible, ATmega32U4 powered smart outlet designed to instantly turn your toaster oven into a reflow soldering station.

The system works by simply plugging in between your toaster oven and power outlet. An included thermocouple is inserted into the Reflowster and is placed inside the toaster oven to measure the temperature. From there, the toaster oven is put into “always on” mode which can typically be accomplished by dialing the timer back a few degrees.

“Reflowster does need to be paired with a toaster oven to work, but unlike many DIY solutions Reflowster requires no toaster modification — no need to cut cables or risk electrocution,” the team writes.

Meanwhile, Reflowster’s encoder and LED display allows Makers to easily navigate menus and choose either a standard soldering profile or a custom option.

“Once the reflow process is started, Reflowster turns the power to the toaster oven on until a soak temperature is reached,” its creators explain. “Reflowster waits for the configured soak duration and then turns the oven back on until the peak temperature is reached.”

Aside from the versatile ATmega32U4 MCU at its core, Reflowster is equipped with an LED status indicator, a three-digit LED display, a microUSB jack, a thermocouple port and a 15A relay-controlled outlet, along with the aformentioned encoder and button for menu navigation.

Being that Reflowster is fully compatible with the Arduino IDE, users can upload new code to repurpose Reflowster to do a wide range of other things. Indeed, the thermocouple, relay, LED display and encoder make the device a perfect platform for a variety of alternative projects such as a temperature controlled fan, circadian light timer, outlet with an automatic shutoff, easy bake oven, incubator and perhaps even a sous-vide machine.

Intrigued? Check out Reflowster’s official page here.

30 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 caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

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Trident

This underwater drone can swim and maneuver its way through the water in dolphin-like fashion. OpenROV has already well surpassed its goal of $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Dobot

This affordable, Arduino-powered robotic arm can be controlled in seven different ways with industrial-grade precision. Dobot has already well surpassed its $36,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Angee

This all-in-one, autonomous security system provides you with a 360° view of your home — along with voice recognition, at-the-door identification, motion-detecting rotation, advanced learning and cordless portability. Angee is currently seeking $250,000 on Kickstarter.

KNK Force

This computerized plotter boasts two cutting heads and a true Z-axis. KLIC-N-KUT is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Ivee

This voice-activated assistant, similar to the Amazon Echo, will turn any home into a smart home. Ivee is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

ZymKey

This tiny piece of hardware delivers trusted data services between open Linux devices, like the Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone. Zymbit is currently seeking $15,000 on Kickstarter.

Thinking Cleaner

This Wi-Fi module can be added onto your iRobot Roomba 700/800 to make it smarter and more aware. Thinking Cleaner is currently seeking $95,931 on Kickstarter.

FLUID

This gadget clamps onto your pipes to help you conserve water, save money and detect leaks by monitoring usage in real-time. FLUID is currently seeking $95,000 on Kickstarter.

CUJO

This unit will protect all smart home devices from the most sophisticated virtual intrusions, such as malware and phishing attempts. CUJO has already surpassed its goal of $30,000 on Indiegogo.

The RealThing

This full tube, completely analog, modelling guitar amplifier can be controlled from your smartphone, tablet and MIDI board. Klonz Labs is currently seeking $79,002 on Kickstarter.

The Barman II

This Bluetooth cocktail-mixing platform enables you to make drinks with just the touch of a screen. EBC Services is currently seeking $34,400 on Kickstarter.

InvizBox Go

This portable Wi-Fi privacy device can connect to public Wi-Fi and act as a Tor or VPN gateway. InvizBox is currently seeking $113,377 on Kickstarter.

Sondors Electric Bike

This inexpensive, versatile electric bike boasts a powerful 350W motor, all-terrain tires and can reach speeds of up to 20mph. Storm Sondors has already well surpassed its goal of $75,000 on Kickstarter.

Chameleon Electric Bicycle

This customizable, e-bike scooter sports some Tron-esque LED lights, a smart solar case, a Bluetooth controller and an 84V battery pack. Aldo Baiocchi is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

ANDBOT

This humanoid, who wants to become less of a robot but more of a companion, is capable of handling daily activities and protecting your household. Advanced Robotics is currently seeking $150,000 on Indiegogo.

Soundbot II

This lightweight, compact Bluetooth speaker can recharge wirelessly. Soundbot is currently seeking $20,000 on Kickstarter.

PupPod

This intelligent learning system for dogs allows them to solve problems and earn treats. PupPod is currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter.

WhittleCNC

This low-cost, high-quality CNC machine will help bring your ideas to life right from your desk or in the field. Zachary Adams is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter.

Nibble

This pocket-sized development platform is equipped with Wi-Fi, an OLED display, microSD, an IR transmitter, a two-channel piezo speaker and a LiPo battery. Simone Picchioni is currently seeking $31,760 on Kickstarter.

Kaia

This sensor automatically analyzes the air in your home and provides you with real-time and historical analytics to help improve your indoor environment. MakeFutureStuff is currently seeking $150,000 on Kickstarter.

B.R.O. Ball

This Bluetooth, waterproof speaker is designed to function as an audible gadget that plays music and a football that you can toss around. Invincible Audio is currently seeking $75,000 on Kickstarter.

STELLIGHT

These bike lights offer customizable, app-enabled blink patterns to best suit your mood or purpose. Grabo is currently seeking $60,000 on Kickstarter.

SMRT Mouth

This smart mouth guard provides real-time biometric monitoring to athletes of all ages. SMRT Mouth is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

MONO

This sleek 3D printer includes a seven-inch touchscreen with a user-friendly interface for Makers. Mono Industries is currently seeking $13,611 on Kickstarter.

Power Clip

This super portable, multi-functional device attaches to your keychain and does everything from charge your phone to find your lost keys to store your extra data. Nicholas Tachmintzis is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Evapolar

This desktop personal air conditioner not only chills, but also humidifies and purifies the air around you. Evapolar is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

Turtle Mail

This Wi-Fi-connected, wooden mailbox for kids delivers and prints out messages from family, friends and even fictional characters. AE Dreams is currently seeking $30,000 on Kickstarter.

Yori

This telepresence robot allows you to interact with its surroundings, rather than just passively participate, using its extendable limbs. Yori is currently seeking $58,000 on Indiegogo.

CORE: Roam

This wearable, lightweight speaker is equipped with Bluetooth, a built-in microphone and LEDs for nighttime activity. Zachary is currently seeking $11,500 on Kickstarter.

Talon

This smart ring lets you play games and control apps using simple gestures. Titanium Falcon is currently seeking $300,000 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. 

Nibble is a pocket-sized development platform for Makers

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Wi-Fi connectivity + OLED display + SD card + IR transmitter = An Arduino variant that Makers will love.

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Designed for Makers and electronic enthusiasts, Nibble is a credit card-sized, Arduino-like device that can be used to create projects, devise games or simply learn the basics of programming.

Nibble crams everything a DIYer could possibly need in a development platform into a form factor that can be easily pocketed and carried on the go. Based on an ATmega328P, the gadget is equipped with a 802.11 b/g/n programmable Wi-Fi module, a 128×64-pixel OLED display, a microSD slot for data and charging, an IR transmitter, a two-channel piezo speaker and a 300mAh LiPo battery that lasts for roughly six to eight hours. These electronics are all housed inside a somewhat transparent 3D-printed enclosure.

On top of all that goodness, Nibble features eight pushbuttons (that come with variously colored replacement caps) that are perfect for playing handheld games along with an expansion port for ICSP, I2C, digital and analog pins. According to creator Simone Picchioni, “Thanks to the expansion port, Nibble is able to read inputs (pushbutton, Twitter message, sun light) and turn it into an output (turning on an LED, moving a motor).”

The Maker has open sourced an Arduino library exclusively for Nibble, which you can use to develop games and utilities. Looking ahead, Picchioni will also provide examples and tutorials.

Intrigued? Check out Nibble’s Kickstarter campaign, where Picchioni is currently seeking $31,760.

FLUID is a smart water meter for your home

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This smart device allows you to conserve water, save money and detect leaks by monitoring usage in real-time.

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Did you know that each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day? Flush a toilet? That’s three gallons. Wash a load of laundry? That’s another 25 gallons. Brush your teeth? One more gallon. And this statistic doesn’t include outdoor water use by sprinkler systems either. With a vast majority of the U.S. west coast experiencing drought conditions, H2O consumption has never been so paramount.

Luckily, one Minneapolis-based startup has developed what they’re calling the world’s first learning water meter that will help you to become more mindful. The aptly name FLUID has been designed for easy installation — simply snap the device around the main pipeline coming into your home, plug it in and connect it to your Wi-Fi network.

FLUID will help you better understand exactly when, where and how much water you’re consuming on a regular basis by providing real-time reports on its accompanying mobile app. By employing ultrasonic pulses, the jig is able to measure the velocity, flow and transit time of the water without ever having to cut into the pipe. This can all then be visualized on your phone.

Whats’s even more impressive is that it can even identify and track usage by appliance or fixture. In other words, it knows exactly where the water is coming from and enables you to learn the flow pattern associated with that appliance or fixture’s run cycle. The end result? Quantifiable data that lets you to see just how much H2O you’re using in the shower, doing the laundry, flushing the toilet, irrigating the lawn and so forth.

“Amazing things can happen once you become more connected to the water you use. You’ll become more aware of how many loads of laundry you are doing weekly, the length of your showers and other habits and behaviors,” the FLUID team writes.

And that’s not all, it only takes one small would-have-been occurrence for FLUID to pay for itself! When it detects constant or erratic water use, a notification will be sent to your phone indicating that there may be a possible leak or water that has been left running.

“It could be as simple as a garden hose that was left on, a running toilet, or in a worst case scenario a pipe bursts when you are away from your home on a trip or an errand. FLUID gives you the peace of mind that you won’t return home to huge water bills or thousands of dollars in water damages,” its creators explain.

Beyond making recommendations, FLUID empowers you to set monthly water consumption goals and keep tabs on your progress. In the future, the team hopes to integrate the tool with existing smart home hubs, such as Nest, WeMo and SmartThings, and provide a REST API so developers can design their own integrations.

Ready to become more mindful of water in and around your house? Check out FLUID’s Kickstarter campaign, where it is currently seeking $95,000. Pending all goes to plan, the first batch of units is expected to ship out sometime in May 2016.