Smartwatches

Kreyos Meteor smartwatch brings Star Trek tech to life

Kreyos Meteor smartwatch brings Star Trek tech to life
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch offers voice controls and gesture controls, making this a possible next step towards the Star Trek communicator technology
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch offers voice controls and gesture controls, making this a possible next step towards the Star Trek communicator technology
View 8 Images
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch offers voice controls and gesture controls, making this a possible next step towards the Star Trek communicator technology
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The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch offers voice controls and gesture controls, making this a possible next step towards the Star Trek communicator technology
Some of the different watch face designs offered on the Kreyos Meteor, shown here attached to the belt clip
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Some of the different watch face designs offered on the Kreyos Meteor, shown here attached to the belt clip
Some of the different watch face designs offered on the Kreyos Meteor, shown here attached to the wrist strap
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Some of the different watch face designs offered on the Kreyos Meteor, shown here attached to the wrist strap
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch comes with a USB charging cable
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The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch comes with a USB charging cable
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on a belt with a clip, which come in a range of different colors
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The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on a belt with a clip, which come in a range of different colors
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn around the neck with a lanyard, which come in a range of different colors
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The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn around the neck with a lanyard, which come in a range of different colors
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch offers voice controls and gesture controls, making this a possible next step towards the Star Trek communicator technology
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The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch offers voice controls and gesture controls, making this a possible next step towards the Star Trek communicator technology
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on the wrist with a strap, which come in different styles for men and women
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The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on the wrist with a strap, which come in different styles for men and women
View gallery - 8 images

Smartwatches could be the next big thing in mobile technology. Dozens of companies are gambling on this being the case, but naysayers point to the fact that they will only ever have limited appeal thanks to their superfluous nature. Most, after all, do not replace your smartphone, they merely prevent you having to take it out of your pocket or bag. Only time will tell, but some smartwatches are gaining momentum and fans. The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch, currently being funded through Indiegogo, being one such example that also promises Star Trek communicator-style functionality.

The Kreyos Meteor promises hands-free control over your iOS, Android, or Windows Phone handset while it remains in your pocket. The Meteor features a microphone and speaker, which, once you pair your smartphone with your smartwatch via Bluetooth, allows you to interact with the former using the latter. Everything you can currently do with your phone's voice command system you'll be able to do through your smartwatch. This includes making and answering calls, replying to text messages, composing emails, posting to social networks, changing the music that's playing, and setting up alarms and appointments.

If voice controls aren't your bag then the Kreyos Meteor smartwatch also offers gesture controls built into the operating system. With a three-axis gyroscope fitted into the watch, you'll be able to customize your Meteor to respond in different ways to different gestures. Possibilities include answering your phone with an upwards flick of your wrist, or skipping a music track with a flick to the right. Four directional gestures come preconfigured – left, right, up, and down – with additional gestures promised for future platform updates.

Some of the different watch face designs offered on the Kreyos Meteor, shown here attached to the belt clip
Some of the different watch face designs offered on the Kreyos Meteor, shown here attached to the belt clip

Kreyos claims the Meteor is the only smartwatch to feature voice and gesture controls, and that boast does appear to hold true at the time of writing. The Smile smartwatch from Emopulse also promises voice recognition, but it's a different breed from the Kreyos Meteor, working on its own without the need to be paired with a smartphone. And there isn't a hint of gesture controls.

Some big-name tech manufacturers are either announcing smartwatches (Samsung) or rumored to be working on them (Apple), so this may not be a unique selling point for much longer. For the time being, however, the Kreyos Meteor has this advantage over the growing competition. And with it the opportunity to cite Star Trek in its promotional material.

The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on your wrist with a strap, on your belt with a clip, or around your neck with a lanyard. All of which come in a range of colors including simple black or white and eye-popping pink or lime. Further customization determined by personal taste is possible thanks to the 20 different watch face designs offered, with more promised in the future. These can be switched between at will.

The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on a belt with a clip, which come in a range of different colors
The Kreyos Meteor smartwatch can be worn on a belt with a clip, which come in a range of different colors

There are a range of apps built into the Meteor, with the creators appealing to runners, swimmers, bikers, and golfers (amongst others) with activity trackers that can record data to be stored in the cloud. Developers are invited to create more apps for the platform through the SDK.

The price for Indiegogo backers started at US$95 for one Kreyos Meteor smartwatch, with the retail price set at $169. Having passed its funding goal, the Kreyos Meteor smartwatch is expected to be delivered to backers in November 2013. The campaign ends on Aug 8, 2013, with perks ranging in value from $29 (for two accessories) to $11,000 (for 100 watches and wristbands to go with them).

The money raised by the Indiegogo campaign will be used to finish developing the software and to begin mass production. The pitch video below introduces the Meteor, explaining some of its noteworthy features and explaining how they could be used in real-world situations.

Source: Indiegogo

KREYOS: The ONLY Smartwatch With Voice & Gesture Control

View gallery - 8 images
11 comments
11 comments
Nairda
Above all, watch must have a solar face. Pulled out an old Citizen Ecodrive that had been sitting in the cupboard for 4 years. As soon as it saw light the seconds arm started to move.
There s no substitute for this. You have to have the confidence in a ‘forever’ machine, like those 100 yr old windup watches that keep going.
Would also prefer if the unit was built to be very solid, but not necessarily monstrous. Ie – Gorilla glass 3, titanium chassis, 250-300 atmospheres, 8-10 mm thick. As a compromise it can have a big face. And just to throw a curveball, I would like to appeal for a watch that can act as a main/head unit for alarm/condition notices to external sensors (communicating via Bluetooth/wifi/UHF) Handy to be informed via simple vibration or sound, with visual display of value or pre-configured message.
The following sensor types are angled towards us secluded lot: 1. < Integrated into watch > Passive Bio sensor to keep track of blood sugar levels, white blood count, and hydration level (worn by individual like a wrist band,) 2. Temperature, barometer, wind direction/speed 3. Water quality/PH test unit (wand) 4. Sound level monitor for 5-60KHz sensitive to 10dB 5. Rad sensor for instant and cumulative exposure to a,b and g rays. Worn as badge. 6. Gas sensor for Oxygen, CO2, and common organics in the surrounding atmosphere. Worn as badge. 7. Wide band RF power module (with option for interchangeable antennas for ULF-VHF- UHF, Microwave up to 6Ghz. 8. Trip sensors (contact, accelerometer or beam)
BigGoofyGuy
Nairda, it is a smart watch not a tricorder. :)
I think it is really neat. I think it could rescue the wrist watch from extinction. Instead of having to pull out ones phone to see the time, one just looks at the watch. Since it is connected to ones phone, it would - IMO - make it easier to check on some things.
Lewis M. Dickens III
Thank goodness that someone decided to stop insulting Ben Franklin and include a seconds readout.
Bill
Chuck Anziulewicz
I wouldn't mind having Siri on my wrist.
StWils
Bluetooth access to a phone in one's pocket is handy and sort of cool but the only Realllly Coool choice is that when accessing the phone phunction with the watch it must make the Star Trek Official "Chrt Chrt Chrt" noise. Also Nairda's Tricorder dreams are not as useful as a calculator. I very much miss being able to flip up my wristwatch to use the calculator to check prices in stores. After at least 15 years the membrane keyboard has become mostly inoperative which kills the calculator and data bank tools.
The Skud
St Wills - Don't despair! Calculator watches are still around. I recently bought a Casio watch featuring a calculator (buttons below display) for about $25 little bucks! Has stopwatch and the usual day, date etc. etc. Found mine on EBay through a Yahoo 'featured' advert, but there will be other sources, check Casio's own website, they make several versions.
Johnny De Vulcan
...1)it does not have to be close to your head and brain 2)you do not forget it,drop it or have it stolen. 3)TinyDeal.HK,com has had some for years , comes betw. 60-120$s mine has worked a year now-Dick Tacy-style ,but with bluetooth too.*
VoiceofReason
The biggest problem I see with this is that the customer will HAVE to run bluetooth all the time. That's a huge battery drain. Until manufacturers start building devices with a decent battery life, I'm out. Love the functionality though.
Darren Gibbard
Not quite right @VoiceofReason - Bluetooth 4.0 has a low power state for just such devices; and as per the likes of other similar smart watches using the same Bluetooth tech, battery loss is < 5%. Get a Samsung Galaxy Note II / S4 if you're concerned about battery life :D
S. Patel
@Nairda I like your term "forever machine" and while I agree with your comment, this is just one of those little luxuries that make life a little more convenient. A friend of mine writes reviews and let me play around with his “review model” (he’s not the active type, unlike me…he’s got more of the brains) This watch worked without any problems for the 60 miles of running I logged, and for my bike this watch also did the trick. I originally ran with my Nike SportsWatch, but my biggest problem with it was that it was geared only towards running. When I would take my Nike watch cycling I experienced major problems (Inaccurate distances, speeds, etc). When I took this watch cycling it appeared to be much more accurate and was nearly as useful as my bike computer (Garmin Edge 800). I’m considering selling my bike computer and replacing it with the one I just ordered. Granted it can’t do everything my bike computer can, but then again, I never really used my bike computer to its full capacity, so this would be more than sufficient.
There is also a possibility of it recording data about how you swim and would be the perfect training partner for a triathlete.
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