Wearables are a hot new technology that has so far typically taken the form of smartwatches and bracelets as well as smart glasses such as Google Glass. Many are designed to enhance smartphone function or to fulfill a very specific purpose such as monitoring your health. Canada’s own Kiwi Wearable Technologies is taking a different approach to this nascent technology. Its Kiwi Move is a multi-functional device that can be worn anywhere.
The Kiwi Move itself is a small trapezoid measuring about 40.6 by 30.5 by 8.9 millimeters and weighing about 29 grams. Powered by a ARM Cortex M4 processor, it packs a number of sensors including an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a barometer and a thermometer. It also packs 2GB of storage, a microphone and both 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE connectivity. It comes with a clip, a strap and a key ring adapter so that it can be worn in different ways.
Behind the Kiwi Move is a set of apps that lets users take advantage of the information collected by the device itself. Compatible with Android and iOS devices, these support a range of functions. For example, Kiwi Move tracks data such as a step count and stairs climbed. Kiwi Gestures lets you use both built-in and user-created gestures to control a variety of actions or devices. The Kiwi When. Do. app lets you set up rules to drive various actions. For example, drawing a musical note in the air can trigger the identification of a song.
“The Kiwi Move is next-generation when it comes to design and performance and we’re excited to bring it to market for consumer use,” said Ashley Beattie, Chief Marketing Officer at Kiwi. “Unlike other wearables on the market, the Kiwi Move is fashionable and unique in that it can be worn anywhere, whether that be on your arm, wrist, waist, ankle, collar or chest.”
“The Kiwi Move is our vision for the future of wearable tech, as we look to make single-function devices a thing of the past,” said Ali Nawab, Kiwi’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that wearable tech products should be multi-functional — One Kiwi Move, Many Apps.”
Best of all, a developer kit is also available, giving developers a chance to come up with their own ways to use the Kiwi Move.
The Kiwi Move is now available for pre-order for the promotional price CA$99, suggesting that it will cost more in the future. Shipments are expected to begin in July 2014.
Source : Kiwi Move