At the turn of the 2000s, before the ubiquity of smartphones, several companies were trying to create devices that would allow people to stay connected with loved ones, even their Twitter followers or Facebook feed, but without all the features to unite one Android or an iPhone. The Bond Touch, product of the startup of the same name, offers him the opportunity to express his emotions with vibrations.
The idea seems relatively simple: a bracelet equipped with a small touchscreen and a small motor makes it possible to send a series of “gestures”, which in turn are translated into vibrations. These gestures in question can be attributed to a specific person; you can build up your “network” of contacts to whom you can send sweet messages or tender thoughts with just a few finger movements.
The first thought when configuring the Bonc Touch is that the touchscreen is often daunting. Normal maybe for such a small area. But the fact is that it quickly becomes annoying.
The second thought that comes to mind is, “Why? Why develop a device that cannot send visual, vocal or even written content, only vibrations? And why, even worse, do you still need to be connected via Bluetooth to your smartphone, on which you have – of course – installed another application to send and receive this “communication”?
Couldn’t we just – let’s make a crazy assumption here – use this phone and its myriad of pre-installed or easily accessible applications to communicate, be it via chat, email, SMS, video, phone or even emojis?
After all, what is more interesting to get? A message that reads “I love you” or the equivalent of “bzzzt bzzzt bzzzt” on her wrist?
And the worst part is that the bracelet sells for $200 a pair.
The company speaks of the growing popularity of emotional wearables, but there’s no situation where these bracelets would be more appropriate than using a smartphone. Smartphone that will definitely be by your side in any case …