Wearable controller allows for eye-less control of phone while driving

Team O6 by Fingertips Lab, which primarily designs and creates products for the visually impaired, has created a wearable controller that a consumer uses to operate his or her phone without needing to look at the screen. The O6 controller uses touch, voice, and gesture input to control apps and respond to messages completely without the use of eyes. Primarily geared for usage while driving or commuting, O6 can also be used while its consumer exercises, and provides the visually impaired with easier accessibility to smartphones.

Only designed to work with iOS devices for now, the water-resistant controller offers the same features a smartwatch has: a haptic motor, motion sensors, Bluetooth 4.0 LE connectivity, and a rechargeable battery. Through a rotary command dial and buttons, users interact with their mobile devices through just a touch of the hand or finger. The dial cycles through items on a phone’s screen and buttons allow for a selection of options. Users don’t even have to voice commands to the device; instead, the O6 provides vocal feedback, allowing the user to choose the command they’d like and narrating emails, directions, texts, and more. While these capabilities cover tasks users may not usually need during their regular commute, the O6 software is designed to analyze content and present the typical actions people would usually want to perform.

A magnetic steering wheel mount is available to place the O6 on while driving, and other accessories include a wristband and on-the-go clip. Boasting patent-pending mechanical architecture, the controller’s rotary dial also doubles up as a tactile button, meaning that a user can single, double, and triple-click or just press and hold. These taps come in handy when a user can do so to hear a text out loud and select a response from pre-set messages. The O6 will even read aloud from social media feeds, particularly helpful when someone is walking in a crowd and shouldn’t be distracted by his or her phone.

The O6 controller can even be applicable to home settings, having a remote mode that allows users to control home automation devices, Netflix, Amazon Video, and YouTube. Staying up to date with current software also isn’t an issue, as the controller can wirelessly update with the latest version through the O6 app.

Aiming to ship the controller by February 2017, the O6 team is optimistic about having the product completely ready for mass usage. Until then, a Kickstarter campaign has funded the process, with pledges for one O6 beginning at $89. “The O6 design is breaking new ground with a unique combination of micro-sized electromechanical components coupled with compact electronics, presenting some unique manufacturing changes,” the product’s Kickstarter page reads. “However, we are well placed to overcome these challenges and the O6 team is driven to create and deliver the best device possible.”     

Sources: Kickstarter, Gizmag, LiveSmart