Get All Access for $5/mo

With Bluetooth Ring, Control Your World With a Finger Twirl One of the latest wearable tech gadgets on the SXSW tradeshow floor lets you use gestures to text, shop and more.

By Jacob Hall

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

kickstarter.com

Smart devices are great – if you've got a hand free to operate them.

Enter the Ring, one of very few wow-factor gadgets on the SXSW Tradeshow floor in Austin this year. This wearable input device lets you write texts or make payments, all with a twirl of your finger using gesture recognition technology.

Its purpose is to create a shortcut to daily tasks with simple hand movements. Using the Ring, letters drawn in the air can spell out texts, character by character. Incoming transmissions and alerts are signaled by vibrations and LED lights.

The Ring is the brainchild of Takuro Yoshida, chief executive officer of Logbar, Inc., and got its start as the winner of the TechCrunch Tokyo Startup Battle in 2013. Today the device is being funded through Kickstarter and has raised more than $650,000, doubling its $250,000 goal. A public release is set for July 2014.

Jacob Hall is a writer living and working in Austin, Texas. He writes about movies, books, games and technology.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Devices

Stay Focused at Work with These $110 Beats Fit Pro Earbuds

Lock in with a great deal on earbuds with spatial audio and active noise cancellation.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.

Green Entrepreneur®

Why You Need a Contribution Mindset to Thrive in 2024 and Beyond

How to set yourself and your business up for long-term success.