À propos du projet
BLOCKS - The World's First Modular Smartwatch
1 613 874 $
5 063
BLOCKS is the world’s first modular smartwatch. Compared to our phones, smartwatches are small and have limited space inside. This means that other smartwatch companies are having to compromise on which features they to put into a tiny little device that fits around your wrist. We wanted to give that power back to you, the user, to choose what features are important just for you.
BLOCKS breaks away from compromise with a unique design. Start simply with the watchface, also known as the Core, which is a fully functioning smartwatch on its own, then add Modules into the strap to enhance functionality of your watch. You can choose ANY Modules you want and connect them together to build a smartwatch unique to you.
It's tailored to the person that matters the most - You
It’s time that our smartwatches reflect our individuality. BLOCKS gives you the power to build a smartwatch that suits your lifestyle, with features that are customized to your needs. We’re over one-size-fits-all. Just choose the modules you want and connect them together in seconds.
Hot Swappable
Modules are hot swappable and easily replaceable. Swap in and out any Module in seconds. You don't need to restart the watch when you connect a Module, and it will work straight away.
Easily swap in a battery Module if you notice that your smartwatch is running low on power, or connect a heart rate Module before heading to the gym.
It's future proof
Why buy a whole new smartwatch when you can simply add a new feature? As technology evolves, so will BLOCKS. New Modules will be released continually, ensuring that you can have the latest technology as soon as it becomes available. The future is modular.
It has infinite possibilities
During the past two years, we have been approached by a large number of technology companies from around the world. Together with our partners, we developed the Core technology of BLOCKS and our first Modules. We are working with our partners to develop even more modules.
Open Design
Easily customize the appearance of your watch with removable covers to suit your taste and any occasion. Select designers or individuals would be able to build even more customizable covers for the smartwatch. 3D printed precious materials, stones such as ruby or sapphire or carved from wood, would all be possible with the open design.
Engineering Prototype:
The final product will have a full round screen.
Here is a video of the engineering prototype we have developed together with our manufacturer, Compal Electronics. They are amongst the top 5 manufacturers for consumer electronics in the world and have already initiated the manufacturing process to produce BLOCKS.
What makes BLOCKS special?
Our Modules make BLOCKS unique. They provide an ever-growing selection of features for you to choose from. By utilising the space around the wrist, users can build a smartwatch that suits their lifestyle by connecting Modules together to their Core. The possibilities are limitless.
Phase One: Available on Kickstarter
The Modules listed below are the first of many, and were selected based on popular choice. As new technology becomes available, we’ll be developing new Modules for you. You don't need to choose the Modules you want immediately when you back us; after the campaign, we will get in touch to ask what combination of Modules you'd like.
Phase Two: Planned Modules
BLOCKS is all about choice. We want to be able to provide you with as many Modules as possible so that you always have access to the latest technologies. Here are some Modules that we have already planned designing, or will be working with partners to make possible.
These will be announced after we ship to our Kickstarter backers, and can be ordered online to add to your Module selection.
Phase Three: Future Modules
We have demonstrated what is currently possible with BLOCKS.. But as more companies and individuals harness the potential of our open platform in the future, you will have so many more Modules to choose from. Here are just a few that will be possible.
The Core, or watchface, is fully functional on its own and has all the features you would expect from a smartwatch, such as phone notifications, activity tracking and voice control, and comes with a full round colour touch screen. In the future, we can have Cores with different types of display technologies and shapes, such as e-ink and rectangular screens.
The features of the BLOCKS Core include the following:
Elegant Interface
We’ve designed the user experience to be as intuitive and simple as possible. Notifications, activity tracking, and the additional features of all your Modules are available at the flick of a finger. These are preliminary designs are subject to change.
Mobile Compatibility & App
BLOCKS will be compatible with both iPhones and Android smartphones. It works with iOS 8 and above, on iPhone 4s and above. It also works with all Android 4.0+ phones including those from LG, Motorola, Sony, Samsung, HTC, Xiaomi and more.
Operating System
BLOCKS' operating system is based on the latest version of Android and is running on a powerful and efficient Qualcomm processor. With the help of Qualcomm and our other software partners, we have optimized our Android OS for power consumption.
We are using Android, which like BLOCKS, is an open-platform. With Android it is easy to develop apps and to implement our modular framework. A lot of developers already have apps on androids, and they only need to optimize their apps to work on the watch.
Ergonomics
Our team has extensively studied wrist shapes and sizes to design BLOCKS Modules to be universally comfortable.Based on your wrist size, you can fit a different amount of Modules. We have developed a special clasp that can adjust to different sizes and make sure your watch fits your wrist perfectly. Small wrists will be able to fit the Core, 3 Modules and the adjustable clasp, while the mean wrist size will be able to fit the Core, 4 Modules and the adjustable clasp. We will try to decrease the size of Modules for even better ergonomics and to allow you to have more Modules at one time.
Water Resistance
BLOCKS watches will be IP67 water resistant, which means they can withstand immersion up to 1 m for certain periods of time. This will keep you covered in case your watch gets wet in the rain or you accidentally drop it into a puddle. We are aiming for IP68 level, one of the highest levels of certifications, so that you will be able to go for a swim with your BLOCKS watch.Colour Options
BLOCKS will be available in 3 colour options, which you will be able to select after launch, and will be made from a high quality polycarbonate. Casings in other materials and colours will be made available next year onwards. Polycarbonate is used extensively in many smartphones.
Starting at $195, BLOCKS is competitively priced with any other Android based smartwatch. You can add even more functionality to your BLOCKS watch and get 4 Modules at prices starting from $250.
Want more modules? Just select the reward tier you would like to purchase and add $30 ONLY for each additional module. For example - you select the $275 package which gives you the BLOCKS Core and 4 Modules. However if you would like 5 Modules instead of 4, add $30 so that your total pledged amount is $305 ($275 + $30).
You can order an unlimited number of Modules, and redeem your credit from Kickstarter to purchase Modules that are released in the future. Some future Modules may need more than 1 credit.
We have already partnered with major technology companies to develop our Modules and have over 1,500 individual developers signed up on our list.
As an open platform, BLOCKS will be releasing a special kind of module to allow anyone to prototype their own technology. BLOCKS developers would be able to build their own modules to add to their watch, and may even offer them for sale to the BLOCKS community via the BlockStore. We will work with individual developers to take their designs to production. Exciting!
We will be releasing a full Module Development Kit (MDK) in due course for all of you who are interested in building amazing projects for a wearable. We already had many people approach us with ideas and prototypes to build modules for healthcare, academic research and gaming. We cannot wait to see what you could develop with these developer modules!
Manufacturer
We’ve been working with Compal Electronics in Taiwan for the past 8 months. Compal is the world’s fifth largest manufacturer of consumer electronics, and produce multiple smartphones, tablets and smartwatches. We have developed our prototypes together.
Behind the Scenes
Check out some of the members of our technical team talking about more details of our hardware, software and design.
Technical specifications of the Core
Update: Gorilla Glass is added to all BLOCKS Cores for no additional cost, since we reached the $1,000,000 stretch goal. This makes sure the screen is damage resistant.
Update: Gorgeous and energy efficient AMOLED screen is added as a stretch goal and all BLOCKS watches will come with this screen for no additional cost.
We have a large team, with various backgrounds coming from literally all over the globe. Together, we are building your dream smartwatch. The whole team is currently based in London, UK with a small presence in Silicon Valley.
Come meet the team!
We believe in being an open and transparent company. We are happy to meet and speak to our backers about our shared passion for modularity. We are based in London, so please feel free to drop us a message if you're around!
These are estimated timelines for the production and fulfilment. We estimate to ship the watches out of factory by end of May.
Awards
Since founding BLOCKS, we have had the privilege of participating in many different competitions, winning numerous Awards along the way.
International backers:
We will be shipping to most countries in the world barring the following countries due to logistical issues: Argentina, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar/Burma, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Please note: Backers may need to pay for customs and duty depending on where they live.
Terms and conditions:
Please visit the following link for our terms and conditions:
http://www.chooseblocks.com/terms-and-conditions.html
Together, we can change how technology should be!
We are a young and very passionate team, with ambitious goals of changing how the world looks at technology. We reached this goal, but we still need your help! Signal to the world that technology should be personal and upgradeable. Please share the campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues, so we can make BLOCKS the success we know it can be.
Something fun for you to watch!
And help us spread the word...
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch either through Kickstarter or Facebook. You could also email us at ask@chooseblocks.com and we promise we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Risques et défis
Technical challenges:
The proprietary connectors for BLOCKS is something that's never been done before. The connectors need to be tested for durability, fatigue life, water proofing, stress tests, vibrations etc all the while being comfortable. The BLOCKS team have been working on the technology for 22 months and with our partner's support we have commissioned one of the largest ODMs (Original Design Manufacturers) to help us tackle this problem. They have significant experience in building wearable devices. We have been working with them for a year before even coming to Kickstarter to create something that is ready for mass production.
Product updates:
We want our entire community to know that the product details may change over the course of the manufacturing process. We want to ensure that we deliver the highest quality BLOCKS watch possible. We will keep you updated on any and all changes.
Delivery:
We have stated that shipment will commence in the end of May 2016 accounting for as many worst case scenarios as possible. However, it is impossible to account for every scenario due to practicality.
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Période de financement
- (37 jours)