Martian Watches
Martian Watches is a brand of smart watch founded in 2007[1] in the United States by SilverPlus, Inc., an American company headquartered in Irvine, California.[2] Martian Watches allow for hands-free use of mobile phones via short distance wireless communication. Using Bluetooth and voice recognition technology, users can take calls, listen to or send text messages, see caller ID information, and send text using speech synthesis.[3] The Martian watch is reportedly the first watch to utilize voice commands.[4]
Features
Martian Watches are produced in several styles, each with an analog time display, a small OLED display screen, a speaker, and a noise-cancelling microphone. The small OLED displays scrolling text which can show caller ID information, text messages, and other information such as social media notifications.[3][5] In addition, the watch can be used to trigger the shutter of the mobile phone's camera.[6] The watches utilize Bluetooth 4.0, which supports regular Bluetooth, as well as Bluetooth low energy. The analog watch portion of Martian Watches is powered by a watch battery,[7] and there is a side mounted micro USB port for the rechargeable battery that handles the phone functions,[8] in addition to an accelerometer.[3]
Awards
Martian Watches was named a CNET "Best of CES Finalist" at CES 2013,[9] and was selected for a Popular Mechanics CES 2013 Editor's Choice Award.[6] In addition, the Edison Award for Productivity Tools was awarded to Martian Watches in April 2013.[5]
Kickstarter campaign
Martian successfully launched their wireless smartphone-connected watches via the Kickstarter crowd funding platform on August 16, 2012,[10] and the first watches were delivered to customers in early February 2013.[11]
SilverPlus
SilverPlus, Inc., the U.S. distributor of Martian Watches, was established in 2007 by CEO Jeffrey Hsieh[12] and CTO Dennis Kwan. The president of the company is Stan Kinsey.[13]
Other products
In 2011, SilverPlus launched a home communication safety system for seniors called the SilverCare Personal Safety Alert Device that included a two-way voice communication watch/pendant and a base station connected to a home telephone line. The unique digital watch had a microphone and speaker that allowed the wearer, when within 100 feet of its base station, to call for help and speak to 9-1-1, family members, or a caregiver.[14]
In August 2014 it was revealed that Martian was teaming up with Guess to launch a range of branded smartwatches.[15]
External links
References
- ↑ Martian Watches Official Site: Company History
- ↑ "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)".
Serial Number: 85651913; Filing Date: June 14, 2012
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at position 38 (help) - 1 2 3 "Martian Passport Watch mixes Bluetooth and class, ships by March for $299 (hands-on)".
- ↑ Gonzalez, Barb (31 May 2013). "Review of Martian Watch Voice Command for Smartphones". NBCUniversal.
- 1 2 "2013 Edison Award Winners".
- 1 2 "CES 2013: Editor's Choice Awards - Consumer Electronics Show - Popular Mechanics".
- ↑ "Tech Test Drive: What's smart, dumb about smartwatches - San Jose Mercury News".
- ↑ "Martian Watch Brings Wristphone Technology to Earthlings - NYTimes.com".
- ↑ "Best of CES 2013 Finalists".
- ↑ "MARTIAN – Voice Command Watches for iPhone & Android by Martian Watches — Kickstarter".
- ↑ "MARTIAN – Voice Command Watches for iPhone & Android by Martian Watches » Early Bird shipping has begun — Kickstarter".
- ↑ "Silverplus, Inc - Irvine, California (CA) : Company Profile".
- ↑ Velazco, Chris (16 August 2012). "Meet The Martians, The Smartwatches You Can Actually Talk To". TechCrunch.
- ↑ "Integrated health management console - PCT Patent 2010/134969".
- ↑ "Guess and Martian team up for smartwatch". Wareable. Retrieved 18 August 2014.