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Valerie Richardson
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Google Glass is still catching on despite being available for a couple of years. In the meantime, Japanese eyewear manufacturer JINS has decided to bring its MEME wearable to the U.S., with a showcase expected at next month’s CES event in Las Vegas. This Google Glass competitor will most likely be likely sold with a cheaper price tag, although the manufacturer hasn’t shared details on the pricing yet.
JINS is targeting this wearable towards the health conscious with an array of fitness sensors attached on the device. There will be companion apps for both iOS and Android devices which will let you monitor your health vitals the way you would with a fitness band.
“Since launching JINS in 2001, we have encouraged people to change the way they view the world, to enrich their lives and unlock new experiences through eyewear. We have challenged the historical limitations of eyewear, introducing a range of innovative glasses that move beyond vision correction to help solve problems of daily life.” said Hitoshi Tanaka, CEO of JIN CO.,LTD.
If you’re visiting the CES event next month, you can have a first hand look of these devices between the 6th and 9th of January. Hit the break to find the full press release.
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tokyo-based eyewear brand, JINS, today announced that it will bring JINS MEME, a brand new class of smart eyewear, to the U.S. market in 2015 as part of its expansion plan outside of Asia. JINS MEME glasses (available with or without prescription lenses) use bio-sensing technology to detect tiny changes in eye and body movements so you can monitor your body for better safety, wellness and health. The company will be demonstrating JINS MEME for the first time in the U.S. at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 6-9, 2015.
Until now, eyewear has always been about seeing the world outside. JINS MEME allows you to see within yourself and draw on the full potential of your eyes like never before. Developed following nearly five years of research with leading academics and doctors in Japan, sensors in JINS MEME capture information from your body to encourage better health, safety and wellness actions via the companion JINS MEME app for iOS and Android.
“Since launching JINS in 2001, we have encouraged people to change the way they view the world, to enrich their lives and unlock new experiences through eyewear. We have challenged the historical limitations of eyewear, introducing a range of innovative glasses that move beyond vision correction to help solve problems of daily life.” said Hitoshi Tanaka, CEO of JIN CO.,LTD. “With JINS MEME, we are changing the game for digital eyewear with a focus on both function and fashion. We’re excited to push the boundaries for eyewear beyond vision correction and help people magnify life.”
Simple and Fashionable Design
The classic, streamlined design of JINS MEME appeals to any regular eyewear user and does not stand out as a piece of technology. The frames were crafted by world renowned industrial designer Satoshi Wada of SWdesign, who is responsible for other groundbreaking designs including the Audi A6 and ISSEY MIYAKE W watch.
Better Bio-Sensing
JINS MEME glasses sit at the center of the body, positioned on the face and atop the spine. This is the most ideal location to measure the body’s axis and movement, allowing JINS MEME to gather extremely accurate information, compared to a wearable sitting on a hand or leg. The secret lies in three electrooculography (EOG) electrodes installed where the frame touches the face and the six-axis sensors along the earpiece.
Electrooculography (EOG): EOG electrodes in the base of the glass frame, above the nose and in the nose pads can detect blinks and eye movement in eight directions.
Six-axis sensors: Accelerometer and gyroscope sensors along the earpiece monitor body axis and walking patterns.
Let Your Eyes Speak Louder Than Words: Safety, Wellness and Health Benefits
87 percent of the information people receive from the physical world is through the eyes. JINS MEME collects extremely accurate information about your body to better inform safety, wellness and health decisions, which can be monitored and visualized through the JINS MEME companion application for Android and iOS.
Benefits include:
Safety: JINS is collaborating with Denso Corporation, the world’s biggest auto parts manufacturer by revenue, to further explore utilizing JINS MEME to help increase the safety of operating vehicles. By monitoring eye movements, JINS MEME will know when the driver is tired or falling asleep and alert them to help prevent accidents.
Efficiency at Work: JINS MEME is a tool that can maximize efficiency and proficiency in the office or while studying. JINS MEME monitors fatigue levels, letting you know when to take a break or get up and move around.
Fitness & Wellness: The accelerometer and gyroscope sensors measure calories burned, steps taken, posture and balance. Future applications may assess how you walk/run with suggestions to improve your stride and workout.
Entertainment & Gaming: JINS is also exploring applications that allow you to play games by using your eyes as the controller.
JINS is working with many renowned doctors and researchers to explore myriad additional benefits such as measuring interest levels, providing biofeedback for focus-training exercises and possible diagnostic applications for cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases.
JINS recently introduced an Academic Pack which allows accredited educators and researchers around the globe to directly capture and analyze the raw data generated from JINS MEME to explore additional benefits. JINS expects to announce additional functionality and application use in 2015.
“We advocate the concept of Smart Ageing, where people can understand how the mind and body can work together for better health and wellness. The philosophy is that we can live a better lifestyle by understanding our body patterns,” said Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, Professor of Tohoku University’s Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, who has worked closely with JINS in the development of JINS MEME. “JINS MEME measures how our eyes and body move. From these movements, we can gather a huge amount of biological information. And we’re just starting to see the possibilities. We’re excited to explore other different uses and applications for JINS MEME.”
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