Voice-based hardware devices have become increasingly popular, offering companionship, productivity, and personal growth. From card-shaped devices like Plaud and Pocket to pendants from Friend, Limitless, and Taya, and even a wristband from Bee (now part of Amazon), the market is filled with innovative options.
However, a new player has entered the scene in the form of Sandbar, a startup founded by two former Meta employees with experience in interface design. Their creation, a ring called Stream, aims to revolutionize voice interactions by acting as a “mouse for voice.” The ring allows users to take notes, interact with AI assistants, and control music seamlessly.
Mina Fahmi, Sandbar’s CEO, with a background in human-computer interfaces, saw the potential for a more intuitive way to capture thoughts in real-time. He partnered with Kirak Hong, Sandbar’s CTO, to create Stream, a ring designed to be worn on the index finger of the dominant hand. Equipped with microphones and a touch pad, the ring enables users to record their thoughts discreetly.
The Stream app features an AI chatbot that engages users as they record their thoughts, organizing them into editable notes. Users can review their discussions over time and personalize the assistant’s voice to their liking. The ring also doubles as a media controller, providing easy access to playback controls without the need for headphones.
Sandbar is set to launch pre-orders for Stream, offering a silver version for $249 and a gold version for $299. The company prioritizes user privacy, offering encryption for data security and supporting data exports to other apps. With $13 million in funding from True Ventures, Upfront Ventures, and Betaworks, Sandbar aims to disrupt the voice-AI hardware market with its innovative approach.
While competition in the voice-AI hardware space is fierce, Sandbar’s Stream distinguishes itself by focusing on empowering users to express their ideas effortlessly. With a vision to provide genuine convenience and value, Sandbar aims to redefine the way we interact with voice technology. Time will tell if the ring form factor proves to be the game-changer the industry has been waiting for. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges for individuals, communities, and nations around the world. As countries continue to grapple with the devastating effects of the virus, there has been a renewed focus on the importance of public health measures and the need for global cooperation to combat the spread of the disease.
One of the key strategies that has emerged during the pandemic is the use of contact tracing to identify and isolate individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. Contact tracing involves identifying and monitoring individuals who have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. By quickly identifying and isolating these individuals, public health officials can prevent further spread of the virus and protect the larger community.
Contact tracing has been used for decades to track the spread of infectious diseases, but the scale and complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges. With the rapid spread of the virus and the need to trace contacts across borders and jurisdictions, public health officials have had to adapt and innovate to keep up with the demand for contact tracing services.
One of the key innovations in contact tracing during the pandemic has been the use of technology to streamline and automate the process. Contact tracing apps have been developed by governments and private companies to help track the movements and interactions of individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. These apps use GPS and Bluetooth technology to identify close contacts and alert them to the need for testing and isolation.
While contact tracing apps have the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of contact tracing efforts, they have also raised concerns about privacy and data security. Critics argue that the widespread use of contact tracing apps could lead to the erosion of individual privacy rights and the misuse of personal data. As a result, many governments and organizations have implemented strict data protection measures to ensure that the personal information collected through contact tracing apps is kept secure and confidential.
Despite these challenges, contact tracing remains a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19. By quickly identifying and isolating individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, public health officials can prevent further outbreaks and save lives. As the pandemic continues to evolve, it is clear that contact tracing will play a key role in helping communities around the world recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the crisis.
