In this episode, the phablet of the smartwatch world is just months away from breaking your wrist. Welcome to your Manufacturing Minute.
Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear continue to expand the wearables category, but are limited by their functionality and size. Well California-based Rufus Labs has plans to start a new wearables category of wrist communicators with the Rufus Cuff set to ship in early 2016.
The Rufus Cuff, which basically looks like a smartphone strapped sideways on your wrist, has a 3.2-inch touchscreen display and up to 64GB of internal storage. The device will run Android KitKat, but doesn’t have a SIM card, meaning it won’t connect directly to a cellular network. Instead, the communicator connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone or over WiFi. Beyond consumer use, Rufus Labs is also looking at industrial applications, as well as security and search and rescue communications use.
Finally, we’ll have a smart device that lets you browse the Internet. So, start using your Chinese Bao-ding exercise balls now to build your wrist muscles — or just practice with a tablet and some tape.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Do you see merit in larger wearables like this? What industrial applications could you see this being used for?
Email us or leave your comments below.
That’s all the time we have today, but tune in every weekday for your next Manufacturing Minute.
