The latest in wearable tech is more seamlessly integrated into your lifestyle than ever before. No gadgets, no glasses (even if they do look kind of cool now), just a ring—Fin. Slip it on your thumb, and it turns your palm into a touchscreen interface that can control multiple smart devices with the smallest of gestures.
Tap your thumb to your forefinger to snap a selfie with your digital camera while it’s level on a tripod. Slide your thumb from the tip of your pointer finger to your knuckle to turn up the volume on your car stereo. Or swipe your thumb across your four outstretched fingers to power on your television. So cool.
It works like this: the ring’s embedded sensors detect gestures your thumb makes on your hand, like simple taps and swipes, which function as commands. Fin then sends those commands via Bluetooth to your connected device.
While it’s not the first of its kind, Fin is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest in terms of design and compatibility. The coiled shape is contoured for comfort—don’t worry, you’ll only have to take it off once a month to recharge it—and comes in three bright colors, plus white and black. It’s small, but powerful: it can control up to three smart devices at a time—you can easily switch from your TV to your iPod to your car with pre-programmed commands, or you can customize your own gestures.
For a $99 donation to its indiegogo campaign, you can get a “Smart Version” Fin as soon as September. With 16 days left, Fin is less than a quarter of the ways away from obtaining its $100,000 goal—though whatever funding it does have when the clock strikes midnight will be used to help the product “go global.” Could you imagine a future when gestures less demanding than typing were used to control everything from updating Twitter to turning on the lights at the Olympics opening ceremony? And you thought The Clapper was cool!
What piece of wearable tech has you jazzed? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
Let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stand out in the crowd. From signs, posters & banners to promote your business, to marketing materials to keep your customers informed, Office Depot OfficeMax offers a full suite of business services & solutions to help you & your business get noticed.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.