Bengaluru startup to launch smart ring to track health, contactless payments

Bengaluru startup Conzumex Industries, which operates under the brand ‘Muse Wearables’, has developed a smart ring equipped with health tracking and ‘on the go payments’ (contactless payments) in addition to cuff-less blood pressure measurement. Called Ring One, it represents an innovation in wearable technology that is designed and made in India, the company says.

The technology in Ring One makes the benchmark for the smart ring industry. With its “Turn wheel” interface and the charging case’s “Magic Glyph” interface, Ring One offers an experience that sets it apart, claims K.L.N. Sai Prasanth, co-founder and chief executive officer, Conzumex says.

Born out of the IIT Madras incubation cell, Muse Wearables sells payment-enabled hybrid smartwatches and is based out of Bengaluru, with registered offices in Chennai, Singapore, and the USA. It currently caters to nearly 30 countries through the ‘Direct to Consumer’ business model (selling products through online platforms directly to the consumer).

The consumer technology startup, which designs, develops, and sells wearable electronics, and consumer mobile internet services, is funded by the likes of SS Rajamouli (RRR movie Director), Keiretsu Forum Chennai, Lead angels, Smart Sparks, Bhaskar Rao(Chairman of Kims hospitals), etc.

Ring One can complete transactions with a wave of the palm. The company has partnered with payment networks including Mastercard, VISA, and Rupay to make payments with the Ring accessible to everyone. The payments will be live in India, the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Singapore, and U.A.E, the company says.

Conzumex has partnered with its contract manufacturers in India to set up its manufacturing lines for Ring One and the product is set for a global launch on September 27. The India launch is planned for October 25.

Ring One can measure six different vitals -- heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate variability and blood pressure.

Trained with 5 million data points from over 4,000 people, Ring One offers clinical grade accuracy for health information. The company says Ring One is the first smart ring to offer cuff-less blood pressure measurement. It detects sleep and naps, analyses various sleep stages, and gives personalised insights to help improve sleep. Ring One can also track workouts and give advanced metrics to optimise fitness gains, claims George Francis, chief technology officer, Muse Wearables, says.

The company says Ring One comes in a band-like form and also has a “turn wheel” interface. With a turn of the outer band of the Ring, users can switch between various modes. A turn to the left can start a workout or a turn to the right can enable secure payments. Made with Titanium grade 2 and Ceramic (Zirconia), Ring One is lightweight yet very strong. Its multi-layered coating and diamond polishing ensure it has a beautiful finish and is scratch-resistant. The inner layer of the Ring is made with medical-grade epoxy to ensure users have comfort during wear,” the company states.

Ring One is also claimed to be water resistant up to 100 meters, giving users the freedom to enjoy swimming and showering without having to remove the Ring. It comes in nine sizes and in silver and black, all-black, gold, and rose gold colour variants. The rechargeable battery of Ring One has a battery life of up to seven days on a single charge.