Pick your own features on the first modular smartwatch from Blocks

Considering the myriad of options currently on the market, it would take the development of a very special type of smartwatch to allow a fledgling company to succeed. That is precisely what UK-based startup Blocks Wearables hopes to do with the creation of the world’s first modular smartwatch.

Just as its name suggests, users choose what features they wish their watch to have by way of sensor modules built into individual links. If you decide you want more features later on, the website makes it easy to buy add-ons of your choosing; from heart monitor to gesture control, you may build the watch you want with only the functions you need.

The company takes customization a step further by allowing the user to tailor individual modules with colored and textured shells designed by luxury menswear brand Tateossian. All other functionality is pretty smartwatch standard, including Bluetooth, WiFi, voice commands, phone notifications, etc.

Although plans for development were announced earlier this year, the project is not expected to open for crowdfunding until later this summer, a delay from the original June date. During the Computex IT tradeshow in early June, it was revealed that the goal is for the smartwatch to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor (the same one powering Android devices) and run the latest Android Lollipop OS. If they expect to have a product ready within the next few months, they better get to work developing a functional prototype.

The basic watch face is expected to retail at $150, with each additional module priced somewhere between $20-$40.