The crowdfunding charts: Smartglasses for cyclists, a wristlet for earbuds, and safe button

Crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo feature all kinds of crazy stuff like LED-striped shoes and legal defense funds for robot sex toys. Still, there’s nothing better than seeing wearables that can improve lives of many. We found some excellent wearable tech this week, from an organizational smart bag to a revolutionary communication aid for ALS patients. Here’s what we have for you this week.

What campaigns hit crowdfunding this week

Helix on Kickstarter

Started: July 20 
Goal: $100,000
Raised as of July 24: $58,391

We’ve complained about earbuds here before. They get tangled, they’re easy to break, and they don’t look good. Helix aims to fix all of these problems at once. The San Francisco-based startup has built a Bluetooth-connected headset with a new twist: The headphones live on a simple yet fashionable aluminum wristlet.

For those of you with an on-the-go lifestyle, this is the campaign for you. It presents the perfect combination of design and functionality. Helix is currently over halfway to its fundraising goal of $100,000.

SENTH IN1 on Indiegogo

Started: July 21
Goal: $40,000
Raised as of July 24: $11,777

Take two of the most popular wearables out there — virtual reality headsets and fitness wearables — and put them together. SENTH IN1 is what you get. These smartglasses were created specially for cyclers, giving users navigation, activity tracking, music control, and so much more.

SENTH IN1 has a design similar to Google Glass, though the Beijing-based company is choosing to specialize in cycling, at least initially. The glasses come with a microphone, camera, and earphone port, so maybe they can have other uses in the future. Right now, you can donate $199 (plus shipping+handling) to get your very own SENTH IN1.

What campaigns are hot this week

EyeControl on Indiegogo

Started: July 7
Goal: $30,000
Raised as of July 24: $35,610 (goal reached!)

First of all, congrats to EyeControl for reaching their fundraising goal of $30,000! For those of you who haven’t heard of EyeControl yet, it’s a revolutionary wearable for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients that allows them to communicate without a huge, expensive machine. The device sits on the face like glasses, using an infra-red camera and a small computer to read and translate what the patient is trying to say.

EyeControl is amazing to watch in action. They currently have a working prototype, and all Indiegogo funding will be used to improve the translation algorithm. With 14 days to go, we hope to see this crowdfunding campaign continue to grow.

What campaigns could use some love

Baggio on Indiegogo

Started: July 11
Goal: $30,000
Raised as of July 24: $1,614

The life of a parent is no cakewalk, but Baggio hopes to simplify a few things. It’s a smart bag that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth to help you figure out what’s missing. hoping to help busy moms and dads everywhere. Are you low on diapers? Did you forget to pack a change of clothes? What about your cell phone?

Baggio has potential to reach more than just forgetful parents, though. The company wants to put the technology in backpacks for kids, messenger bags, and laptop bags. It’s a smart, versatile product that could hit it big. Baggio will be live on Indiegogo for 33 more days.

Wearsafe on Kickstarter

Started: July 14
Goal: $75,000
Raised as of July 24: $48,391

“If you could prevent someone from getting assaulted with the press of a button, would you?” Wearsafe asks in its introduction video.

Wearsafe is a smartphone app paired with a wearable button to activate when in danger. If you’re in a threatening situation, you can press your Wearsafe button, and the app will send out a notification to a chosen network of friends that let’s them know something is up. It then records information like audio, GPS location, and other crucial details.

The world can be a scary place, but wearable technology like Wearsafe can make it a little easier to manage. Wearsafe plans to ship the product out just weeks after the Kickstarter campaign ends on August 20.

The post The crowdfunding charts: Smartglasses for cyclists, a wristlet for earbuds, and safe button appeared first on Wearables.com.