Boston-based wearable health company Lumia has raised $7 million to commercialize Lumia 2, its new generation of smart earrings that monitor blood flow in real time. With an additional $5.1 million in government contracts and grants, the company’s total funding has reached $17.2 million.
The Lumia 2 earrings weigh less than one gram and can be worn as studs, cuffs, or huggie hoops. Made from non-allergenic materials such as platinum and titanium, the earrings come in gold, silver, and clear finishes. The cuff version of the gadget can be worn without a piercing, while the SwitchBack version attaches to regular push-back earrings. Every smart earring has continuous blood flow monitoring in addition to measuring sleep, temperature, menstrual cycle, and preparedness.
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“This is what comes after smart rings,” said Daniel Lee, co-founder and CEO of Lumia. “Just as Oura made rings smart, we’ve made earrings smart. Smart Earrings are the ultimate wearable form factor with new capabilities possible only in the ear.”
Additionally, Lumia asserts that the single "active" earring, which weighs only 1 gram and is one-fifth the size of an AirPod, is the smallest wearable in the world. Although that seems like something I would lose right away, it appears that the technical team took that into consideration because the earrings include a back-locking mechanism that keeps them extremely safe, reports New Atlas.
They are made to be worn 24/7, whether you're taking a shower, working out, or sleeping. Because the device uses modular swappable batteries that are simple to remove and replace, charging can even be done without removing them. When compared to most wearables, a single battery pack lasts five to eight days.
You might think that, due to its design, the Lumia 2 is aimed only at women, but that’s not quite true.
“Like Oura Ring, the large majority of our members are women and going to continue to be even more so as we lean into Smart Earrings. However, we do have the ear cuff option that doesn't require a piercing, which we will offer in a matte titanium and clear color to be very discreet. The clear cuff is what I personally wear as a dude.
So yes, it'll be more popular with women but will not be exclusively for women – we will offer cool options for men as well,” Daniel said.
The wearable can only be used with a membership, which costs US$9.99 a month and grants you access to all of the features and free hardware upgrades. The Lumia 2 itself is anticipated to retail at $249. Through the corporate website, you can book a set that includes one matching inactive earring and one active earring.
