FiDELYS smartwatch features iris recognition (crowdfunding)

Thinking about getting a smartwatch, but waiting for one with biometric security features? Probably not… but if you are, the wait could soon be over.

The makers of the FiDELYS smartwatch plan to launch a wristwatch that you can pair with your phone to interact with incoming calls, text messages or other details. But what sets it apart from the competition in the increasingly crowded smartwath space is a camera which can scan your eyeball to save you the trouble of entering passwords.

You can’t buy a FiDELYS watch yet, but the developers plan to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo soon to raise money to start producing the watch.

The watch supports Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC wireless communication, features a heard rate sensor and pedometer, supports wireless charging, and includes basic smartwatch features including time, notifications, weather forecasts, and control for music playback.

Bucking the latest trend in smartwatches, the FiDELYS doesn’t have a touchscreen. Instead you navigate by clicking and rotating the bezel.

The iris recognition technology comes courtesy of IriTech and uses infrared to recognize your eye even when you’re in the dark. While it’s not clear just ow many applications the feature will support at launch it could become more useful over time as more apps and services enable support for biometric security. You may also be able to use your watch to access protected files on your computer or other devices in the future.

If the FiDELYS team can raise at least $350 thousand through its Indiegogo campaign, the plan is to finalize the design, build prototypes, and eventually ship the watch in the first half of 2015.

via Digital Trends