Standalone smart headphones can be used without a phone

Consumers can stream music, make calls, receive fitness coaching and tracking using voice controlled AI headphones.

We have already seen smart AR glasses allowing consumers to go hands free, in addition to applications providing consumers with fitness advice and motivation. However, Vinci 2.0 goes a step further, combining these two ideas, by using AI technology to create standalone headphones, which offer consumers personalized fitness motivation, tracking and advice without needing to have a phone with them. These standalone headphones are an upgraded version of Vinci 1.5 which was launched on Kickstarter in November 2016.

Vinci 2.0 is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and will be ready for shipment in spring 2018. The company was founded in 2014 by two MIT alumni. It originated in New York, but now has offices in San Francisco, Beijing, Bangkok, and Shenzhen. The headphones feature a built-in AI assistant which improves over time as it gets to know the consumer’s lifestyle habits and preferences, providing the consumer with increasingly personalised support. The headphones respond to voice commands via a bone conduction mic which allows consumers to make commands without needing to raise their voice. Consumers can search for information, receive personalised workouts and access directions and weather forecasts without needing to bring their phone with them. The headphones also feature intuitive gesture control allowing consumers to control their music using simple swipes near the earpieces. The headphones also feature immersive 3D sound in addition to eight smart noise cancelling settings, which can be used for diverse situations such as in the gym or whilst commuting. The device can also be synced with Aamazon Alexa to provide over 12,000 services.

This unique product could revolutionise the way we listen to music and the way we workout, not to mention the potential for building on this idea of giving consumers constant access to AI support. How else could this concept be used to help people in their day to day lives? Will we see movement away from the current mobile phone to this more transportable and convenient headphone design?