Sony's goofy neckband wearable features an assistant named Nigel
LAS VEGAS -- Over at Sony's Future Lab Program, concept prototypes with no clear purpose, price point or future on the market make for a fun way to pass the time at CES.
At Sony's press showing, the company showed a "neckband-style" device -- officially called "Concept Prototype N" -- that takes a totally hands-free approach to wearables.
The device lets you listen to audio without the need for headphones. Instead, the wearable's small speakers project sound directly the user, thanks its sound image localization feature.
It's almost like a bubble of sound for your head, whether you're listening to a favorite song or a read-through of the day's headlines.
The wearable also features a gyroscopic camera that takes totally hands-free photos.
N is powered entirely through voice command. To activate the wearable, users say "Listen up, Nigel" and wait for the beep. It's like Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa, but just slightly more embarrassing to address in public.
Though the lightweight wearable features built-in speakers, it can also be used with a set of "open-ear earphones" that cling to their wearer's ears in an unusual fashion. Rather than sitting inside the ear, the headphone's speaker sits behind it. An acoustic conductor attached to the speaker wraps under the lobe to project music into the ears while still leaving them open to outside sounds. Basically, it lets you listen to music in a way that doesn't impede normal conversation. It's neat in concept, though the quality of sound doesn't compare to that of regular headphones.
As for now, there's no price point or date for either product, as both are still in development. And as for whether or not customers want a wearable that needs to be worn consistently around the neck -- that's up for debate.
Topics CES
