Blocks

A wearable technology startup company based in London has released concept images of its modular smartwatches running Google's wearable operating system, Android Wear. And very attractive it is too.

Much like Google's Project Ara for wearables, Blocks is an open platform that will eventually allow people to build smartwatches out of different hardware modules, and in doing so create the perfect device to suit their own needs and lifestyle. As new blocks and technology becomes available, you can replace each hardware module piece by piece, rather than having to replace the entire thing.


On the Blocks website there are several examples of how a smartwatch could be could constructed in different combinations and tailored to specific lifestyles. For an adventurous person, a Blocks watch could offer an E-ink display, a longer battery life, GPS and a temperature gauge. A techie on the other hand could have a touchscreen, gesture control, a microphone and a camera.

In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences.

For Blocks, the main benefit of the modular approach to technology is that it is an open platform. The smartwatch concept has been in the works since November 2013 and the company is releasing its module development kit later this year so that others can start to create blocks using their own sensors that can be powered by the central blocks. Several companies have already signed up to develop their own blocks, but in the meantime the Blocks team is in the middle of developing its printed circuit boards and are working on the ergonomics and aesthetics of the design.

When it comes to the software Blocks smartwatches will run, things are still very undecided. In accordance with the concept imagery Android Wear is one of the options currently on table. "On the software side, we are considering Android Wear OS as an option and we think the beautiful user interface of it and the fact that Android is open-platform lies well with our vision. The main point is if we can adapt the modular approach with Android Wear," Blocks co-founder Alireza Tahmasebzadeh tells Wired.co.uk.

As we said, nothing has been confirmed just yet, but if you want to be notified when the watches are ready and find out whether they will run Android Wear, you can sign up on the Blocks website.