Gentle Monster, Huawei team up over smart eyewear
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South Korean eyewear label Gentle Monster has partnered with Chinese tech giant Huawei to produced connected eyewear.
The networked eyeglass frames allow wearers to answer calls without picking up their phone, and feature antennae, noise-reduction microphones and speakers tucked behind the ear.
“Smart eyewear is different than the smart phone or the smart watch,” said Gentle Monster co founder and CEO Hankook Kim. “The smart eyewear is on our face … It is normal but actually it is slightly different. We believe the small difference changes everything.”
The label, known for its trendy and futuristic individualised store designs, has 18 locations selling both futuristic and more conservative eyewear.
“If you want to see how it looks on normal people, you can look at me,” said Kim.
“I really appreciate Huawei because they realise that eyewear comes first and smart comes later,” he added.
Questions & Answers
Q.What functionalities do the new smart eyewear frames offer users?
What functionalities do the new smart eyewear frames offer users?
The connected frames allow wearers to answer calls without needing to pick up their phone. They incorporate antennae, along with noise-reduction microphones and speakers discreetly placed behind the ear.
Q.What is Gentle Monster's CEO's view on the design philosophy for this smart eyewear?
What is Gentle Monster's CEO's view on the design philosophy for this smart eyewear?
Hankook Kim believes that for smart eyewear, the 'eyewear comes first and smart comes later'. He suggests the product should appear normal, with only subtle differences that enhance its functionality.
Q.How many retail locations does Gentle Monster currently operate?
How many retail locations does Gentle Monster currently operate?
The South Korean eyewear label Gentle Monster currently operates 18 retail locations. These stores sell a range of products, including both futuristic and more conservative eyewear styles to customers.
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