Japanese smartglasses launch crowdfunding campaign again, this time for global expansion

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See the original story in Japanese.

Our readers may recall that major Japanese optical retailer Paris Miki Holdings (TSE:7455) had launched a crowdfunding campaign for Fun’iki Ambient Glasses, successfully raising more than double the initial goal of 3 million yen ($30,000 at the exchange rate then). The company has just started another crowdfunding campaign with the same product, but this time it is via the global edition of Makuake, a crowdfunding platform of Japan’s internet giant CyberAgent (TSE:4751), with the aim of reaching out to the global audience.

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Unlike other smartglasses like the Google Glass eyewear which typically projects images on their lenses, Fun’iki Smart Glasses links in on a smartphone to convey various information through light and sound, such as e-mail notifications, social media updates, schedule reminders, stock price movements and weather updates. Powered by compact USB rechargeable Li-ion batteries, multicolored LEDs automatically light up the lenses according to personalized settings.

The crowdfunding campaign targets the initial goal of 3.33 million yen, or about $27,600, with 24 days remaining as of this writing. I would like to see how the product can attract global consumers as they have done so well with Japanese campaign backers.

Translated by Masaru Ikeda
Edited by “Tex” Pomeroy