In Ubergizmo Discovery episode 1 (Aug 30), I talked with two Korean startups called Edenlux and Analogue Plus. At the time, they were still finalizing plans, and I decided to take a second look when more information was available before writing about them. That’s now.
Ubergizmo Discovery is a series that aims to discover innovators worldwide. We are introduced via technology events, incubators, accelerators, and media partnerships with foreign media. This time, we partnered with Korean media Aving during the Digital Content Company Global Workshop event in South Korea to meet these startups.
Edenlux OTUS Vision Trainer
It is well known that using screens for hours and hours might have long-term adverse effects on the eyes. One side effect is the strain on the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for focusing the eye’s lens. The strain comes from focusing on a constant plane (screen/phone/book), and that’s an unnatural way for that muscle to function.
OTUS (means: owl in Latin) is an eyewear therapy device that moves the focusing plane to various distances and acts as a workout for that eye muscle. It does so by using different lenses that change during the exercise. During that time, you can continue working or reading. According to Edenlux, it only takes 5 minutes of use a day to make significant progress. A dedicated can track progress and build reports.
I use reading glasses with a slight magnification to change my focus plane sometimes. However, Edenlux’s device should be a much better way to contract and relax the muscle. The end game is to reduce, manage or avoid the effects of myopia and presbyopia.
So far, the device is selling in Japan and Taiwan, but the company has plans for further expansion, notably through Indiegogo in the USA, for around $399. I found it on Amazon as well, but it is not an official import, so you might want to stick to the official launch platform on Indiegogo.
Edenlux’s CEO Ryan Park is a medical doctor and has gathered a team of doctors and engineers to build the first version of OTUS that appeared a couple of years ago. You can watch my 15mn conversation with him on YouTube or watch him present the first version of this product in 2018.
Analogue Plus CRNK Helmets
Among the disruptions induced by the pandemic, “avoiding public transports” has pushed a record number of people to transit by bike in the past couple of years. Unfortunately, more people get involved in bicycle accidents as a result. Helmet maker Analogue Plus is on the frontlines of that trend.
The Analogue Plus name might not sound familiar, but it’s an in-house venture of Samsung Electronics C-lab. Analog Plus manufactures helmets using high-tech design and materials to make safe and affordable helmets.
Analogue Plus is launching three new helmets in its CRNK line: Arc, Artica, and Genetic, to meet this new demand. Each model has its purpose and focuses on a different use case.
Arc is mostly about “looking good” with its minimalist design and lightweight (200g). Artica is made for those who don’t want the helmet to mess up their haircut, as only 23% of the inner surface touches the head (that’s cool). Finally, Genetic is for serious riders, and its design minimizes air resistance and maximizes the cooling induced by a good workout.
Generally, the CRNK helmets weigh around 220g and are built to international safety standards for this category. Analogue Plus claims to be the most popular helmet brand in Korea in 2020 and now eyes the US market via an upcoming Kickstarter campaign.
You can watch my 15mn chat with Analogue Plus’ chief marketing officer, and the complete video chat is below, along with the timecodes and direct links.
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