OwnPhones 3D Printed Custom-Fit Wireless Earbuds To Revolutionize How People Experience Music During Any Activity

SAN DIEGO, June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- OwnPhones (#ownphones), the world's first 3D printed, personalized wireless (using Bluetooth 4.0) smart earbuds (#earbuds) perfectly fitted to a user's ear shape, sound needs, style and activity, today announced it is launching a Kickstarter (#kickstarter) campaign in July to help complete the development of its revolutionary product.  The campaign funding goal will be $250,000USD.  As part of the company's efforts to engage consumers and build a community around the OwnPhones movement, the company is inviting audio enthusiasts to sign-up at www.ownphones.com in order to be the first to be notified of when the campaign goes LIVE and take advantage of its "early bird" specials – 50% off all sets of earbuds (regular retail prices range from $299USD to $449USD).

To begin the process of creating their earbuds, users access the OwnPhones mobile app (iOS to start, Android to follow), and with the help of a friend, create a short video of their ears (both left and right).  The OwnPhones mobile app uploads the video to the company's servers and there, using advanced Photogrammetry algorithms, is converted into a 3D model. 

From this "rendering," the user's set of custom fit earbuds are created using the latest 3D printing technology.  To complement the process and to complete the look of the earbuds, OwnPhones offers users access to a huge selection of styles, colors and materials (not only plastic, but also gold and silver, for example) so they can fully personalize their earbuds to fit their individual taste and identity (some will look sporty while others can be jewelry pieces). 

To expand upon the many options available from the company, OwnPhones wants to connect with fashion designers and celebrities around the globe to create a fun, dynamic marketplace where they can offer their designs to the public.

"OwnPhones represents a new paradigm in manufacturing – instead of producing millions of identical earbuds for different ears, we 3D-print millions of different earbuds tailor made to millions of users," said Itamar Jobani, founder and CEO, OwnPhones.  "Ears are like fingerprints - each one is unique, so it is time that consumers were able to get earbuds that actually fit their ears properly!"

From the basic version, users can add OwnErgonomics, a system that allows them to specify their activity profile, whether running, snowboarding, parkour, etc.  With this information, OwnPhones then combines motion capture analysis data and a mechanical simulation for the selected activity to help determine the materials, some softer to act as a shock absorbing area and some more rigid to keep the earphones in place, needed to construct the earbuds so they stay snug and safe in the user's ear (according to the user's activities and intensity level).

Jobani continued: "Normal earphones hurt because they pressure the ear, and if they don't pressure, they fall out.  The custom fit OwnPhones earbuds feel perfect while jumping and running, for example."

Additional smart technology, which is accessed and controlled (by the user) through the OwnPhones mobile app, allows users to customize what they hear and what they don't, including special features such as Environmental Soundscaping (from a complete seal to a combination of a user's own music and the sounds of the street around them, etc.), "Real World Notifications" (users will be able to choose specific sounds such as doorbells, alarms, airport announcements, etc. that will be heard over music, while all other noise is filtered out) and OwnStatus LED, a status indicator light that lets people know their personal status (red - busy, amber - busy but can be approached or green - go ahead and approach/have a conversation). 

YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/Wv05p-ueHEI

About OwnPhones
San Diego, CA-based OwnPhones is an exciting tech startup developing custom-fit, highly personalized 3D printed earbuds.  The brainchild of founder Itamar Jobani, a former NY-based sculpture/installation artist who has exhibited across the US and Europe, OwnPhones was founded after Jobani experienced frustration when running and having his earbuds constantly fall out.  The company's flagship earbuds feature Mobile App Scanning using Photogrammetry, Multi-Material 3D Printing, a huge selection of styles, colors and materials, OwnErgonomics built to the user's Activity Profile, SmartTech for Soundscaping and Environmental Sounds integration, Real World Notifications and an OwnStatus LED Indicator Light.  For more information, visit www.ownphones.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140624/121218

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140624/121219

SOURCE OwnPhones