Orii uses bone conduction tech to build the phone of your childhood dreams
As our devices morph into wearables and other formats, and become smaller, we're going to have to start thinking beyond the screen and embrace new ways of using them.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2018) 'Orii uses bone conduction tech to build the phone of your childhood dreams', 311 Institute, 8 January. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/orii-uses-bone-conduction-tech-to-build-the-phone-of-your-childhood-dreams/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Last year I heard about a company called Sgnl, a wristwatch company that had figured a way to tap into a relatively new technology called “Bone Conduction” that allowed their watches to subtly vibrate a users wrist in order to send sound through their finger bones and into the bones of their ear where it was turned into sound the user could hear, and while it worked, according to reports, it wasn’t very clear or loud.
Now though a company called Orii has baked the same technology into a ring so the vibrations have a shorter distance to travel and the result? Clearer, louder sound, and the upshot of all of this is that now you can make your childhood fantasies come to life, with one big difference. Put Orii’s ring on your finger and make that pretend telephone with your fingers that you used to do as a kid, and that difference? Well, you Orii now let’s you make and receive real calls using just your fingers.
Awesome.
In addition to working for phone calls and private conversations with your voice assistant of choice, Orii has an iOS and Android app that allows you to customise your notifications, which will flash an LED light on the ring.
Slated to ship next month Orii’s new ring, which is priced at $119, has an estimated talk time of just under an hour, with a standby of over 45 hours, and is splash proof, and as other companies, including Amazon and Sony also pick up on Bone Conduction technology, for everything from headphones to Bluetooth headsets, it’s unlikely that this is the last time we’re going to hear about the tech. For example, think of the tech perfected and built into a smart tattoo, a screen that's built into the fabric of your clothes, or some other wearable device, and all of a sudden there could be some interesting applications, but as for me, well ring ring. Gotta go, my finger’s calling.
What this means for your organisation
Audio without earphones.
Sound travels through bone to the ear. Calls become discreet and hands light.
Devices shrink further.
A ring can replace a handset for some tasks. Wearables take on more roles.
Quality still needs work.
Earlier versions were quiet and unclear. Leaders should test before relying on it.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Could discreet audio help our staff in the field?
- Which of our products could use bone conduction?
- How would screenless devices change our customer service?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
As our devices morph into wearables and other formats, and become smaller, we're going to have to start thinking beyond the screen and embrace new ways of using them.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Sgnl mysgnl.com
- Bone conduction en.wikipedia.org
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 8 January 2018. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2018). Orii uses bone conduction tech to build the phone of your childhood dreams. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/orii-uses-bone-conduction-tech-to-build-the-phone-of-your-childhood-dreams/
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