# Smart ring > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Smart_ring > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Smart_ring.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_ring > Source revision: 1335998088 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Wearable electronic device}} {{Multiple issues| {{More citations needed|date=April 2017}} {{Cite check|date=January 2026}} }} thumb|A smart ring being worn A '''smart ring''' is a compact [wearable electronic device](/source/Wearable_technology) that resembles a [jewellery](/source/jewellery) [ring](/source/Ring_(jewelry)). They are often [fitness](/source/Fitness_tracker) and [sleep tracker](/source/sleep_tracker)s that [wireless](/source/wireless)ly [pair](/source/Pairing_(computing)) with a [smartphone](/source/smartphone) to transfer data. Many can also alert the wearer to smartphone [push notification](/source/push_notification)s. Some smart rings are used for [near-field communication](/source/Near_field_communication) (NFC) applications such as [contactless payment](/source/contactless_payment) and [access control](/source/access_control), similarly to [chip card](/source/chip_card)s. Smart rings may include other [sensor](/source/sensor)s such as [GPS tracker](/source/GPS_tracker)s. Smart rings can connect to smartphones or other devices, and some can operate independently, communicating with [cloud computing](/source/cloud_computing) systems or performing standalone tasks. Although many are [displayless](/source/Display_device), they respond to contextual cues, such as [gesture control](/source/gesture_control)s or proximity to NFC touchpoints,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/xenxo-s-ring-smart-kickstarter-6096|title=Xenxo's S-Ring wants to replace your smartwatch and fitness tracker|date=2018-05-16|website=Wareable|language=en-US|access-date=2020-11-27|archive-date=2022-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520152502/https://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/xenxo-s-ring-smart-kickstarter-6096|url-status=live}} and can give [haptic](/source/Haptic_technology) feedback. ==Uses== Use cases for smart rings are varied, and comparable to those of [smartwatches](/source/smartwatches). ===Health=== Many smart rings have [sensor](/source/sensor)s to track [health](/source/health) metrics{{cite web |last=Widder |first=Brandon |date=February 23, 2015 |title=Put a ring on it: 4 smart rings that are more useful than getting you engaged |url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/best-smart-rings/ |access-date=November 21, 2016 |work=[Digital Trends](/source/Digital_Trends) |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908012429/https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/best-smart-rings/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Plummer |first=Libby |date=July 7, 2016 |title=Smart rings: The good, the bad and the ugly in smart jewellery |url=http://www.wareable.com/smart-jewellery/best-smart-rings-1340 |access-date=November 21, 2016 |work=Wearable.com |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222100948/https://www.wareable.com/smart-jewellery/best-smart-rings-1340 |url-status=live }} such as steps, heart rate,{{Cite web|url=https://mymotiv.com/fitness-tracking/|title=Motiv Ring {{!}} 24/7 Smart Ring {{!}} Fitness + Sleep Tracking {{!}} Online Security Motiv Ring|website=Motiv|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-27|archive-date=2020-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817171701/https://mymotiv.com/fitness-tracking/|url-status=dead}} temperature, sleep (through heart and motion sensing), and blood flow.{{Cite web|url=https://ouraring.com/how-oura-works/|title=Learn how Oura ring works {{!}} Go inside {{!}} Oura Ring|website=Oura Ring|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-27|archive-date=2020-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124185016/https://ouraring.com/how-oura-works/|url-status=live}} Due to size constraints, smart rings typically include smaller and less accurate [accelerometer](/source/accelerometer)s, and smaller [batteries](/source/Electric_battery), than smartwatches.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/review/oura-ring/|title=Review:Oura Ring|magazine=WIRED|language=en|access-date=2021-11-11|archive-date=2022-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418013715/https://www.wired.com/review/oura-ring/|url-status=live}} === Communications and socialization === Many smart rings can connect to the [Internet](/source/Internet) and [cellular radio](/source/cellular_radio), typically through a paired smartphone, to deliver or alert of notifications by vibrating or lighting up.{{Cite web|url=https://ringly.com/products/smart-ring|title=Ringly Luxe - Smart Rings|last=RINGLY|website=RINGLY|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27|archive-date=2021-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813195049/https://ringly.com/products/smart-ring|url-status=live}} Some use [microphone](/source/microphone)s or [bone conduction](/source/bone_conduction) to function as a [handset](/source/handset).{{Cite web|url=https://www.orii.io/|title=ORII {{!}} The Voice Powered Smart Ring {{!}} Hong Kong|website=ORII {{!}} The Voice Powered Smart Ring {{!}} Hong Kong|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27|archive-date=2022-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527181252/https://orii.io/|url-status=live}} Some rings can display or vibrate in sync with the [heartbeat](/source/Heartbeat_(biology)) of another wearer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/heartbeat-ring_n_57aa1679e4b06e52746dd5e3|title=This Ring Lets You Feel Your Spouse's Heartbeat In Real Time|last=HUFFPOST|website=HUFFPOST|date=9 August 2016|language=en|access-date=2021-11-11|archive-date=2022-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326043314/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/heartbeat-ring_n_57aa1679e4b06e52746dd5e3|url-status=live}} based on ''[vena amoris](/source/vena_amoris)'', a belief cited for the designation of the [ring finger](/source/ring_finger) for [engagement](/source/Engagement_ring) and [wedding ring](/source/wedding_ring)s.{{Cite web|url=https://thetouchx.com/hbring|title=HB Ring|last=TheTouch X|website=TheTouch X|language=en|access-date=2021-11-10|archive-date=2022-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513185436/https://thetouchx.com/hbring/|url-status=live}} ===Security=== Some smart rings are NFC devices that can be used in physical and financial security, as an alternative to carrying items such as [credit card](/source/credit_card)s, [door keys](/source/Key_(lock)), [car key](/source/car_key)s, {{speculation inline|date=January 2026|text=and potentially even [ID card](/source/ID_card)s or [driver's license](/source/driver's_license)s.}}{{cite web |last=M. |first=Joe |date=August 24, 2016 |title=The long-awaited NFC Ring will finally land on your finger this December |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-long-awaited-NFC-Ring-will-finally-land-on-your-finger-this-December_id84464 |access-date=November 21, 2016 |work=Phone Arena |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514141412/https://www.phonearena.com/news/The-long-awaited-NFC-Ring-will-finally-land-on-your-finger-this-December_id84464 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Boden |first=Rian |date=August 24, 2016 |title=NFC Ring circles the globe |url=http://www.nfcworld.com/2016/08/24/346844/nfc-ring-circles-globe/ |access-date=November 21, 2016 |work=NFC World |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193605/https://www.nfcworld.com/2016/08/24/346844/nfc-ring-circles-globe/ |url-status=live }} {{citation needed span|date=July 2017|Smart rings were first used for secure [access control](/source/access_control), such as for company entry and exit, home access, cars, and electronic devices.}} They may be considered more difficult to lose, since they are worn directly on the hand. {{citation needed span|date=July 2017|They can include [two-factor authentication](/source/two-factor_authentication) mechanisms such as [biometrics](/source/biometrics) and key code entry.}} ===Payments and ticketing=== [[File:VEGAONE Rings.jpg|thumb|Smart rings that support [contactless payment](/source/contactless_payment)]] Some smart rings can perform [cashless](/source/cashless) payments and metro ticketing similar to [contactless card](/source/Contactless_smart_card)s, [smart card](/source/smart_card)s, and mobile phones.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-25/smart-rings-seen-as-new-frontier-for-cashless-payments|title=Smart Rings Seen as New Frontier for Cashless Payments|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=25 May 2021|language=en|access-date=2021-11-11|archive-date=2021-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112134549/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-25/smart-rings-seen-as-new-frontier-for-cashless-payments|url-status=live}} {{citation needed span|date=July 2017|Security of the transaction is equal to or greater than contactless cards.}} {{citation needed span|date=July 2017|The first smart ring to support contactless payment, the NFC Payment Ring, was unveiled at the [2016 Summer Olympics](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics).}}{{promotion inline|date=July 2017}} ===Gesture control=== Some smart rings can act as gesture-based controllers, to perform various actions with simple hand motions.{{example needed|date=January 2026}} ==See also== * [Wearable computer](/source/Wearable_computer) * [Personal organizer](/source/Personal_organizer) * [Oura Health](/source/Oura_Health) * [Ultrahuman](/source/Ultrahuman) == References == {{Reflist}} {{Computer sizes}} Category:Human–computer interaction Category:Ubiquitous computing Category:Wearable computers Category:Wearable devices Category:Rings (jewellery) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Smart ring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_ring) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_ring?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.