{{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 that resembles a jewellery ring. They are often fitness and sleep trackers that wirelessly pair with a smartphone to transfer data. Many can also alert the wearer to smartphone push notifications. Some smart rings are used for near-field communication (NFC) applications such as contactless payment and access control, similarly to chip cards. Smart rings may include other sensors such as GPS trackers.
Smart rings can connect to smartphones or other devices, and some can operate independently, communicating with cloud computing systems or performing standalone tasks. Although many are displayless, they respond to contextual cues, such as gesture controls or proximity to NFC touchpoints,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and can give haptic feedback.
==Uses==
Use cases for smart rings are varied, and comparable to those of smartwatches.
===Health=== Many smart rings have sensors to track health metrics<ref>{{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 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908012429/https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/best-smart-rings/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> such as steps, heart rate,<ref>{{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}}</ref> temperature, sleep (through heart and motion sensing), and blood flow.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Due to size constraints, smart rings typically include smaller and less accurate accelerometers, and smaller batteries, than smartwatches.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
=== Communications and socialization === Many smart rings can connect to the Internet and cellular radio, typically through a paired smartphone, to deliver or alert of notifications by vibrating or lighting up.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Some use microphones or bone conduction to function as a handset.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Some rings can display or vibrate in sync with the heartbeat of another wearer,<ref>{{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}}</ref> based on ''vena amoris'', a belief cited for the designation of the ring finger for engagement and wedding rings.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===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 cards, door keys, car keys, {{speculation inline|date=January 2026|text=and potentially even ID cards or driver's licenses.}}<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>
{{citation needed span|date=July 2017|Smart rings were first used for secure 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 mechanisms such as biometrics and key code entry.}}
===Payments and ticketing=== [[File:VEGAONE Rings.jpg|thumb|Smart rings that support contactless payment]] Some smart rings can perform cashless payments and metro ticketing similar to contactless cards, smart cards, and mobile phones.<ref>{{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}}</ref> {{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.}}{{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 * Personal organizer * Oura Health * Ultrahuman
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Computer sizes}}
Category:Human–computer interaction Category:Ubiquitous computing Category:Wearable computers Category:Wearable devices Category:Rings (jewellery)