Pulse Mindfulness, whose team includes a former Oura COO and founding employee, has released a “digital detox” smart ring, the Pulse Ring, via a Kickstarter campaign. Unlike other wearables that focus on getting as much data as possible, this smart ring is designed to provide a sanctuary from the digital noise: it tracks your health, but without any data tracking or notifications.
But Pulse Mindfulness, founded in 2023, aims to pioneer a new category of wearables that prioritizes mental health over data collection. The company is essentially a modern take on an old-fashioned thing: It vibrates to notify you of certain details, but it’s all about staying in the moment and collecting no data.
CTO Tommy Pyykönen, former COO and founder of Oura, brings his expertise in smart rings to the new product, which was also developed in collaboration with engineering giant Haltian, developer of the Oura Ring Gen 2.
Dedicated to mindfulness and meditation, the Pulse Ring is available in two colors, titanium and gold, and features multiple modes and customizable features that vibrate and pulsate at key frequencies and precise timing throughout the day for personalized mindfulness benefits.
The vibrations contain purring frequencies, also known as healing frequencies, scientifically proven to reduce stress and promote wellness. The vibrations are expertly designed to systematically remind you to practice mindfulness and focus in the present moment throughout your day and to take breaks. The patent-pending gentle vibrations are designed to keep you focused on the present moment without capturing any user data.
“We’re not just addicted to our phones anymore; we’re addicted to our thoughts,” says John Mutton, founder and CEO of Pulse Mindfulness. “Pulse is your secret companion against the mind’s incessant noise, a gentle reminder to come back to the present — to live your life, not track your life.”
Mindfulness mode provides random, soothing vibrations throughout the day to gently remind you to stay focused on the present moment, while Focus mode provides timed vibrations at 10, 20, or 30 second intervals to help you focus and develop positive habits. Pulse says this mode is great for breaking old patterns and forming new productive routines.
Meditation mode also allows for audio-free meditation sessions accompanied by the gentle, rhythmic vibrations of the pulsing ring, guiding you through a calm, uninterrupted practice for the duration of your choice.
It’s a bold statement to release a product like this at a time when the industry is moving towards devices that can collect large amounts of data and provide actionable insights. Smart rings, smartwatches and other health wearables are most valuable for their ability to capture metrics like heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, stress, activity, etc. 24/7. They then analyze this data to provide useful insights that can help improve your health and wellbeing. This is the goal the wearable industry has been striving for, and the latest trend is to pack all these features into the shape of a ring. But the Pulse Ring wants you to focus solely on your mood and behavior in that moment. This is a device unlike any other.
“Pulse is more than a gadget. It’s a paradigm shift,” says Cory Allen, renowned author and podcaster. “In a market filled with devices that take us out of the moment, Pulse gently brings us into the moment. It’s the mindfulness tool we’ve been waiting for.”
That being said, even if the app doesn’t offer 24/7 measurements, it does work as long as you have the companion app. You can use the Pulse app to customize your experience, including switching between modes and adjusting vibration patterns to suit your personal needs.
The ring has a “long-lasting” battery, is waterproof, can be charged wirelessly, and comes in sizes 6, 8, 10, and 12.
The Kickstarter campaign is offering special pre-order pricing to early adopters. The campaign has already exceeded its $13,522 goal, raising $19,158 from 105 backers with 28 days left. A $129 donation will get you up to 57% off the Pulse Ring and a free 6-week mindfulness meditation course with Allen. Estimated delivery is February 2025.
