Will.i.am’s i.am+ (A wearable device company) - Fashion Meets Technology

Image Courtesy: http://www.vanyaland.com/2014/10/09/boom-boom-united-airlines-doesnt-wait-tardy-will-gives-seat-away-flight-china/

William Adams, known by his stage name will.i.am, is an American rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, actor, DJ, record producer, and philanthropist.  He is best known as a founding member of the hip hop band The Black Eyed Peas, with whom he has received seven Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, a Teen Choice Award, two MTV Video Music Awards and three World Music Awards. 

About i.am+ 

i.am+ is Will’s new company involved in the creation and development of wearable devices and fashion accessories .

Will.i.am says the reason he started and moved into the tech world is because of what the tech world is calling Wearables.  Wearables are techy things you wear on your body, and as you know, the tech world are not experts on fashion but the fashion industry is.  Hence, the need to make wearables more appealing and more fashionable, despite their functionality.   Will.i.am saw this void and decided to fill a substantial gap that currently exists between the fashion world and the wearables space.

Will.i.am says his mission is “to up the game in wearables, to create devices that step up and deliver in terms of fashion, features and functionality.”

Not quite long, Will ventured into consumer electronics. He is one of the founders of Beats Electronics.  According to Will, it took a team of experts with both design and STEM skills to create Beats headphones. And then it took another team to make Beats a fashion statement and a pop culture success.  But the root of success at Beats was based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) knowledge.

Will is a philanthropist who is very involved in youth advocacy and development, especially in the area of education.   STEM (skills development) is a philanthropic activity he is very much involved in. STEM’s key message is that: a good education is a gift, and that kids should take interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  

i.am+ and Youth Advocacy

With i.am+, Will intends to inspire students to apply themselves and study hard.  He runs an ‘i.am+ angel foundation After school tutoring program’ which encourages students to take interest in STEM and learn associated skills.

Latest Product

Will.i.am recently launched his smartwatch, which can make phone calls without being linked to a smartphone.  The device was unveiled at Salesforce.com's Dreamforce event in San Francisco.  Musician and entrepreneur Will, did not hesitate to emphasize that his device is not just a watch because watches don’t typically come with SIM.  

Key points about the device:

• Will.i.am's smartwatch is called Puls, and can be used to make phone calls, thanks to a built-in Sim card reader 

• Android device has 16GB of memory, speakers, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, plus GPS for maps and a pedometer and accelerometer for fitness apps

• Gadget features apps including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

• Device was intended to a lunch in July and has been used by the musician on The Voice and at a DJ set three weeks ago 

• No price has yet been revealed, but the rapper said it is 'affordable' 

Read more about ‘Puls’ here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2795375/will-finally-unveils-puls-wristband-don-t-call-smartwatch.html

Will.i.am:  

 I won’t describe myself as a consumer electronics wizard but I am a dreamer with a vision and I spot gaps in the market. I am living proof that a good education and an interest in STEM skills can transform a life.

Will.i.am is a musician, technology advocate and founder of i.am+

Follow  Will.i.am on Twitter: www.twitter.com/iamwill

Website: http://will.i.am/

Culled from www.huffingtonpost.com / Why I started a wearable device company by Will.i.am and www.dailymail.co.uk/ Will.i.am unveils the Puls