Many baby boomers fondly recall the psychedelic light shows that accompanied '60s rock bands like the Jefferson Airplane. Now, a group of tech savvy Texans has developed a light show for today's young music lovers using the medium of eyeglasses. They call their product
Dropshades, and tout it as "the official party accessory of the future."
This may not be farfetched. Dropshades' audio responsive technology "dances" to the beat of music. Using a tiny microphone connected to a signal processor, incoming sound is translated across twelve horizontal lights. The lights, made from electroluminescent wire, cascade up and down to the beat of the music. The company says DropShades can be used at any volume, and users can quickly adjust the sensitivity.
Having recently wrapped up a successful
Kickstarter campaign that blew past the company's $15,000 goal and raised $78,128 from 1,813 backers, the Dropshades team is preparing to deliver its first production models this month. Options will include a choice of black, white, or glow in the dark frames.
The team hopes to raise enough capital with another round of Kickstarter funding to be able to upgrade the DropShades line to a lithium ion battery that can be recharged via a micro-USB cable. The glasses will also include a small LED light that will flash green when the unit is fully charged.
Click here to see a video of DropShades in action.