Ive resided in Japan for nearly twelve years, and Im still not utilized to the awful summer seasons. In between the high temperature levels and suffocating humidity, stepping outdoors in July and August seems like being slowly prepared in a sous vide pot. As an apparently interminable rainy season pertains to an end, Im not going to require much encouragement to remain house.
The Reon Pocket is a relatively slim palm-sized white plastic device that charges over USB-C and connects to your iOS or Android phone with Bluetooth. It certainly appears like a Sony gizmo. Theres a silicone pad on the back that you can press versus your skin, and the Reon Pocket utilizes the Peltier impact to cool or warm itself up by soaking up and releasing heat. You can use it portable, however the most widely promoted usage cases involves buying Sonys special V-neck undershirts with a pocket on the inner back to keep the gadget resting between your shoulder blades.
I do not believe my viewpoint on Japanese summers are especially unusual, which is probably why Sony decided to go ahead with the Reon Pocket through its First Flight internal-startup-incubator-slash-crowdfunding-platform. The Reon Pocket is a fairly slim palm-sized white plastic gadget that charges over USB-C and links to your iOS or Android phone with Bluetooth. Theres a silicone pad on the back that you can press against your skin, and the Reon Pocket uses the Peltier impact to cool or warm itself up by launching and taking in heat. The app is pretty simple and offers you direct control over the Reon Pockets temperature settings. If I worked a job that involved a day-to-day commute and organization clothing, as is the case for tens of millions of individuals throughout Japan, I think the Reon Pocket might make more sense.
I dont believe my opinion on Japanese summertimes are particularly uncommon, which is most likely why Sony decided to go ahead with the Reon Pocket through its First Flight internal-startup-incubator-slash-crowdfunding-platform. Flight has previously led to items like the FES E Ink watch, the Huis smart house universal remote, and the Wena Wrist modular smartwatch. Now we have the Reon Pocket, which can only be described as a wearable a/c unit, and Ive been testing it out.
I wore the Reon Pocket while strolling to a grocery store about a mile away for lunch today. The temperature level was only 30 ° C(86 ° F), so were not rather into the swing of a Tokyo summer right now, however the humidity was pressing 80 percent– this is still the sort of walk that would usually turn me into a puddle of sweat soon enough. I did find, typically, that the Reon Pocket enhanced matters somewhat, even on its most affordable cooling setting. I was absolutely still sweating by the time I got home, however the cooling experience does make a difference while youre actually out there in the heat.
Essentially, the Reon Pocket does what you d anticipate any small, cold challenge do when held against your skin. Youre still going to seem like youre in a hot, sweaty environment, however youll take what you can get.
The gadget only weighs about 80 grams, so beyond the cooling and warming impacts it doesnt truly feel obvious when youre using it in the undershirt, and it does not protrude below another layer of clothes. It is, nevertheless, a little uncomfortable to insert it once the undershirt is on– you need to get a great fit in the pocket, which is tough to do with your hands behind your back. Perhaps it gets easier with practice.
The app is pretty basic and gives you direct control over the Reon Pockets temperature level settings. There are 3 levels of cooling or warming, plus an additional increase mode thats restricted to 2 minutes and a control for the speed of the “fan.” You can also set automatic modes that start whenever you turn the gadget on with its own power button instead of utilizing the app. It lasts around 2-3 hours on a charge, depending on the strength of your settings.
The Reon Pocket is out now specifically in Japan. It costs 13,000 yen ($122) for the device itself, and the undershirts (offered in white or beige) are 1,800 yen ($17) each. The app does operate in English, if youre seeking to import.
Sony
If I worked a job that included a daily commute and company clothing, as is the case for 10s of millions of individuals throughout Japan, I believe the Reon Pocket might make more sense. As it is, I d probably simply utilize it as a pocket gadget that can act as a localized cooler or warmer in a pinch.
So, how does it work? Sonys marketing suggests that it can decrease your body surface temperature level by 13 ° C, for example from 36 ° C (96 ° F) to 23 ° C( 73.4 ° F). I can believe that thats the case at the point of contact, however the result is plainly much less noticable across the whole body, as Sonys own pictures show.
A Reon Pocket undershirt, total with inner pocket on the back.
