Truly practical wearable technology, the kind that seamlessly disappears into your everyday life, is rare at the moment. You're more likely to see attention-grabbing prototypes such as (see Google Glass).
That's what the people behind Cuff, a line of accessories that each come with a hidden wireless device, are hoping to change. On Tuesday, the company introduced a nine-piece line of wearables, including bracelets, necklaces and, for the men, a key chain, all accompanied by the CuffLinc device.
See also: Is Wearable Tech Ready for the Red Carpet?
"The merger of fashion and function is the bigger idea," Deep Sood, the founder of Cuff, told Mashable.

The CuffLinc is a small, waterproof black device embedded with an accelerometer offering a Bluetooth link to your smartphone. On the Cuff app for iOS, the wearer can set the device's internal button to send out an alert to a friend or family member in an emergency.
Part of the idea behind the device is to give the wearer of the Cuff accessories — mostly jewelry at this point — a way to send out a wireless alert without taking the more obvious, or perhaps inconvenient step of pulling out their phone.
A few potential uses for the device, according to Sood, include alerting authorities during an assault, those with health problems alerting families members when in need or simply using the system to keep in daily contact with a loved one.

Image: Cuff

Cuff's embedded-tech design dynamic is meant to be something you don't have to think about — which is helped tremendously by the fact that the CuffLinc doesn't need to be recharged.

"We want this to be seamless security, so you don't have to charge it," says Sood. "This is one of those things that when you really need it, you don't want to worry about if you've charged it or not." The user simply replaces the CuffLinc with a new one after about a year, according to the company.
Along with offering its own set of wireless component-equipped jewelry pieces, the company also plans to allow established, outside designers to license the technology for their own accessories.

The two pieces likely to get the most attention at launch: the Mia ($150), a fashionable bracelet that could easily be worn at the office or for a night out; the sporty more DVB ($50.00), a minimalist silicon wristband; and the J keychain ($80), an option for those who would like to use the CuffLinc system, but have no interest wearing the device inside an accessory.
The iOS app will available before the end of the early pre-order campaign, which is scheduled to last for two months, and the first Cuff pieces will begin shipping this fall.
"I feel like we're at this very early stage. People right now are just making the casings," says Sood. "People are still trying to figure this stuff out. But I think the idea of tech being a subtle part your life rather than being in your face is the future of where this is going."
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