I've backed a few projects on Kickstarter, but they're usually boring things like stands and cables. The other day I saw the MYBELL and had to put my money down. The MYBELL is a bicycle horn for the smartphone age. Obviously it mounts to a bicycle handlebar, though I might try it out on my scooter. What makes the MYBELL unique is that you can customize the sound that it plays, just like a custom ringtone on your smartphone. In fact, it will accept MP3 files via the included (weatherized) USB port.
The MYBELL has one button so it's easy to use, which is important when cycling—just push to play. And through a series of gestures that one button also lets you program it to control the sounds and lighting. The MyBell generates audio output upwards of 105 decibels. You can lower the volume and sounds digitally if that is too loud for you.
The MYBELL uses LEDs that can reach upwards of 110 lumens and they are programmable too. That means that you can set pulse patterns of your choosing. Imagine a Knight Rider or old school Battlestar Galactica Cylon pattern! The MYBELL can make your riding safer, and certainly more fun. Speaking of fun, one of my own apps is a fun utility called AutoRingtone, and I've been so inspired by the MYBELL that I'm giving backers the ability to create custom ringtones for the MYBELL at http://autoringtone.com/mybell/. Imagine a "Studebaker Horn" followed by "Special Delivery! Get out of the way!" I can't wait to see (and hear) the ringtones people come up with for their digital bike horn.
