High-Tech Wrist Strap Turns Finger Into Phone Receiver

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – One company is offering a new way to answer calls… with your finger!

It's a little hard to believe that putting a high-tech watchband on your wrist can turn your finger into a phone receiver.

But that's exactly what Sgnl is making happen.

The Sgnl strap can attach to a smartwatch or a classic watch, while Bluetooth connects it to your phone. When someone calls, the sound travels from your wrist to your finger.

A mic in the band picks up your voice.

Han Nryu helped develop the device in South Korea.

"It translates the sound into a vibration so that it can pass through your hand and then through your finger all the way up to your ear," explained Nryu, who works at Innomdle Lab. "So then it hits the air in your ear and it becomes a sound again."

The technology is still being perfected.

Right now the sound is a little muffled, especially in noisy places.

Several tech companies have come up with ear devices, making it easier to talk, such as Apple's new wireless air pods.

The Sony Experia earpiece can actually be controlled by pushing a button or even nodding your head.

"You're going to see increasing ways to interact with the phone through smartwatches, through other devices that let you leave the phone in your pocket," said CNET Section Editor Dan Ackerman.

The Sgnl device is not for sale yet. It's expected to be available next year with a price tag around $150.