I Simply Noticed the Wi-fi Physique-Transmitting Community That My Future Wearables Want

I’ve seen enough smart glasses, watches and rings to know that they do not normally like enjoying collectively effectively. And it is not only a query of mixing interfaces — connection points come up, too. Bluetooth connections may be janky, for instance, particularly when dealing with a number of units.

I wasn’t conscious of Ixana or Wi-R earlier than. It is a wi-fi protocol and chipset designed for very short-range connections, with larger bandwidth and decrease latency between units. For a number of years, the Indiana-based startup has been advancing these device-connecting concepts, together with defense-focused work with the US Air Drive and US Military. However now Ixana’s crew says it is able to develop a extra superior model of its chipset that might permit glasses, watches, rings, earbuds and different wearables to share as much as 20 megabits per second of bandwidth with each other, so long as they’re in shut proximity in your physique.

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I met with Shreyas Sen, Ixana’s founder and CTO, and Bob Twomey, VP of worldwide gross sales, at CES 2026 to interrupt down the concept of the know-how and what it may obtain. It genuinely sounds just like the next-generation native wi-fi private community I have been hoping for — one that might let my wearables talk instantly with out counting on Bluetooth.

The demos I noticed within the in a Las Vegas resort suite have been restricted, however they have already got me excited concerning the prospects the know-how opens up. I wore particular prototype earbuds and a music pendant geared up with Wi-R compatibility and heard music enjoying, though it lower out after I moved the earbuds a sure distance away from my physique. 

In one other demo, an Ixana crew member carrying prototype twin good bands, a pendant, good glasses and earbuds confirmed me how data could possibly be shared throughout all of the units with a mixed 5 Mbps knowledge throughput. Whereas that is not a lot bandwidth for data-heavy duties like streaming video, it could possibly be sufficient to let sensor knowledge, music and different data stream between wearables with out breaking their connection.

Wi-R can work at distances of as much as 5 centimeters out of your pores and skin, so it ought to nonetheless perform by way of clothes and even heavy jackets. A few of the army gear Ixana confirmed me already is made to work in that capability. 

It does not radiate a sign past that quick vary, which may make it a safer and personal private physique community. That is one thing Ixana leans on for its military-focused tasks, Twomy and Sen inform me.

The purpose for Ixana now’s to allow extra steady streaming of video and audio knowledge in always-on AI wearables similar to good glasses with cameras or good pendants. Activating always-on reside AI modes in right this moment’s good glasses, just like the Meta Ray-Bans, drains battery quick. That is partly due to energetic community exercise. Ixana says Wi-R is way more power-efficient than both Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so a pair of glasses may stream reside for as much as 8 hours.

I additionally noticed a neighborhood knowledge switch demo between two telephones and two folks carrying prototype wristband wearables, with data exchanged solely once they have been in shut vary. This native conduit is what Ixana sees as an alternative choice to AirDrop, and comparable know-how. However what me is how this it may presumably let a number of low-power wearables — well being sensors, neural inputs or the rest — acknowledge and discuss to show different.

I am already carrying good glasses so much. I put on a wise watch. I typically put on a wise ring. I put on earbuds. They do not all join with one another, and so they usually fall out of Bluetooth connection, or have connection issues in crowded locations. If we’re heading towards an period of mission-critical, constantly data-streaming wearable networks — ones continually funneling data forwards and backwards for AI evaluation — I would need these wearables to be as dependable as potential. Might Ixana’s Wi-R supply a quicker, extra dependable, lower-latency possibility (underneath 1 millisecond, in keeping with its efficiency checks) that helps the subsequent technology of wearables merely work higher?

Ixana seems poised to make a transfer into client merchandise, however a brand new wi-fi protocol that is not but a normal would require broad trade settlement, or corporations selecting to undertake the concept inside their very own wearable ecosystems. 

I’m now form of obsessed: Might Ixana’s concept be precisely what the subsequent wave of good glasses and peripherals wants? I would love if my very own wearables had quick cross-awareness like this. Whereas the concept of a knowledge community passing by way of my physique is just a little intimidating, I am intrigued to see what occurs with this tech subsequent. 

Of all of the issues I noticed in my scattered time at CES this 12 months, it is likely to be Wi-R that I take into consideration essentially the most. Ixana’s already in talks with what it says are all the foremost tech corporations, though whether or not something will manifest anytime quickly is unknown. If it is all pretty much as good because it sounds — extra energy environment friendly, much less laggy, safer and multidevice-friendly — I hope it occurs quickly.