Triposo Vibrating Navigation Belt

The more I think about the Triposo Travel Belt, a belt that connects to smartphones' Triposo navigation apps and vibrates on the left, right, front, or back of the body to indicate the direction the wearer is meant to go, the more kooky its concept seems to me. And the more I want to try one.

As a company, Triposo...what's that? Oh. Oh no, no, ladies, I said kooky, not kinky, but I see where you're going here...and I wholeheartedly encourage it.... Triposo develops apps intended to help travelers move through foreign cities like a local. They focus on suggestions of and information about destinations and events less frequented by tourists. To complement the effort, they also include a database of offline maps to assist with navigation. The Travel Belt takes this last measure one step further, eliminating the need for app users to consult their phones constantly for directions during explorations. Through its series of subtle, Marco Polo-esque buzzes, it helps dim the "I don't know where the hell I'm going or which way is up, so please scorn and rob me" spotlight many of us carry when we're out of town.

How Triposo's Travel Belt works:

• Connect your phone to the belt (cable included; uses the phone's headphone jack), open the Triposo app, and select a destination.
• Tap the "Buzz me there" option in the app.
• The app identifies where you are and where you are going. As soon as you start moving it will signal the belt with the appropriate direction to take, and the belt's 4 vibration motors will buzz you along, indicating whether you should go straight, right or left, or turn around.

Triposo admits its belt "may not be as sophisticated as a turn-by-turn route planner," and it will also probably lead you down some incorrect or unexpected streets. But hey, that's part of the fun of wandering and living in the moment, and furthermore, anyone who has used Apple Maps or relied upon directions from a woman should be accustomed to getting lost every now and again anyway.

Triposo's Travel Belt functions with both iOS and Android, and can be paired with other apps as well. Pledge for yours during the project's Indiegogo run through November 12, 2013.

August 2014 Update: Triposo Travel Belt funding was unsuccessful, and at present it does not appear that its creators have proceeded with producing it for the public. However, you can still visit the Triposo Travel informational and app site here.