Press Releases

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif. - October 5, 2006 - A new watch from iBEAM Technologies, Inc. has burst onto the gadget scene just in time for the 78 million baby boomers now reaching retirement. The iBEAM Optical Timepiece is an elegant watch with a few ingenious secrets.

With the touch of a button, a light beam turns on and an outer lens flips up to become a magnifying glass. Use the light and lens together for easy, hands-free reading in low-light situations. For a demonstration of how the watch works, visit www.ibeamtime.com

Chris McKay, an award-winning inventor from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, created the watch when menus, bills, and business cards became difficult to read. He was constantly borrowing his wife's reading glasses and holding text at arm's length. He realized that he was only one of millions of active baby boomers with the common eye condition presbyopia, which makes type appear to shrink.

Years of research and four U.S. patents later, the iBEAM watch was ready to hit the market. Sold primarily through Brookstone stores and a variety of popular catalogs, the water- and scratch-resistant watches come in a range of styles for men and women, and are available in stainless steel, with genuine leather straps. Most models retail for under $100 and come with a date function.

Unlike many gadget-laden watches that are bulky and casual, the iBEAMs are streamlined and attractive, with the extra features subtly integrated. "I invented the watch primarily to help people read small print," says McKay, "but people are finding all kinds of uses for it."

In addition to reading everything from maps to manuals, customers have reported using their iBEAM to fix flat tires, illuminate a keyhole, and plug in computers cords. Both the flashlight and magnifier can be used alone.

For more information on iBEAM watches and where to purchase them, visit www.ibeamtime.com or call Pam Walters, VP Marketing, at 831-620-0417.

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