POC Highlights Obex Connect – One-Touch Communication On The Mountain

POC is proud to release a brand-new innovation in snow sports and safety: the Obex Connect. A helmet which has a unique Mesh communication system that allows users to communicate with each other in closed groups as they ride around the mountain, all simply with the touch of a button. With Sound by Harman Kardon, the Obex Connect brings class-leading audio and connect Mesh technology to skiers and snowboarders.

Obex Connect is the first to integrate Harman Kardon audio and mountain-ready Mesh communication into a single unit, specifically designed for skiers and snowboarders. It's an excellent solution for families who want to stay connected, solo riders enjoying music, and anyone prioritizing safety and confidence on the mountain.

Key points:

• Bluetooth: music, calls, voice assistant, all via helmet controls
• Best-in-class Harman Kardon sound: selectable EQ presets for music, voice, bass
• Mesh network: private group voice comms for up to 8 users, 1km range, no phone required
• All functions are controllable with a single-touch function, controllable while wearing gloves
• IP54 rated: dust/splashproof for snowy conditions
• RECCO reflector, NFC Medical ID, MIPS protection, and easy retrofit to existing Obex series helmets

Introducing the Obex Connect and Mesh technology, POC's Technology and Research Director, Johan Weman, said – "Safety and innovation are at the very centre of what we do. Inspired by our mission, we are driven to explore and innovate to improve protection for all. Over the years, we have led from the front, especially with digital integration in helmets. We are introducing a technology that can make a real difference. Simply pressing a button on the headset will allow you to speak to everyone in your group, even when they are some distance away."

The Connect system is developed around POC's well-known and highly regarded helmet, the Obex. An all-mountain helmet, the Obex is available in several versions, e.g., for kids or backcountry users, and has gained many fans around the world. Developed in collaboration with audio industry pioneer HARMAN, the Connect system, which houses the Mesh technology and can support music, calls, and voice assistant, will also be sold separately and can be retrofitted to all existing Obex helmets simply by changing the replaceable earpieces.

David Jeon, Senior Director of Engineering Project, Product and Solutions Engineering at HARMAN Embedded Audio said – "POC is known for its open-minded and innovative approach to safety and HARMAN is recognized for industry leading audio and voice technologies. When our teams started to consider the importance of connectivity to safety on the mountain, it was clear that we could develop something that had not been done before. We are incredibly proud to have worked together to design, develop and release the Connect system, which has great sound and Mesh technology to enhance protection on the mountain."

Who is it for?
POC has always believed that digital technology can enhance safety for all users, and Obex Connect provides an extra layer of safety and practicality to a host of different users and groups.

Examples include families skiing in the resort, who can always maintain contact to ensure that no child or member of the group takes a wrong turn or fails to hear the call to stop. Other users could be coaches or friends who can provide immediate tips and assistance on technique as they watch you ski or board. Importantly, communication could be to an individual or to a group, such as friends who like to hang out in a group as they ski around a mountain on their annual holiday.

It can also support in the backcountry. Clear and precise communication is a simple prerequisite to being in the backcountry; it is not a place for ambiguity. When on a rope traversing glacial territory or setting off to the next safe spot in possible avalanche terrain, being able to communicate clearly to all will lead to better decision-making and risk evaluation.

All controlled by the POC Connect App
The Connect Mesh system can be left open in public mode. This is an unconfigured mode that allows any other Connect system to connect automatically between headsets. This is particularly useful for skiing with children who may not have a smartphone. In this instance, the headsets would connect to each other automatically.

Creating a private Mesh group is simple and would be established and managed through the Obex Connect App (Apple or Android), which has been developed specifically to allow users to connect and manage preferences for private groups. The App lets you create a group and invite specific people, up to a maximum of eight, to that group. Everyone in the group can then talk freely to each other by simply pressing their headset and unmuting their microphone which is located in the ear set.

The headset has integrated Bluetooth, which can be used as a traditional Bluetooth device to take calls, play music, use a voice assistant, etc. The right side of the headset controls all these functions. The Mesh communication system is managed from the left-side ear pad, making it easy to use and get to know.

The Obex Connect helmet is built on the base of the Obex BC (Back Country), which has been developed for all types of skiing, including backcountry, and is already packed with enhanced safety and technology.

It features a lightweight EPS construction with optimized impact performance and a hybrid hardshell with adjustable integrated ventilation. An embedded NFC chip by Twiceme, which is a passive memory chip, holds your medical ID and can be read from a mobile phone. In addition, the helmet features a RECCO radar reflector, so rescue teams can always find you from a distance and at speed.

Inside the helmet, a Mips system is included, and the Connect earpads include a mic and the integration of a Mesh antenna. This allows the creation of a device network over Bluetooth. As with most Bluetooth devices, it enables functions from your phone and one-to-one Bluetooth communication.

Johan Weman added - "Our 'Whole helmet concept™' illustrates that in today's world, a helmet can, and should, do significantly more than manage impacts. By integrating digital solutions, we can protect a user before, during and after an accident. Our integration of a mesh communication system opens a world of new opportunities, establishing better communication with various users, such as families, coaches, friends, and backcountry skiers, which will lead to enhanced protection."