Will the beacon be too bright to look at in my own face?

No. The 256 LEDs sit under a soft diffused outer fabric weave so light spreads as a flat color field. At the 2 Hz strobe setting drivers see a clear pulse without blinding you when your arm is up beside your head.

Can I match the color my app assigns me at pickup?

Yes. In the Sleeve Studio app set the active color to the exact hex your app shows — the mode accepts any #rrggbb value — then send it over Bluetooth before you walk out.

How long does the beacon run on the removable controller?

With a user-supplied USB-C power bank (no battery is included in the box), the BLE controller is estimated to run the full 256-LED beacon at 100% for roughly 3 hours and at the 35% dim setting for well over 8 hours. Hold Pad 5 to drop into dim mode for late-night curbside waits.

Use Case #16 · Cluster B · Live Events, Concerts & Nightlife · All 50 Modes

Rideshare Curbside Color Match Beacon for Crowded 2 AM Exits

Hold your forearm up at the venue curb and the 256-pixel 8×32 RGB LED matrix flashes your app-assigned color plus your 4-letter initials (ALEX) so your driver spots you instantly in a 200-person pickup crush. Five sewn conductive-fabric touch pads change color and letters — $199 finished sleeve.

Drivers spot you fast: A 256-pixel color field plus your big LED initials is designed to read from roughly 40 feet through rain, glare, and a crowd of identical phones ($199).
Wet-hands friendly: Change your color or letters with a knuckle on 5 sewn fabric pads — no unlocking a phone at the curb in the rain.
Pre-loaded & customizable: Ships as one of 50 built-in modes; set your exact app color and initials in the Sleeve Studio app.

Preorder Sleeve · $199 Free US Shipping Try in Sleeve Studio →

▶ See the 8×32 Forearm Display in Action

Watch the 8×32 RGB LED matrix and 5 conductive-fabric touch pads running cycling, running, navigation and commute modes on the forearm sleeve. Concept render · simulated 8×32 display · first production run of 500 units.

Why Phone Screens Fail as a Rideshare Beacon at 2 AM

Bigger and higher than a phone: Raise your forearm to shoulder height and the driver sees a 9-inch edge-lit color field instead of a 6-inch screen held at knee level.
Match the app in one tap: Swap from your pinned blue to the driver’s “I’m in the white Camry” color without lowering your arm or unlocking anything.
Built for 2 AM weather: The washable compression sleeve and sealed slide-out pod shrug off rain and street grit on the walk to the curb.

What Each Forearm Pad Does (Pads 1–5)

Pad 1 (Elbow)Press & hold — Beacon on/off (full 256-LED color field) · LED cue: Solid rider color fills the 8×32 matrix at max brightness

Pad 2 (Upper Mid)Single tap — Cycle color preset (Uber cyan / Lyft magenta / custom) · LED cue: Edge ring pulses once in the new color

Pad 3 (Center)Double tap — Edit 4-letter initials · LED cue: Scrolls "ALEX" across rows 2–4 at 12 columns per second

Pad 4 (Lower Mid)Swipe — Toggle strobe ↔ steady beacon · LED cue: Beacon flashes 2 Hz with a 120 ms on-pulse

Pad 5 (Wrist)Press & hold — Battery-saver dim (12-hour late-night mode) · LED cue: Drops to 35% with corner status pixel

Customize in 30 seconds: Pick this mode in the Sleeve Studio app, type or speak new words, colors, or pad actions, and tap Send over Bluetooth — no code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the beacon be too bright to look at in my own face?: No. The 256 LEDs sit under a soft diffused outer fabric weave so light spreads as a flat color field. At the 2 Hz strobe setting drivers see a clear pulse without blinding you when your arm is up beside your head.
Can I match the color my app assigns me at pickup?: Yes. In the Sleeve Studio app set the active color to the exact hex your app shows — the mode accepts any #rrggbb value — then send it over Bluetooth before you walk out.
How long does the beacon run on the removable controller?: With a user-supplied USB-C power bank (no battery is included in the box), the BLE controller is estimated to run the full 256-LED beacon at 100% for roughly 3 hours and at the 35% dim setting for well over 8 hours. Hold Pad 5 to drop into dim mode for late-night curbside waits.

Run This Mode on Your Forearm — Reserve Batch 01 ($199)

Complete hardware + 50 modes ($199): 8×32 RGB LED matrix (256 pixels), 5 sewn conductive-fabric touch pads, and a 5-second slide-out washable electronics pod.
Sleeve Studio app ships first: Personalize all 50 modes in plain words before your sleeve arrives (small monthly subscription; zero code).
Zero-risk preorder: First run of 500 units (~30 days to production), free US shipping, 100% refund anytime before shipping + 90-day money-back guarantee.

Preorder Sleeve · $199 Free US Shipping Open Sleeve Studio Full Hardware Specs

Watch → Prove → Buy

Not ready to order yet? Take the next step.

See the hardware in motion, read the peer-reviewed textile research behind it, or reserve your spot in the first production run of 500 sleeves.

STEP 1Watch the sleeve in action Five soft touch pads, an 8×32 RGB LED display, Bluetooth, and a removable electronics pod for gentle washing. See the hardware → STEP 2See how the app customizes any mode Pick from 50 pre-built modes or type a new one in plain words. The Sleeve Studio app ships before your hardware. See Sleeve Studio → STEP 3Preorder the Sleeve — $199 First run of 500. ~30 days to production. Free US shipping. Full refund anytime before it ships. Order now →

90-day money-back guarantee, plus a full refund any time before the sleeve ships.

Questions about your setup? Call +1 725-338-4835 or email alex@midnightdev.dev.