Eating better in a digital world, easy... (via HAPILABS)
As a follow-up to their recent release of a line of health-conscious gadgets, HAPILABS has finally taken to Kickstarter to begin crowdfunding for the production of their HAPIfork. Simply put: the HAPIfork is an electronic fork that gives people the ability to closely monitor the way that they eat in real time and over a long period of time through statistical measurement. Of course, that is only a small taste of its features and the science behind HAPILAB’s delectable creation. I first saw the Hapifork at CES 2013.
HAPILABS prides itself in providing consumers with empowering tools that will allow highly busy people to remain conscious about their health decisions. The science behind the devices is founded on maintaining a healthy balance of mood enhancing hormones in the body, particularly serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and cortisol. By alerting users of the ill-effects their actions may be having on their health, and consequently their hormone levels, a balance can be obtained over an extended period of use. Each device is also equipped with a HAPIbutton that allows users to record their HAPIness levels throughout their daily routine.
The HAPIfork, in particular, operates by alerting users of their eating habits. The numbers show that eating behavior among overweight subjects is strongly linked to a tendency of eating too quickly. Thus, one of the e-fork’s main functions is to flash an indicator light and gently vibrate when a user is eating too quickly. In addition to monitoring “fork servings” per minute per meal, the HAPIfork also stores data about a meal’s overall duration, the length of each “fork serving”, and the start and end time of every meal.
All stored data can then be transmitted via Bluetooth or micro USB cable to a computer, which can also be used to charge its internal 3.7 V lithium polymer battery. An accompanying mobile app also allows individuals to adjust their “fork serving” alert to a custom time interval. The mobile app or a personalized online database can be used to view all of the fork’s statistical data with the option to upload pictures, make comments, share info with others, and read up on practical tips for balanced meal plans. As of now, smartphone and tablet compatibility is available on the following: iPhone 4S & 5, 3rd Gen iPads, 5th Gen iPods, Samsung Galaxy S III, and Samsung Galaxy Note II.
The HAPI team hit their fundraising goal of $100,000 On June 1st. For those interested in getting their hands on a HAPIfork, pre-order on their site. An $89 pledge for the first 2500 will get you an early bird version ($99 otherwise) and $300 pledgees can get their forks even earlier as part of a beta testing package. From then on, the plan is to have the product on sale in both US and EU markets by Q4 of this year. Until then, HAPIeating.
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