09 Jan 2013

Bluetooth fork stops you eating too fast

Inventor Jacques Lepine, president of the Slow Control company, and partner Hapilabs, have unveiled the first digital fork to, as they say, help users “eat slowly for better health”.

HAPIfork, is a Bluetooth-enabled fork that gives a gentle buzz when you're eating too quickly.

The device incorporates a capacitive sensor that detects each bite you take and tracks your average meal time, the number of bites per serving, and the number of bites per meal where you were "overspeeding," or bringing the fork to your mouth too quickly.

The "eating data" can then be uploaded to the user account via USB or Bluetooth and accessed with a computer or smartphone

Jacques Lepine, French engineer and inventor, developed the technology for the digital fork, in response to his own desire to combat frequent indigestion by slowing down his food intake at mealtime.

“Slow Control is bringing its contribution to the war on overweight with our digital fork and online application. Working with nutritionists Drs Arnaud Cocaul and Suren Budhan in France, we have been very impressed by the increasing scientific knowledge in support of “eating slowly” for better health,” 

he says.

According to advisor, Dr. Consigny, “the fork with its personalized feedback graphs may well be the tool we have been missing in order to make weight control programs simple, objective, long-lasting and replicable.”

Slow Control, founded in 2008, is a French software technology firm specialized in the development of quantified self tools for better health. Slow Control supports the “eating slowly” approach to better health through the use of daily objects that become intelligent thanks to embedded electronics and software feedback.

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