Category: Health and Wellness

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Health and Wellness

Oraglide Tongue Cleaner aims to make your breath sweeter

As embarrassing as bad breath can be for an adult, it is at least twice as much so for the teen population whose age alone often means a significant lack of self-confidence. One amazing 13-year-old, Sheil Patel, is taking advantage of bad breath by creating his own business to help others overcome this problem. Oraglide gives those who suffer from bad breath a potential solution. Since the cause of bad breath is often tongue bacteria, this product cleans the tongue through its “u” shape and by removing the white film that is a culprit of bad breath.

There isn’t much of anything new about this tongue scraper as compared to others, but backers love kids with crowdfunding campaigns. Go, Sheil, go! Backers interested in oral care may also want to check out the Goodwell and CLEARsmile campaigns, and pet lovers whose furry best friend has this issue may be interested in the Zumby campaign. This campaign seeks to raise $65 by January 1, 2015. For $15, backers get one product with an expected delivery of January 2015.

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Health and Wellness Travel

Portable Facial Steamer puts the heat on skin irritants

A noticeable facial blemish can seem like a pretty major issue when one is getting ready to close that big deal – or go on that big date. Travel or dorm life can mean that skin gets exposed to new environmental debris that makes breakouts or dryness more common than when at home. The Portable Facial Steamer allows users to have the benefit of getting skin issues under control before they have a chance to start showing up on one’s face. Five minutes of controlled steam will open pores, pull out all toxins, revive dead skin and help with blemishes.

Consumers fill the steamer with water from the tap and, once plugged in, it takes 60 seconds to heat up and be ready for use. It’s unclear if distilled water, which would really be the better option when in new environments, will work with the product. , or put on a flat surface at face level and move face around the steamer. This campaign seeks to raise $8000 by December 31, 2014. Backers get one product for $50 with an expected delivery of June 2015. The Portable Facial Steamer seems like a handy travel aid for those who want some misty refreshment on the road, but may find a real fight for the travel bags of packing minimalists.

 

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Health and Wellness

Lumino helps you rise before the sun gets up

When winter comes and the days get shorter, getting up before the sun to go to work or school can be a major struggle. Since the body is programmed to sleep at night and be awake when the sun is up, Lumino offers smart technology for helping a person to ease into those dark mornings. The product works with one’s bedside lamp, phone, Bluetooth, and a smart plug. A few minutes before the pre-set time, the intensity of the lamp gradually increases, registering in the brain in a similar way as waking up to the rising sun. When the lamp hits maximum intensity, the user’s desired alarm or song plays on their phone. Lumino can also be used as a night light when not home, or a sleep aid that slowly diminishes light intensity in the bedroom while winding down to go to sleep.

Everyone has experienced the dread of waking up before sunrise in the winter, so Lumino is a neat little way of  waking up to a more pleasant day, provided that users have iOS or Android. Interested backers might also like to check out the Sleep Sensei and TekTuk campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $100,000 CAD (~$87,500 USD). Early bird backers get one product for $39 CAD (~$34 USD) with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Health and Wellness Sensors/IoT

MOCAheart looks after vitals, lets you check up on loved one’s hearts

Health monitors that send information to smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. It’s an easy way to collect important data and send off to doctors if need be. They also provide a way to track patterns and trends, hopefully catching harmful conditions early on so they don’t get worse.

MOCAheart is one such monitor. This small metal sensor about the size of a contact lens holder measures heart rate (bpm) and oxygen levels in the blood and sends such data to its accompanying smartphone app. With this information it generates the MOCA index, a number that tells you how you’re doing. Zero is low, but still okay. One is normal, two is slightly high, at three they recommend you make a doctor’s appointment and four means you should seek immediate medical attention.

In addition to monitoring your own health, MOCA hooks up with other MOCAheart owners through the app. This way, you can monitor the health of loved ones. The app also allows users to put notes next to their readings, like one man does in the campaign, saying that his vitals show he’s stressed because he has to work late. It also records the date and weather of each reading, demonstrating how lifestyle can affect blood pressure.

MOCAheart joins scores of other health devices that make monitoring one’s health super easy. The size of the sensor itself makes it convenient to carry around and the two touch method of reading vitals is too simple to mess up. Perhaps the best part, though, is the ability to check up on loved ones. This seems great for younger generations making sure their elderly parents or grandparents are okay. Though this could get annoying after a while, however productive. Backers can own their own for a donation of $99 with delivery in April 2015. MOCAheart is looking to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter.

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Health and Wellness Smartwatches/Bands

Embrace smartwatch watches out for epilepsy, other conditions

There are lots of smartphone apps out there that measure our health. When the necessary information is put in, the app interprets high levels of stress, not enough sleep or other detrimental health effects. The one huge flaw with this model, however, is that the app assumes the information it’s given is correct. It’s difficult for people to measure their own vital signs if they’re not doctors.

Embrace cuts out the guesswork. This smartwatch monitors health and then relays that information to an accompanying app so that the data it provides is accurate. Embrace looks at sleep patterns, heart rate, stress levels and is especially adept at helping those with epilepsy. For parents or spouses who have loved ones with epilepsy, they too can wear an Embrace. When a seizure starts, the information is given to the app which will then alert designated caregivers that help is needed.

Embrace comes in different colors and two sizes: large for adults and small for kids. Best of all, the campaign is matching each smartwatch purchased 1:1. That means that for every Embrace given to a backer, one will be given to a child in need with epilepsy. The body of the watch is medical grade, but the band is Italian leather, secured with a magnet.

This smartwatch takes the very idea of a smartwatch even further. Most focus on receiving texts or e-mails or even monitoring run times. Embrace serves a bigger purpose by monitoring help and has the potential to save lives. Other than the fact that the magnet may not be the best securing method for a watch, Embrace sets itself apart from other frivolous smartwatches. Backers can have their very own for a donation of $189 for delivery in July 2015. Embrace hopes to raise $100,000 on Indiegogo.

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Health and Wellness

UVIO skin scanner seeks out precancerous conditions

Unfortunately, the rate of skin cancer worldwide increases year after year, which is why getting a routine screening is highly recommended. Oddly enough, though, the jury is still out on how effective screenings are. Although they consist of a visual inspection by a trained physician, even trained physicians sometimes have difficulty telling the difference between benign skin irregularities and early forms of skin cancer.

One of the main reasons why it can be so difficult to positively detect skin cancers is because the signs that need to be found can exist underneath the skin, below what can be seen. Monarch Med is looking to ease the difficulties of skin cancer screening with their precancerous dermis scanner called UVIO. The product is a tube-shaped device outfitted with a camera that can take ultraviolet, infrared, and electro-optical images, a combination of imagery the company claims can greatly increase the success physicians can achieve in detecting cancerous cells. A Bluetooth, memory card, and a cabled USB version are being created in order to make the scanning technology available to a wider range of people at varying price points. The campaign is looking for $118,000 to begin production but there aren’t actual products to purchase as of yet.

 

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Health and Wellness Travel

Sphynx razor packs along water and moisturizer to escape hairy situations

Traveling means making lots of little sacrifices in what to bring. Perhaps a smaller toothbrush or leaving behind that expensive moisturizer is necessary for extra bag room. Either way, it can be hard to stay fresh while out on the road.

For those who need to shave constantly to remain looking professional, try Sphynx, yes named after the hairless cat. This is an all-in-one shaving product for travelers on the go. Sphynx features a water sprayer, razor and soap so that not even a sink is necessary for shaving. This round product is small enough to fit into any purse, briefcase, or even pocket. It is round and, when opened, requires rotation to enjoy each feature. First spray, then rotate and lather, then rotate and shave.

The soap used is non-stick so that it comes off cleanly after the shave, a definite bonus. However, it’s unclear if the razor can be changed or not. If not, once the razor becomes dull the whole thing has to be thrown out, not good. Sphynx is really only marketed to women, but could definitely benefit men as well. For those looking to stay clean-shaven, one can be had for $16 by March 2015. Sphynx is hoping to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter.

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Connected Objects Health and Wellness Lighting

Sunn smart LED fixture fights off winter blues

It’s been proven that natural light is key in maintaining the body’s internal clock. Unfortunately, most people don’t get the exposure necessary to keep their internal rhythms in check, which can lead to a myriad of physical and psychological health issues. The team behind the Sunn is looking to bring the sun indoors to address the issue.

The product is a smart LED light fixture that replicates the rhythm of the sun, bathing any room in a person’s home with diffuse light of gradual strengths throughout the day. Sunn gradually brightens to gently waken users in the morning, produces cool, white colors to stimulate focus and productivity during the afternoon, the lights wind down to during sunset, and at night Sunn glows warm like the embers of a fire, a natural indicator it’s time to go to bed.

A companion app places total control of Sunn in a user’s hands, and can be used to sync the light to a location, change lighting conditions, or set alarms using gradual light. It can also be used with Philips Hue and LIFX lighting, as well. The science to support a product like this is there, so the idea definitely warrants a backing. The standard 19-inch Sunn is $289, and the 24-inch Sunn Plus is $349. Backers can expect the Sunn in April 2015 provided the campaign reaches its $50,000 goal.

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Health and Wellness

The VIX Jive lets you train your cane to hang

Nope, it doesn’t require a smartphone or an app. Not even a tablet or Bluetooth or any other electronic gadgetry. But it will make canes behave and prevent them from tumbling to the ground when not in use. The VIX Jive is a cane accessory that can be attached to any cane or walking stick via the included Velcro strips. That means no special tools are required for assembly. The product’s unique clamping system can be connected to any tabletop, positioned, and then pressing down for the clamp to activate. If there isn’t a table surface handy, there is also a hook so that the user’s cane could be hung on a chair or some other convenient place.

Losing one’s cane or having it clatter to the floor can mean an awkward moment for users. Vix Jive prevents such occurrences and its versatility means that it can go anywhere the cane can. Other items mobility assistance items that backers may want to check out include the Movi Wheelchair,  Beech Walker Sand Crab, and Backtrack. This campaign seeks to raise €6,265 (~$7,800). For €12 (~$15) backers get one product with an expected delivery of December 2014.

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Health and Wellness Home

Squair ditches filters for cold plasma to help you breathe easier

Polluted air affects everyone in many different harmful ways. From asthma to allergies, everyone feels the detrimental results of dirty air, but no one quite knows how to address it.

SQUAIR takes the mind off of bad breathing as an air filtration system. Using cold plasma, this devices catches harmful pollutants in the air and kills bacteria. This product is also discreet, resembling a hard drive. It gives users relief for up to 30sqm around them and can be used anywhere from the office, home or even hotel rooms when traveling.

SQUAIR joins scores of other air purifiers, but misses the mark on a couple of key conveniences. Products like the Table Air not only filter toxins, mold and dust, but also communicate with smartphones to deliver data about what’s in the air. Other air purifiers run on battery, making them portable to use during walks to protect oneself in bad areas, such as a city. While SQUAIR’s methods to clean pollutants may be cutting edge, the product itself could use some updating to make it more user-friendly. For their very own, backers must donate €165 (~$203) for delivery in April 2015, if SQUAIR is able to reach its €79,000 (~$97,000) goal on Kickstarter.