New York – If you’re trying to diet but struggle to remember what you’ve eaten, help may be at hand.
American scientists are developing a wearable ‘smart necklace’ that monitors everything you consume – and sends an alert if you devour too much.
The metal ring – called WearSens – fits around the neck in the style of a choker and measures the vibrations in a person’s throat whenever they eat or drink.
It is linked to an app on a smartphone, which then buzzes if the wearer overindulges. It can also be triggered if they eat the wrong kind of food.
The device has been created by engineers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and has so far been tested on 30 people using a limited menu.
It had 90 percent accuracy when distinguishing between solids and liquids – and could even tell the difference between hot and cold drinks. Each foodstuff makes a distinctive pattern of vibrations in the throat, allowing the WearSens to detect what is being consumed.
The researchers believe it could also be used to track if people have taken their medication, as well as monitoring breathing. They are now planning more tests to establish how it could help other medical conditions.
Daily Mail