That one last cookie or bag of chips might seem inevitable when you’re stressed out. However, recent studies showing that emotional overeating was common in up to half of the United States population and that individuals made aware of their habits were more likely to rethink their nutritional decisions, led Microsoft to develop the ‘smart bra,’ a contraption designed to prevent stress related binge eating.
The bra is fitted with sensors that monitor bio-signals of stress, such as respiration and heart rate, measured with EKG (electrocardiogram) sensors. Once stress levels are detected, data streaming via Bluetooth, alerts the wearer via mobile phone message that stress-related overeating is likely to occur, in time for it to be prevented.
Mary Czerwinski, a cognitive psychologist and senior researcher in visualization and interaction at Microsoft explained that while “it’s mostly women who are emotional overeaters,” Microsoft’s decision to design a sensory undergarment that only works for females had to do with the fact that they “tried to do the same thing for men’s underwear but it was too far away (from the heart).”
Upon testing the bra on several participants, results were successful in collecting necessary data, but Czerwinski admitted that the sensors only worked for approximately four hours before the batteries had to be recharged.
If Microsoft can increase the battery life of this bra, this would you try it out? Let us know in the comments below!