Submission + - Smart Toothbrush Aims for Better Brushing Habits
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes: These days, it seems just about every imaginable thing is "connected." There's connected thermostats, locks, refrigerators, forks, and so many more. Now we can add toothbrushes to the list as Brandon Griggs reports at CNN that the Kolibree toothbrush syncs wirelessly with an iPhone or an Android to track brushing habits, announce whether you have brushed thoroughly enough and reward you for good oral hygiene. "It works just like a regular toothbrush," says Renee Blodgett. "The only difference is that all the data is stored on your phone so you can see how you're brushing." Users download a mobile app and connect via Bluetooth, and the Kolibree documents every brushing via three sensors that record 1) how long you brush, 2) whether you brush all four quadrants of your mouth, and 3) whether you brush up and down (good) instead of just side to side (bad). "Before Kolibree, the issue is that there has been no easy and quick way to monitor whether you're doing an A+ job or a C- one when you brush, so how can you improve on a habit you don't have any data about?." There's a bit of gameplay built in, which challenges users to do better next time, and the company has created an API, hoping that third-party developers will come up with additional apps that will inspire users to brush more and more effectively writes Daniel Terdiman. "With individual health getting more attention than ever, it's certainly possible people will see the benefit of something that keeps a close eye on how well they're treating their teeth, and which challenges them to do better."
