Smart Bra Designed to Sense Mood Changes, Prevent Overeating
Based on a detailed study on food and mood, British scientists have claimed they have developed a smart bra that can detect mood changes to prevent overeating.
M.C. Schraefel, professor of computer science and human performance design at Southampton University, has helped to design a smart bra that can detect changes in mood, with the hope of preventing emotionally-triggered overeating in women, according to a university statement issued Tuesday.
The prototype contains removable sensors that monitor heart and skin activity.
The data collected is sent to the wearer of the bra via a smartphone application.
These physical symptoms are supposed to indicate mood, which a woman can track in order to highlight when "emotional eating" is likely to occur.
"Emotional state, habitual practices, like snacking in front of the TV or grabbing a cookie when stressed, often go undetected by us - that's the nature of habits - but they have real effects on our well-being," Schraefel said.
The bra is the result of a study called 'Food and Mood: Just-in-Time Support for Emotional Eating', authored by researchers from the University of Southampton, Microsoft Research and the University of Rochester in the US.
Source: IANS