Currently seeking a funding goal of $150,000 on Indiegogo, the BluFit smart water bottle connects to a smartphone in order to relay data about your water consumption and keep you on target to hit a daily goal. In order to accurately determine your recommended daily intake of water, the companion smartphone application takes your weight and age into account as well as the current temperature and average humidity in the vicinity. The sensor within the 32-ounce bottle records the amount of water consumed each time you take a drink and notes the current time as well.
After that data is collected and sent to a smartphone over Bluetooth, you will be able to view daily progress within the mobile application as well as an overall history of your water consumption. Users can set personal goals for the day as well as alarms to stay on track. Beyond smartphone notifications encouraging you to take a drink of water, the creators of the BluFit have also included LED lights within the bottle’s sleeve to provide a colorful visual alert.
According to an April 2013 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over three fourths of Americans are drinking less than eight cups of water per day. In addition, Americans 55 years or older were significantly more likely to drink less than four cups of water per day than people between the ages of 18 to 34. Lack of proper hydration can lead to a drop in energy levels and decreased effectiveness when flushing out toxins from organs according to the Mayo Clinic.
Factors such as a hot or humid climate can trigger the need for increased hydration during the day, thus the temperature sensor will likely be useful for BluFit users. Keeping track of water consumption is also useful to prevent excessive hydration. Potentially a risk for athletes, drinking too much water can decrease sodium levels in the blood and trigger a condition called hyponatremia. However, eating a healthy, balanced diet decreases the possibility of hyponatremia significantly.
The BluFit smart water bottle is compatible with both Android and iOS mobile devices. According to the product’s FAQ page, the battery within the BluFit bottle will last for 7 to 10 days without requiring a recharge based on typical usage. Regarding cleaning the BluFit bottle, the main portion of the bottle can be placed within a standard dishwasher. However, the cap can only be washed by hand since it likely contains the drinking sensor.
Detailed on the Indiegogo project page, the BluFit bottle comes in Ocean Blue and Charcoal Black. While early backers can get in on reduced prices for the smart water bottle, it will eventually retail for $59. Assuming the product is fully funded by the project end date, the BluFit water bottle will be available on a nationwide basis by March 2014. As with all crowd-funded projects on sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter, be aware that manufacturing issues can often push back the estimated delivery window by weeks or even months in some cases. Keep track of project updates on the Indiegogo page for up-to-date information.
By Mike Flacy
http://www.digitaltrends.com