Microsoft develops bra to detect eating caused by stress - Los Angeles Times
Advertisement

Microsoft develops bra to detect eating caused by stress

Share via

While Google and Samsung have been busy with smartglasses and smartwatches, respectively, Microsoft has been working on a wearable device that’s a little bit more intimate.

The Redmond, Wash., company has developed a smart-bra that its researchers say is used to help prevent women from stress eating.

The device, detailed in a research paper titled “Food and Mood: Just-in-Time Support
for Emotional Eating
,” features multiple sensors to detect when women might want to eat because of stress.

Advertisement

PHOTOS: Top 10 ways to take advantage of the ‘sharing economy’

The Microsoft research gadget monitors heart rate, respiration, skin conductance and movement. The device sends the data to a synced smartphone app that attempts to stop users from eating when they feel stress.

“It’s mostly women who are emotional overeaters, and it turns out that a bra is perfect for measuring EKG (electrocardiogram),” Mary Czerwinski, a research manager at Microsoft, told Discovery News.

Advertisement

The bra works so well because the monitors are located near a person’s heart. But one problem with the bra is its battery lasts only about four hours, making it impractical for everyday use. Microsoft has not announced plans for the device to go on sale.

As for men, Microsoft also tried a version of the device using underwear, but, predictably, it didn’t work as well.

“It was too far away (from the heart),” Czerwinski said.

ALSO:

Advertisement

Star Wars posts first Instagram and it’s a Darth Vader selfie

Amazon is not alone: UPS, Google also testing delivery drones

Apple patent may allow users to unlock devices with their faces

Advertisement