Wearables

Pavlok wearable shocks you when you're bad

Pavlok wearable shocks you when you're bad
Pavlok is a wearable that shocks the user bad habits are detected
Pavlok is a wearable that shocks the user bad habits are detected
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Pavlok is a wearable that shocks the user bad habits are detected
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Pavlok is a wearable that shocks the user bad habits are detected
The device can be worn either as a wristband or stuck to the skin via adhesive stickers
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The device can be worn either as a wristband or stuck to the skin via adhesive stickers
The device can be worn either as a wristband or stuck to the skin via adhesive stickers
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The device can be worn either as a wristband or stuck to the skin via adhesive stickers
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While some wearables such as fitness trackers are designed to help the user in bettering themselves, Pavlok takes things a little further. The device, which can be worn as a bracelet or placed elsewhere on the body, aims to break bad habits by shocking the wearer when they stray from the right path.

The concept of the Pavlok is simple, if perhaps a little extreme. When a user gets the device, a companion app is downloaded and the habits they want to kick are selected. It's then placed somewhere on the body (either worn as a wristband or attached to the skin via adhesive stickers) and it will either beep loudly, vibrate or shock wearers if they slip up and perform one of the forbidden tasks. The team behind the product claims that adding accountability to commitment can increase your chance of success by up to 80 percent.

The company provides a list of bad habit suggestions to be linked with the Pavlok, with examples including wasting time online, sitting still for too long, going into fast food restaurants or hitting the snooze button when your morning alarm goes off.

The device can be worn either as a wristband or stuck to the skin via adhesive stickers
The device can be worn either as a wristband or stuck to the skin via adhesive stickers

At its core, the Pavlok is an activity tracker, packing an accelerometer that keeps tabs on the user’s steps, activity and sleeping patterns. Its ability to administer a jolt to the wearer (which is apparently roughly equivalent to a static shock in intensity), is its wackiest feature, but its day to day use is designed more towards vibrations, audio alerts and LED indicators to act as behavioral indicators, steering the user away from their bad habits. Though it can also post about your bad behavior on social networks like Facebook.

The device connects to iOS and Android smartphones via Bluetooth 4.0, and the company has produced an API for the product that it hopes will get developers on board to significantly expand and refine its functionality.

Pledges for a Pavlok on Indiegogo start at US$129, with the final retail price expected to rise to $149. If all goes to plan, shipping should start in April 2015.

Have a look at the pitch video below for a taste of what's on offer.

Sources: Pavlok, Indiegogo

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8 comments
8 comments
Facebook User
Great idea. I can use when the wife doesn't do the housework or make me a meal. I'll take 2 now please (one for each arm)
Bill Bennett
Time for another beer, OUCH, Thank the spirits that tomorrow is garbage, UGGH, YOUCH, it got me again when I opened the garbage can lid.
Brian M
If I had one my life would be shocking!
WagTheDog
I too will need two if they can stop me from biting my nails ... still doing it after 68 years, and living without fingernails SUCKS.
tjcoop3
Yeah, I can see this going over really well with Law Enforcement. As if beating with clubs, tazing and shooting wasn't enough. WTF! Of course it would be a great tool for toddlers running off. They get too far away and you zap em. :)
James Galan
Terrifying if this falls in wrong hands.
Jonathan Torres
I've been biting my nails for quite some time as well and living with that habit is quite the nuisance.
I feel that this product does have room to evolve. Shock aside, you can truly benefit from the alerts, vibrations and LED flashing lights.
Constantly being reminded of the goals you are trying to maintain can create a new perspective and plan of action for a person. This gives you the extra push.
I got mine as an early bird. I do expect this will be something truly helpful for people.
David Altmann
Actually the perks already start at US$ 3 and according to the Indiegogo campaign the price might even be US$ 199. But I guess that is the price for the device plus the wristband (which doesn't seem to be included in the price). The amount of interest people show is tremendous: after only 4 days they have reached US$ 100k!