Get ready for the Io-Teeth.
If you’re a parent, then you know just how difficult it can be to bestow upon a child the importance of brushing their teeth. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts by companies looking to pack more and more technology into our toothbrushes — from ones that emit songs to denote a properly-timed cleaning to others that offer real-time feedback via Bluetooth. Joining that list is a London-based startup called Playbrush, who has designed a new device to encourage children to scrub their teeth both regularly and properly.
Recently launched on Kickstarter, Playbrush hopes that by associating twice-a-day toothbrushing sessions with a fun activity like mobile gaming, they can motivate kids (and some reluctant grown-ups) into putting in the required time and effort to achieve better oral hygiene.
And while the concept of transforming a brush into an interactive device may not be entirely new, Playbrush is looking to set itself apart through one notable element: It isn’t a smart toothbrush, but rather a dongle that attaches to an existing, ‘dumber’ one. Beyond that, its price is a mere fraction of the cost of other similar devices — surely, something that will appeal to parents.
The gadget fits directly onto the end of any conventional toothbrush and connects to a mobile device over Bluetooth LE. The movement of the brush is detected by a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, which then feeds it to the smartphone to control the game in real-time. From there, the game will encourage the brusher to spend a full two minutes cleaning their teeth — with accuracy and proper form. This is all tracked using the Playbrush’s accompanying mobile app (currently available for iOS, while an Android one is in the process of being developed).
Sound like something both you and your children would enjoy? Hurry over to the project’s official Kickstarter campaign, where the team is seeking £35,000. Shipment is expected to begin later this year.
