Consumers use all types of wearable gadgets to monitor physical activity. But what about measuring our brains?
A Seattle-area startup called Thinkie has developed a wearable cloth headband with a sensor that monitors brain activity while users play games on a tablet or smartphone.
The wellness device can track metrics such as mental speed, memory, concentration, attention, and prediction. The app provides real-time feedback on what parts of the brain are active while engaging in different mental games.
Thinkie says the device can also be worn without the app, to see which everyday activities are most effective at training the brain, such as working on puzzles or playing musical instruments.
The $250 device relies on Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology, which uses light to measure changes in blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. Thinkie says its system is “created by neuroscientists for scientifically-proven results,” and lists studies on its website researching cognitive training using fNIRS tech.
Thinkie also sells a $15/month subscription for the accompanying app, which is free to use without the device.
The company initially targeted senior living communities but this week began rolling out the device to consumers.
It also announced that it’s joining AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative startup accelerator program.
Thinkie is a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co., and a sister company to NeU Corporation, a technology partner of Mitsui.
The company is led by CEO Kota Ageiwa, a former business development manager at Mitsui.
“Just like working out keeps your body in shape, keeping your brain active is key to staying sharp and living a fulfilling life,” Ageiwa said in a press release.
Thinkie has a small team of less than ten people working out of an office in Bellevue, Wash.
https://ift.tt/wy38GBe October 01, 2024 at 05:12PM GeekWire
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