It's not easy to eat with shaking hands. In fact, it's next to impossible. Google is changing all that, releasing a smart spoon that reduces shakes to allow people with hand tremors eat independently.
Called the Liftware Spoon, developed by a health tech start-up company called Lift Lab which Google acquired back in September, it is able to reduce shaking by using hundreds of algorithms, sensing the level of hand tremor and then making the necessary adjustments to stay steady. According to Lift Labs' clinical trials, the Liftware Spoon is capable of reducing up to 76 percent of shakes.
There are more than 10 million people around world suffering from essential tremors or Parkinson's disease, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin's own mother. Brin himself has a genetic mutation that increases his risks for Parkinson's disease but his nor his mother's condition did not factor into the acquisition of Lift Labs. The start-up's direction was simply in line with what Google is pursuing in the medical arena.
"It's totally novel. It doesn't cure the disease -- they still have tremor -- but it's a very positive change," said Dr. Jill Ostrem, a neurologist from the UC San Francisco Medical Center specializing in movement disorders like essential tremors and Parkinson's.
"If you build something with your hands and it has that sort of an impact, it's the greatest feeling ever. As an engineer who likes to build things, that's the most validating thing that can happen," shared Anupam Pathak, Lift Labs founder.
The Liftware Spoon comes with a rechargeable battery so it is always ready for meal times. Compact and portable, it is also easy to take along, making it possible for people with essential tremors or Parkinson's to eat out in restaurants. At the moment, only the Liftware Spoon is available but Lift Labs has said that other attachments will be coming soon to facilitate eating even more.
Those who don't have anyone in their lives with essential tremors or Parkinson's can still appreciate what the Liftware Spoon can do by working with Lift Labs to gift smart spoons to those in need. So far, 140 Liftware devices have been shared with people with economic hardships through various foundations. To make this project possible, Lift Labs has teamed up with the Tremor Action Network, the National Parkinson Foundation, and the International Essential Tremor Foundation.
The Liftware Spoon costs $295 each.
