Mood band invented in Hull becomes the talk of TV chat show
PANELLISTS ON ITV’S LOOSE WOMEN APPRAISE MOODBEAM WRISTBAND
A WRISTBAND invented in Hull to help with people’s mental wellbeing has been the talk of Loose Women.
Panellists on the ITV lunchtime chat show discussed the merits, or otherwise, of the Moodbeam silicone band with which wearers can indicate happy or sad feelings.
The Moodbeam One gadget is designed to log mood with the simple push of a button – yellow for feeling good, blue for low mood.
The self-reporting wristband links to a companion app to create a digital mood diary, which also records sleep and step data, so that patterns can be viewed, shared and, where possible, can help highlight things that are causing unhappiness or stress.
Loose Women’s Charlene White, Nadia Sawalha, Jane Moore and Denise Welch spent about four minutes appraising Moodbeam – Nadia was wearing hers on her right wrist for the duration of the show, having opposing views about the technology.
Jane said she was not a fan of something that could only show two moods.
“Moods are so nuanced,” she said. “It’s just a gadget isn’t it, to sell to people? If I am having a bad day I just say I am having a bad day.”
She added: “Pressing a button on a bracelet is not actually telling you what the issue is. It discourages conversation, I think, it’s another kind of machine getting in between real conversation.”
But Nadia felt it might be useful when people were unable to articulate their feelings.
“I think the intention is good,” she said. “It’s about trying to help. You don’t have the water cooler moments anymore to judge how somebody is feeling.”
She said it was important what happened after using the wristband, “otherwise it seems a bit into the nothingness”.
Away from the studio, Denise said: “I believe businesses particularly have a long way to go. Opening up about mental health is still used against people rather than to help people.”
At the end of the slot looking at health gadgets, the panellists also considered talking toilets that flag up potential health issues, Denise said: “What this bracelet has done already is encouraged us to have a discussion about looking out for people’s mental health and if it’s done nothing else it’s done that today because it’s such a crucial time.”
The use of the wristbands within businesses to engage with employee morale has been the main cause for debate and discussion this week, as Moodbeam also got picked up by Steph’s Packed Lunch, on Channel 4, and BBC News.
Moodbeam co-founder Christina Colmer Mchugh said: “It’s incredible to see the debate happening at the moment – it seems that our device has well and truly opened Pandora’s Box on the topic and we’re ready to keep that conversation going.
“The topic of wellbeing has never been more important, especially for businesses as we’re approaching a year since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Of course, a central element to any employee wellbeing strategy is to foster connection and discussion – whether that’s through managers and HR engaging with staff via video platforms or calls.
“Our product is designed to supplement the HR approach to employee wellbeing and to enhance that real connection – not replace it.”
Ms Colmer Mchugh said it was more important than ever to find new ways of giving staff members a voice, and a method of providing real-time feedback on things in a manner that does not rely on being in the same room.
“We are all about using technology for good, putting the power into people’s hands to help them show what happiness – work-related or not – looks like to them,” she said.