Can you really wake up with a flick of the wrist?
IT COULD be mistaken for a futuristic watch, but the latest device in the weird world of wearables won’t tell the time – it changes your mood instead.
If the wearer is feeling sluggish, the device – called the Doppel – will emit a series of rapid pulses to quickly wake them up.
If stress is the problem, the device will pulsate slowly to calm the mind.
The Doppel is the brainchild of four British designers from the London College of Art.
The inventors, who include a theoretical physicist, say it appears to mimic a heartbeat, fooling the brain into excitement or calm, and so persuading the body to act accordingly.
Users can set the speed of the device’s rhythmic vibrations remotely using a smartphone app.
So the key question is: does it work? The Mail on Sunday was granted exclusive access to the Doppel ahead of next April’s release, when it will go on sale for £70.
First, my reactions were tested using a special computer game devised by Harvard University.
I am told that my reactions are below average. The second time I try, I’m judged to be even worse. However, for the third run I am offered the Doppel and, as an alternative to a caffeine pick-me-up, I accept it gladly.
The face of the contraption is placed against the inside of my wrist and I feel a steady rhythmic thump against my pulse. I am astonished to find that I really do start to feel more alert and focused.
And although my reaction time on the computer game is still far from impressive, it’s clear I can sustain my focus for longer periods.
One of the inventors, Fotini Morkopoulou, 44, confirms that the device can also work in reverse, using slower vibrations. She said: ‘People who used it to help them sleep loved it.’
So should Starbucks be worried that this device could counter the morning coffee run? Well, I’m not sure of that, and it’s no fashion item.
But after receiving 820 orders well before its launch, the Doppel may just have time on its side.