The start-up e-Senses, in collaboration with the Holst Center, developed the first "coach" for monitoring solar energy, natural light and Vitamin D.
Helios Smart Ring provides feedback on how much sunlight we receive and how much vitamin D it creates, customized according to skin type and behavior. The gadget allows people to find the perfect balance of exposure to the sun and obtaining vitamin D.
The smart ring has an elegant, water-resistant design that comes in black or white and fits perfectly around the finger. Together with the accompanying application, the ring tracks the wearer's exposure to the sun and daylight, as well as the current UV index. Then, based on the profile entered into the application, it calculates how much vitamin D is produced at that moment. To complete that profile, simply select which of the six pre-defined skin types best matches your own, what clothes you're wearing at the time, and what, if any, type of sunscreen/cream use.
The Helios application (iOS and Android) shows the "production" of vitamin D daily, allowing us to know when we have reached the recommended minimum daily value. It also provides statistics on sunlight, daylight and vitamin D by week, month and year.
The practical gadget lets you know when it's time to reduce sun exposure (by covering up, applying sunscreen) to avoid sunburn.
With the Helios ring, we wanted to give people unique and useful functionality in a design you could wear as a fashion item," said Gleb Nikeschin of e-Senses. "Holst Centre's support was invaluable, helping us explore technology options and especially with their expertise in miniaturization and low-power electronics. It was great to find an innovation center willing to take a risk on such a novel project with a small company like us."
"It was very satisfying to join e-Senses, a local start-up company, in this endeavour," said Holst Centre's Jeroen Schram. "Together we pushed the possibilities of electronic design to the limits, creating some of the smallest and most power efficient electronics of its kind. It shows that the technologies we develop at Holst Center are mature and ready for commercial products."
The Helios Smart Ring will be available for sale in February 2017. It is also available now for orders through the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform.
