What if I told you that there was a small piece of technology you could attach to your hat or clothes while you enjoy the sunlight, and it could tell you when you have had too much sunlight, possibly preventing heat exhaustion and skin cancer? Heck, it’s even fashionable. Would you wear it?
They Put the UV in UVisio
UVisio is a startup company located in The Netherlands and has created a device/app combination that tells you how much time you’ve spent in the sun. After downloading the free app, you will get warnings to reapply your sunscreen or to get out of the sun and rest underneath some shade. There is a sun forecast that will tell you when the sun rays are at peak and when they are not. You will also get sun protection recommendations based on your unique skin type, your location, and the current sun ray intensity.
The app also contains daily UV tracking with a visual history of how much sun you are getting over a given period of time. It will give you information about the type of sunscreen you are using (after you scan the barcode into the app) and you can create multiple profiles for your spouse, children or other family members to use UVisio. The app stores your data on your smartphone for 1-2 days until your next synchronization and saves all of your data in the cloud.
The Tech Stuff
The UVisio clip is powered by a CR2032 coin-cell battery that has a life of 3 months at full operation. Let’s see from June to August is 3 months, so essentially during the summer months, you won’t have to worry about replacing the battery or recharging it – we have too many electronics to charge as is! It uses Bluetooth 4.2 to connect to your compatible iOS 10 and newer or Android 5.0 or newer. The device is heat, water, and UV resistant and made of polycarbonate.
Why You Should Care
The answer is quite simple: the sun is good … and bad. While there are significant benefits to being in the sun:
• Natural mood enhancer
• Treats Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Stress reliever
• Sleep improver
• Vitamin D for healthy bones
There are also significant setbacks to that beautiful light in the sky:
• Eye damage
• Heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke
• Sunburn, sometimes severe
• Heat rash
• Wrinkling and/or aging (UV light damages collagen and elastic tissue)
• Skin cancer
While the sun does get us that nice bronzy tan all summer long, too much sun can harm us – and it’s possible it could be permanent. According to skincancer.org, 86% of melanomas (a type of skin cancer) can be attributed to exposure to UV radiation from the sun. Now, if that isn’t a shocking statistic in itself, here’s this one: One person dies of melanoma every hour. Now that is chilling. And one of the founders knows it – a former skin cancer patient.
Now, you might be wondering, “Can’t I just cover up?” Sure, you could. But then you have to estimate the correct time to reapply sunscreen. And you could forget because you’re having a good time. What if you spend too much time in the sun? What IS too much time in the sun? Let’s face it: UVisio takes the guesswork out of sun protection.
Gotta Have It?
UVisio has investors such as HighTechXL and Startup Bootcamp and has been featured at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in 2018. While in Vegas, UVisio got a lot of attention from distributors, apparel industries and many more. Want to keep up with UVisio technology and all of their happenings? You can subscribe to their newsletter on their website www.uvisio.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
If you still have questions, make sure you fill out a contact form on their website or email them at contact@uvisio.com.
Right now, UVisio is running a promotion: Special Early Bird Price of €39 or $54.87.
Image credit: Pexels
