L’Oreal’s battery-free UV Sense changes colour to indicate exposure to sun
L’Oreal has unveiled the first battery-free electronic sensor that measures UV exposure.
Essential reading: CES 2018, catch up on all the essential news here
Announced at CES 2018, UV Sense is tiny enough to wear on a fingernail, pair of sunglasses, running shoes, etc. – essentially any item that is exposed to the sun. The little wearable changes colour to indicate UV levels and can connect to your phone via NFC to show exposure trends and tell you when its time to apply sun-screen.
The hope is the little wearable will help reduce risk of skin cancer. Around 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer is linked to UV exposure from the sun. The gadget comes more than a year after the firm launched its My UV Patch.
“Armed with research and consumer insights from My UV Patch, we set out to create something that blended problem-solving technology with human-centred design.” said Guive Balooch, global vice president of L’Oreal’s Technology Incubator.
UV Sense is less than two millimeters thick and just nine millimeters wide. Out of the box it can be used for up to two weeks, but you get additional adhesives to extend its life. You can also clip it to things.
The product will be available exclusively through dermatologists in the US in the summer. A global launch will follow in 2019. No exact pricing has been set yet but expect UV Sense to retail at under $50.
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