There are tons of apps available today that promise ways to count calories or calories burned. Most of these, however, are inaccurate, relying on software algorithms rather than actual hardware specifically designed to scan and measure calories. An Israeli firm called Consumer Physics bucked this trend when it announced Scio, a gadget that can detect and measure calories, in addition to fat, carbohydrates, and protein in food.
Scio, which has been a successfully funded project at Kickstarter, is a handheld scanner that works with a mobile device through a dedicated app. Using a beams of light, it is able to analyze the "molecular signature" of the object it is scanning. This is achieved through a near-IR spectroscopy technology that produces light reflecting the molecules in food or in whatever object the device is aimed at. It is for this reason why its manufacturer touted it as a "pocket molecular sensor for all" at its Kickstarter campaign page. Indeed, the device was able to identify drugs such as Viagra.
"Our pill-scanning application is all about identifying the pill itself. In fact, it can distinguish between a brand-name aspirin and generic aspirin," said Dror Sharon, CEO at Consumer Physics, the Daily Mail reported,
Once an object is scanned, Scio then transmits the data to a smartphone via bluetooth, where the information is cross-referenced with a database. The database is currently focused on food and medicine.
Scio will be available next year, though more than 1,000 devices have been released for testing. Many people are anticipating the release, especially as it is considered a cutting-edge technology based on the spectroscopy machine that astronomers use to determine the composition of the stars, according to Business Insider.
