All posts filed under: Things for Health

H20 Pal Smart Water Bottle

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According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43% of American adults drink less than four cups of water a day. A shocking 7% drink none. So is the H20 Pal water bottle from EQUA the solution to our dehydration problem? Made of a laboratory grade borosilicate glass bottle and a stainless steel cap, H20 Pal uses an accelerometer and weight sensor in the detachable base, along with an App, to help you keep track of how much water you are consuming. While the bottle itself is not complicated to use, you do have to log into the password-protected app in order to track your water consumption. The App also lets you know when you are properly hydrated, when you last filled your bottle, when you last took a sip, and allows you to compare how much your friends are drinking. So is this the solution for a thirsty nation or an overly convoluted drinking container? Check out the designer’s Kickstarter page and let me know what you think.

800W Design Wheelchairs

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Unless you or someone close to you needs one, wheelchair design isn’t one of those things that’s usually top of mind. But there are few other product design areas where a well-designed product can have such an important influence on someone’s life and health (check out my recent story on a line of sexy, modern canes). That’s why I got excited when I got a pitch from Brandon Fonville with 1800wheelchair.com, a company specializing in mobility aides. Last month the company launched 800W Design, a new brand that will take a fresh approach to the aesthetics of wheelchairs, including the addition of new colors and custom stitching. I asked Brandon a few questions about the new line, and how it stands out from the rest of the designs on the market. DT: What inspired your modern take on the wheelchair? Brandon Fonville: After 15 years of selling wheelchairs and mobility products from other manufactures, I was always bothered by the aesthetics of some of the products; especially wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. Most products we interact with on a daily basis have a certain aesthetic value that gets more designed over time. Why should wheelchairs be any different? …

Movember Bottle Opener & Money Clips

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In honor of Movember — the annual event in November where men grow mustaches in order to bring awareness to the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment options for cancer — 1% percent of the sale of the mustache-toting bottle opener, money clip, and money clamp from bottleBoss will be donated to support awareness and education for men’s health issues, especially prostate and testicular cancer. According to statistics provided by the Movember movement, one out of two men will get cancer in their lifetime and one in six men is expected to get prostate cancer.  All of the funds raised by the movement will go towards prostate cancer and testicular cancer initiatives. $9.95 (bottle opener); $15.95 (money clip); $19.97 (money clamp).

Omhu Canes

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Canes do not have the reputation of being the most stylish of accessories, unless they belong to a baddie in a James Bond film. That’s why the aptly-named “00” line of canes from Omhu—a Danish design firm focused on medical equipment and accessories—are a much welcome exception. Made from aluminum and painted with bicycle paint, the canes can support up to 300 pounds while remaining exceptionally light weight. The handles of the original Omhu/00 cane ($99) and the Omhu Tuxedo ($125) are both made of birch, finished with a non-toxic vegetable oil. The handle of the Tuxedo is stained black, though various shades of the birch can still be seen beneath the finish. Painted birch cane docks ($25 each) allow you to display the canes like works of art. The Omhu Sport’s ($49) rubber-dipped handle helps the company sell it at a more affordable price. “The rubber dipped handle is another unique and beautiful feature, and is still superior to a foam handle, which often mold with time,” says Erica Kirsch with Omhu. “The shape …