Smart bracelet introduced by Georgian businessman attracts global attention

A Georgian businessman has released thousands of smart bracelets that help users control their weight by measuring calorie intake using a unique method unexplored until now.

George Mikaberydze, founder of HealBe, released 12,000 GoBe wrist devices, which are currently being sold around the world for about $300 USD.

Simply put, the bracelets claimed to record calorie intake by recording what goes into the user’s mouth, analyzing water level changes in cells, deducing the amount of sugar in cells, and use a unique algorithm to detemine the amount of energy (calories) in the food. Using this method it can also determine the amount of calories burned.

The idea became reality after Mikaberydze applied to international crowdfunding website Indiegogo, which taps into a global audience to raise funds to help get innovative ideas off the ground.

Through this website the Georgian businessman attracted $1,081,070 USD, donated by 4,462 people over a one month period.

Using these funds, the GoBe devices were created. About half of the released devices were sent to those who had donated to the cause via Indiegogo while the remainder went on sale in mid-February. Each GoBe device cost about $300 USD.

Mikaberydze noted the GoBe device was unique because it was the first to have developed an algorithm that could turn a bioimpedance reading into a calorie count.

The smart bracelet is touted as the only wearable device that automatically measured the calories a person consumed and burnt.

The device has gained skepticism by medical professionals however GoBe successful passed a BBC experiment in January, which Mikaberydze said at the time that "it worked better than we expected, but our test was hardly scientific and far from conclusive”.

"When you eat food you have proteins, carbs and fats. Carbs from the meal convert to glucose and the glucose goes into the cells. When glucose goes into cells, water goes out - that means the water balance changes. The bioimpedance sensor measures this water flow, in and out. And [knowing this] we can build a glucose curve… and calculate the carbs,” Mikaberydze told the BBC.

The GoBe device worked in the following way:

Firstly, eat a meal. Then switch on your smartphone app, which connects to the GoBe device via Bluetooth. This will start to rise within 15 minutes.

As it takes time for the body to digest its intake, users must wait about two hours to get a final reading.

Some medical professionals disputed the science involved and cast doubt whether this method of measuring bioimpedance can "accurately” measure intracellular glucose concentrations.

However, feedback from customers who had purchased the devices was positive, Mikaberydze said.