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This ‘Smartfork’ Will Tell You When to, Well, Put the Fork Down

Jan. 7, 2013 8:50pm Liz Klimas

What do you get when you combine the Consumer Electronics Show’s timing with that of New Year’s resolutions that are hopefully still on target? How about a high-tech fork that will help users track their eating habits.

HAPIfork Helps Users Eat Less by Tracking Fork Servings

(Photo: HAPILABS)

The HAPIfork was showcased at the electronics show in Las Vegas. It’s a fork that lets the eater know when he or she is eating too fast by tracking “fork servings,” which is every time the fork is brought from the plate to the mouth and back.

HAPIfork (Image: HAPILABS)

The gadget and smartphone app combo also keeps tabs on how long it took users to eat their last meal, “fork servings” per minute and the time that lapses in between “fork servings.”

The fork sends this information to an online dashboard via a USB connection or through Bluetooth technology. It also has a coaching program to help users adopt healthier eating habits, if necessary.

(Image: HAPILABS)

Watch SlashGear’s video interview at CES with the fork’s creator:

As the creator of the fork says in the video, it’s the “first smartfork to help you lose weight by eating more slowly.”

According to MacRumors, the HAPIfork will retail for $99. The USB version will be available in the second quarter of this year and the Bluetooth version will follow in the third quarter.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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Comments (40)

classic.american.therapist
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 10:57pm
Actually, as a speech therapist who works with people with swallowing disorders, I see some use for this for people who have to adjust their eating habits to prevent choking and aspiration. (And it’s amazing how often staff feeding dependent residents need cueing too!) The fork also takes data for the therapist and other staff. I just wish there there was an application to cue for smaller bite size too–I’ve been amazed at how much a determined person can cram onto a small spoon! This could be good for developing good habits in kids too. But for most adults, I can’t see this making a big difference. A lot more is involved in overeating than eating too fast….

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RestoreCapitalism
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 3:59pm
Chopsticks have been working as a low tech diet control for centuries. Ever try to eat everything using them? Eat some peas with them and see how fat you get. Pudding? Forget it.

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lorial
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 1:25pm
People! Really! Have we become so stupid, we can’t figure out anything on our own anymore? Start using your own mind. Good grief .

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- garylee123
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 2:09pm
  It’s an assault weapon fork…..run!!!!
  
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I Aint PC
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:11am
The next level of gun control to be proposed by the dumbascraps: put this technology on the firearm to let you know if you are squeezing the trigger too quickly. Then apply it to the firing pin of the military automatics, so they do not hold the trigger down too long and shoot too many of the enemy.

We need it applied to the spending bills being used in congress to let them know when they are adding too many zeros to the costs. Or put it on Obama’s pen to slow down the amount of executive orders.

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I Aint PC
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:06am
What if you use two forks and alternate between bites?

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- jcizarter
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:10am
  Exactly!
  
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lel2007
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 12:13am
This marvelous device, along with the thingie that sucks the food right out of your gut, insures a physically slim and fit new generation. Ain’t technology grand?

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judyaz
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 12:09am
First a toothbrush, now a fork. This will make Michelle’s goals seem less controlling. who needs regulations when machines rule?

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steelpanther
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:23pm
How the hell does eating speed have anything to do with weight? It’s total in, not how fast it goes in. Eating really fast might be a choking hazard though.

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- abepta
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 11:35am
  The faster you eat, the more you eat. If you eat slower and chew the food more times, you end up eating less. You end up feeling more satisfied with eating less food. Shoveling the food in at a faster rate you end up eating more. You overstuff yourself because you ate the food so fast, your stomach doesn’t have time to register that it is full. Then your stomach stretches over time and as a result, you end up eating way more than you need just to feel full – more food = more calories = overweight.
  
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- TEIN
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 3:35pm
  I understand…1 lbs. of bacon is 1 lbs. of bacon no matter how fast I eat it……
  
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qpwillie
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:08pm
I think they should have gotten somebody who speaks better English to repeatedly say “fork” in the ad.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:18pm
  LOL, hoppy, hoppy, hoppy foke!
  
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:51pm
Will they rename it the michelle-a-fork? I think people who want to diet can save their money and figure it out that eating less is one of the steps.

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KangarooJack
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:36pm
as a former waitress-here is a tip I got from a Diabetic patron. Order the salad dressing and any topping “On the side” you dip your fork/spoon/spork in the souffle cup and THEN pick up said item of food. See-you get the taste-but it’s not piled on top of your food.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:06pm
  KANGAROOJACK, That is an excellent tip, and I will have to keep that in mind. Even do it here at home. But, it just won’t work tonight with my game night Buffalo wings and blue cheese.
  To any potential busy bodies, no I do not do this often and really rarely touch fast or junk food. But, it makes for the occasional tasty treat.
  
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13a
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:18pm
Put this fork in Michael Moore’s hand and we may have just found the best renewable energy source capable of powering the world economy in the 21st century.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:29pm
  I dunno, the fork would have to be screaming so much that it’s battery would die.
  
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- KangarooJack
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:33pm
  Thank You THANK YOU for the best laugh of my day. :)
  
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- Hotconchick
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:22pm
  I’d rather put the fork in other places for the fat slob…
  
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michaelmoron
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:17pm
This thing can go fork itself.

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soybomb315_II
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:16pm
most of the foods i should not be eating do not include a fork….They are either spoon or hands

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:30pm
  LOL, the bitching spoon is probably next, and for finger food there will be a talking napkin.
  
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FISH_BONE
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:10pm
No worry. Soon we will have no food to worry about.

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CatB
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 8:59pm
Two words .. finger food. ;-)

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banjarmon
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 8:57pm
$99.00 Will buy lots of fries and buggers at Checkers…NO FORK NEEDED!!!

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:05pm
  BANJARMON, Man, haven’t been to a Checkers since I lived in Tampa back in the ’70s. The mention of that has me wishing there was one here.
  Back to the game now.
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:23pm
  @RJJinGadsden
  dont bother with the game – you got it in the bag
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:32pm
  SOY, I hope so, but I’m still enjoying it now. Notre Dame and whoever Spurrier is coaching are the two teams I love to see lose the most.
  
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- CatB
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:38pm
  Checkers .. have one right down the road .. very little that is gluten free :-( I only drive through when I need a drink. Their fries are / sadly were the best!
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 12:12am
  SOY, thank goodness that you were right.
  
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Popp40
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 8:57pm
So now they are telling us that we are too stupid to know when to put our forks down….

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:04pm
  Well they did say we were just a bunch of Homer Simpson’s…
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 8:55pm
Does it come in a Samuel L. Jackson version?

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- Fubared
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:03pm
  Doubt it, but that was funny-
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:12pm
  IS that a Big Kahuna Burger…..I never tried one. Can I partake of your tasty beverage?
  
  Is that the Sammy Jackson you are looking for, or the “I didn’t ask you a GD thing, now shut the F up!!!”
  
  I think a fork that would emit a fart smell and have Roseanne Barr start whispering sweet nothings would be a great appetizer suppressant. Maybe just have a picture of a naked Oprah on the handle.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:27pm
  Hi DARMOK, nailed it on the second description. That fork would cuss so much that I would certainly put it down!
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:38pm
  RJJ – A fork that would simply loop Gundan Style would be enough to curb appetites, and make people sick to their stomachs, you would lose at least 2 inches off the waist after the first week.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 7, 2013 at 9:48pm
  DARMOK, LOL, I’d have to see just how far I could throw that fork! Guess that it would be effective.
  
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