Everything has an app these days. Some useful. Many distracting. And some are just trying to harvest your data with the promise of a free widget. And occasionally, you'll find an app that is unique and life-changing. Of all the weird uses I've seen, my latest game-changing tool is an app that talks to my water bottle. Preposterous!
A few months ago, I picked up a HidrateSpark Water Bottle after hearing about it on a podcast. It's the most I've ever spent on a kitchen utensil at around $80 CDN. It's even more than my overpriced but amazing Nespresso Travel Coffee Mug that I use every day. Why did I need another pricey water bottle when I have a small collection of them around the house? Simple, drinking water has health benefits, but I tend to reach for other, less healthy drinks (such as the coffee as mentioned above) before going for water.
I've read the science. Water is good for you, and caffeine is bad. Sugared drinks, which are luckily not my weakness, are even worse. And I've tried throughout the years. But the lure of a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea makes it hard to drink the recommended amount of water in a day. I remember even purchasing a clear Brita® cup with a plastic ring around it. You were supposed to move the ring for each cup you drank in a day. I don't think I even got to eight cups as recommended.
The HidrateSpark water bottle looks pretty simple. It's a stainless steel water bottle with a load cell in the base. After you take a drink, the bottle weighs the contents and calculates how much water is missing. It sends that to the app via Bluetooth so that you can track your water consumption. No more silly plastic rings around a cup.
But, the best part is that it has a set of lights in the base. If you fall behind the curve to drink your optimal amount of water, it glows to remind you to drink. It's subtle. And, most importantly, not distracting. No beeps, phone vibrations, or pop-up notifications. Just a gentle reminder from a subtle glow at the base of the bottle. Brilliant really.
The app calculates your target water intake based on several factors, including height, weight, age, activity level, and even considers the local weather. It can even suggest where you last used your water bottle in the odd event you leave your house.
This brings me back to the EULA. I didn't read it, and I don't expect anyone does that. But I figure at the worst, I am trading some personal data such as my age, weight, and location for a glowing, expensive water bottle that actually gets me to use it.
Is the trade worth it? I've consistently drunk enough water to hit my goal in the few months I have had this product. Which also means I'm consuming less caffeine. This water bottle works for me as the glowing reminder when the bottle is on my desk during the day is enough to get me to drink water regularly.
The results are worth the trade of another app on your phone. So before you dismiss all new technology as gimmicky and needless, consider whether it works. The HidrateSpark really does for me. Cool!