LAS VEGAS - Brush smarter. That's the message from the makers of what is billed as the world's first Internet-connected toothbrush.
Unveiled Sunday at a preview event for the Consumer Electronics Show, the device from French-based startup Kolibree aims "to reinvent oral care," according to co-founder Loic Cessot.
"The technology in the industry has not evolved for years," Cessot told AFP.
"The idea is not to brush stronger, but smarter."
The Kolibree toothbrush includes a sensor which detects how much tartar is being removed in a brushing. It also records brushing activity so users can maintain a consistent cleaning each time.
The device conveys the information wirelessly to a smartphone app -- a particularly useful aid for parents who want to monitor the teeth cleaning efforts of small children, according to Cessot.
"When you use a normal toothbrush you never really know what you've cleaned. It might be 30%. The only person who really knows is the dentist."
But the app can tell users if they have missed hard-to-clean areas or are not getting a thorough brushing.
The app, which is open for developers to add on other programs, aims to increase motivation and make the experience more fun, said Cessot.
The self-funded startup created by Cessot and former Microsoft and Google executive Thomas Serval plans to release the toothbrush worldwide in the third quarter, getting a boost from a crowdsourcing effort.
Orders will be available initially through Kickstarter from $99 to $200, depending on the model and will include a free mobile app.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
