There have been many consumer digital health devices that aim to measure complex parameters and report. They start from simple as activity measure to complex ones like EEG. Then there are devices that alter some human physiology by providing therapeutic doses of electricity or some other complex signal.
Many of these devices have been referred to as wearable since they are worn on the body and perform a function.
One of the simplest wearable is EMBR which provides heating or cooling to the wrist. It is simplest to understand but must be difficult to control. Temperature is one of the most common parameters that can be measured and it is also that we control everyday – in our houses, cars or offices.
The concept is simple that you would give the user the ability to control the amount of heat or cold on a small matchbox shaped device that is attached to their skin. The concept is that the feeling of warmth or cold at that location is enough for the person to feel comfortable.
The location of the device appears to be critical and is mostly been used around the wrist in the same place where you would put your watch.
It seems to have many customers and may people seem to have liked it on Kickstarter for its simplicity. However, this has an app and must be relatively complex inside since it allows for control of temperature under tight parameters where it feels hot or cold but causes no damage to the skin.
Will a small warm or cold piece warm or cool the whole body? It seems impossible but then it probably gives the feeling of warmth or coolness rather than thermodynamically appropriate cooling or heating of the whole body.
Does it work? Time will tell.