Soon you will be able to immediately find out if that pricey organic salad you ordered for lunch is worth it. Lapka Electronics is debuting an iPhone accessory that detects whether your food really is organic, or its organicity.
Lapka’s “personal environment monitor” is a suite of four stylish sensors that connect to your iPhone through the headphone jack. The sensors measure organicity, radiation, electromagnetic fields (EMF), and humidity. An app then displays the information on your screen. The elegant set is powered entirely from the iPhone and doesn’t need batteries or charging.
Lapka’s health focus shows in the fact that it tests your food along with environmental radiation and EMF. Organic labeling has vague meanings, and organic fields can be exposed to nearby contaminants. The organic sensor detects the nitrate content in what you’re about to eat or drink. Nitrates are residues from synthetic fertilizers and are a good measure of whether raw food is organic. You simply poke your food with the ultra-thin probe to get a readout displayed on your iPhone.
Even the owner of a local New Jersey catering company who I’ve worked with admitted that the app could come in handy. The company offers organic menu choices and can use the app for quality control – before their iPhone-toting customers do.
The Lapka radiation sensor measures radiation with precision, down to the particle level, and is considered professional grade. The app interprets the results for you based on your environment, so that you get an accurate idea of how concerned you should be. Lapka is smart enough to know the difference between transient radiation on a plane flight and excess radiation in places such as your home.
The EMF sensor measures the strength of electromagnetic fields and will even suggest areas in your environment that have the lowest levels.
The fourth measurement, humidity, is more about comfort than safety. It combines humidity and temperature readings into one comfort rating using a database of what people consider ideal for your environment.
The app’s data presentation is just as impressive as its leap into organic food testing. It tells you what the measurements mean and suggests a course of action based on how far out of normal range the readings are.
For the visually inclined, the app has a second method of showing results. According to Fast Company, a more abstract readout displays a red pool of particles that accelerate as levels rise. You can share this environmental snapshot with people who don’t have the app.
Lapka took great care with the aesthetic design of the set. “Since this is a healthcare and environmental product, we used organic materials like wood and ivory-like plastic, it will look better with time … it’ll become your very own, personal talisman,” Creative Director Vadik Marmeladov told Fast Company.
Fortunately, you won’t have to wait long to see it for yourself. The product is in final production stage and can be ordered later this year. The suite of peripherals will sell for about $220, and the app will be a free download from the App Store.
Image Credit: Lapka Electronics
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