KIT
KIT THAT'S COMING SOON
MYGRAMSMyGrams smartphone scales, designed by someone with diabetes.
D
aniel Blumer was
diagnosed with Type 1
diabetes in 2009 after
losing a lot of weight
and feeling weak. He
visited his doctor and was sent to hospital
and reports that after a week in hospital
he went back to his student flat 'feeling a
little lost'.
Even then, as he began to understand
the rigours of a life with diabetes he
downloaded a nutrition diary app.
However, he says, "I thought it was quite
hard to write down what I ate without
including information about the amount -
the weight - of what I ate. So ended up
restricting myself, eating food that came
in packages. I was studying engineering
and always carried my phone with me,
and it came into my mind that a phone
case with an integrated scale would be
great. Later I thought that an app that
calculates the carbohydrates in the phone
itself would be the perfect solution."
LR: Daniel Blumer, Philipp Omenitsch, Philip Dimitrov, Kevin Benckendorf, AlexanderDimitrov
Hence MyGrams was born as an idea,
and Blumer with some friends (see below)
and colleagues started to look at actually
building the smartphone scales and
setting up a business to sell them in order
that other people with diabetes could
benefit from this new bit of diabetes tech.
The scales have gone past the prototype
and demo stage and the company has
started a crowdfunding campaign on
Indiegogo.com. The campaign is going
well, but needs more support in order
that the first scales can be shipped in
November 2019.
Says Blumer, "We are in a university
incubator and are working really hard
to bring the product to market. After
delivering for the crowdfunding backers
we distribute in the US and Europe."
For the initial product launch the
MyGrams smartphone scales are only
compatible with a selection of phones,
such as the newer iPhone X but Blumer
says that the plan is to expand the product
line in terms of choice of compatible
phones, and also develop the tiny scales
as a standalone product, so users can
slip them into a pocket or bag and not
necessarily have them as a backpack on
their mobile phone, and still work with the
app on a phone if required.
Blumer, Co-Founder, and CEO of
MyGrams, adds, "We understand very
well how hard and restrictive life with
diabetes can be. Our product and app
are intended help to anyone who has
been diagnosed with the condition. We
are constantly working to further develop
MyGrams to best meet the needs of
people with diabetes and their families."
Indiegogo campaign (early bird discount
of 50% applies until early June, making
the price around £30):
indiegogo/mygrams
To watch a YouTube video about the
product, click HERE.