Wearable Technology Monitors your BAC
Own an iWatch or a Fitbit? Do you love your wearable technology? You can now add a device called “Skyn” made by the San Francisco based BACtrack to your wrist as well. BACtrack is a company that makes breathalyzers for law enforcement agencies. Recently BACtrack won the $200,000 grand prize at a National Institutes of Health sponsored competition for its wearable blood alcohol monitor.
The device, which looks similar to a Fitbit or other heartrate monitor, monitors your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) via the sweat excreted from your skin, hence its name. The information is then transferred to an accompanying smartphone application where the wearer can view his or her data. The device does not provide real time BAC levels as alcohol can take up to 45 minutes to be transmitted through the skin.
Because of the 45 minute lag time, the device is not acceptable for law enforcement purposes. However, for the person logging their drinking habits for medical purposes or looking to avoid being arrested for drunk driving, the device could be convenient and helpful. For example, your smartphone could buzz to notify you that you’re approaching a certain BAC and remind you to stop or slow down your drinking. Alternatively, in the case of sobriety monitoring, a family member could receive a notification when your BAC has gone above 0.00% BAC.
The device, which can take samples as frequently as every second, is a more convenient and less obtrusive option than other devices on the market. Apps such as IntelliDrink and R-U-Buzzed require the user to enter personal information regarding height, weight, and gender as well as the number and types of drinks consumed. Other portable breath test devices, including those made by BACtrack, require the user to stop and provide a breath sample for the device.
There is no substitute for sobriety when it comes to avoiding an OWI. No application, wearable, or breath testing device will be able to account for the absorption and elimination of alcohol in your system to guarantee that you’re under the legal limit at the time you drive. In addition, private breath testing devices and wearables do not undergo the same accuracy and maintenance checks as those used by law enforcement. However if you’re looking for a ball park number of your BAC over a period of time the Skyn device might be right for you.
If you don’t have a device to monitor your BAC and found yourself in the unfortunate situation of being charged with an OWI, Nathan J. Dineen Attorney At Law is available to answer your questions.
