Millions of people use wearable technology to track their movements, monitor their heart rate, and even evaluate their sleep patterns. For some, seeing their activity data displayed on bar graphs and collecting badges for accomplishments is enough to motivate them to live a healthier lifestyle. Others need a bit more motivation. 
That’s where Pavlok comes is. Pavlok is a wristband that tracks users’ movements, much like the Fitbit Flex or the Jawbone Up, rewarding them for meeting their goals. However, Pavlok also punishes users who do not meet their goals. According to the company’s website, the idea is to hold users accountable for not meeting their goals, and create consistency. Using the Pavlok app, users can set fitness goals, such as walking 10,000 steps per day, or productivity goals, such as spending less time surfing the internet. Users can also set the penalty for not reaching their goals. Pavlok may levy a fine, restrict access to user’s phones, or even deliver a shock to users who do not complete a specific action. Users can get their friends involved as well, granting them the ability to deliver a shock if they know their buddy is slacking off. Pavlok also doubles as the ultimate alarm clock. Users can set the wristband to gently vibrate at the desired wake up time. But if users decide to hit the snooze and roll over to catch a few extra z’s, the wristband will deliver a shock of electricity to jolt them out of bed. Pavlok is certainly the most sadistic wearable technology I’ve seen to date. With experts predicting the wearable technology market will grow from $1.4 billion in 2013 to $19 billion in 2018, who knows what others we will see in the next few years. Stay tuned.
That’s where Pavlok comes is. Pavlok is a wristband that tracks users’ movements, much like the Fitbit Flex or the Jawbone Up, rewarding them for meeting their goals. However, Pavlok also punishes users who do not meet their goals. According to the company’s website, the idea is to hold users accountable for not meeting their goals, and create consistency. Using the Pavlok app, users can set fitness goals, such as walking 10,000 steps per day, or productivity goals, such as spending less time surfing the internet. Users can also set the penalty for not reaching their goals. Pavlok may levy a fine, restrict access to user’s phones, or even deliver a shock to users who do not complete a specific action. Users can get their friends involved as well, granting them the ability to deliver a shock if they know their buddy is slacking off. Pavlok also doubles as the ultimate alarm clock. Users can set the wristband to gently vibrate at the desired wake up time. But if users decide to hit the snooze and roll over to catch a few extra z’s, the wristband will deliver a shock of electricity to jolt them out of bed. Pavlok is certainly the most sadistic wearable technology I’ve seen to date. With experts predicting the wearable technology market will grow from $1.4 billion in 2013 to $19 billion in 2018, who knows what others we will see in the next few years. Stay tuned.
