Liftware Steady Spoon

While every few days result in a new advancement in the technology that we use every day, the objects and applications helpful for people with disabilities aren’t far behind. Companies are regularly coming up with newer products to facilitate ease of access and improved quality of life for people with disabilities. Progress is made with each new advancement, which ensures functionality and great appearance and application as well. One such product is the Liftware Steady Spoon.

Liftware is a self-stabilizing handle on which can be attached to an eating utensil like a fork or spoon. It is made for people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease or other conditions that cause tremors or the inability to make full use of the nervous system. Liftware stabilizes up to 70% of the disruption and reduces the spilling of contents before the food can reach the mouth.

The Liftware Steady Spoon was originally designed by Anupam Pathak, who was a researcher at the University of Michigan. He is now the CEO of Lift Labs. His idea of creating the spoon came from the image stabilizer built into digital cameras and smartphones. He realized that the same techniques can also be useful to encounter the effect of shaking hands in people with tremors due to Parkinson’s or essential tremors.

The stabilizing handle contains sensors that detect hand motion and a small onboard computer that distinguishes unwanted tremors from the intended movement of the hand. To stabilize the utensil, the computer directs two motors in the handle to move the utensil attachment in the opposite direction of any detected tremor.