A new gadget designed by a former contestant on the ABC show Shark Tank invented a Bluetooth breathalyzer aimed for the casual drinkers. For those who hit happy hour after work, mens poker nights and women’s “book clubs”, Breeze hopes to help drinkers ultimately skip that “one more” drink that pushes you past the legal sobriety limit.
The inventor, Breeze founder and CEO Charles Michael Yim, says that the gadget could ultimately help you track your state of drunkenness in real time; while hoping to get you home safe by recognizing when you’re over the limit and automatically calling an Uber or a cab to pick you up.
Breeze is a light, compacted blue designed technology that is shaped like a tear drop. It is capable of being connected to a keychain so you can take it around everywhere effortlessly. After downloading the iOS and Android-compatible Breathometer app, you make an account that sinks you device with Bluetooth. After 20 minutes from your last drink, consumers are suppose to take the breathalyzer test. Almost immediately, your BAC will appear on the screen of your phone, which will have changed its shade depending on how many drinks you have consumed. The closer you are to the legal driving limit — 0.08 BAC in all 50 states — the more foreboding the look and feel. After reading your BAC the Breeze will give suggest whether or not you should take a safe ride home.
Although I think this device has good intentions I could see how it could get some people into trouble. There are still kinks that the company admits to, preventing it from running smoothly. For people in society with heavy drinking problems, I could imagine that this app, kinks in all, will make them think they are sober enough to operate a vehicle. Accident wise, I could see people who have a low tolerance to use the app, drive and get into an accident using the app as a scapegoat.
For example, at the bar there is a 100 pound woman who gets drunk off of one wine spritzer, she takes the breathalyzer app and sees that she is clear to drive. She proceeds to get into an accident yet argues that since she was cleared by the Breeze app, she was sober enough to operate a vehicle. For all I know the app does not take into account your age, weight, gender and overall tolerance for alcohol. I do think that this app was a smart idea but am not sure that it is reliable enough for people to use everyday to determine if they should drive home from the bar or not.
Regardless of the deficiencies in this app, I believe it is taking society to the next level in preventing intoxicated drivers.
Read more here!
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/review-breeze-is-a-bluetooth-breathalyzer-that-will-100009604299.html
Caroline King
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