Calnter: A Conscientious Idea Hindered by Flawed Tech

Calnter is a device that reads one's fingerprint, references a database to read the user's calorie count, displays the calorie count, and lights up green if the user is below the count, or red if the user is above it. The group stated that this technology will raise obesity awareness, limit business for fast food chains, provide incentives for making healthy choices, and promote fast food consumption in moderation. While obesity is a pressing issue within the United States, a society built upon capitalism would not readily adopt the technology.

I have a number of concerns with Calnter, some which the group addressed in the Q&A portion of the presentation. The foremost concern is the mere adoption of the device. The device is made to raise awareness, at the cost of business for a fast food chain. It is intended to drive away business from a deeply manifested part of American culture and diet. I have no doubt that a restaurant would refuse to house this product. Another concern is that it is too intrusive. For some, fast food is a quick solution to hunger when they are either travelling, or in a hurry. It is not a part of their regular diet. Therefore, the flashing lights and addition of time in the transaction process is a burden, and a forced way of promoting enthusiasm for weight loss. As a result, it bothers me that the group idea involved housing the device in the restaurant when it is possible to use hardware available on person.

Smartphones currently have fingerprint scanners that uniquely identify one's various digits. This hardware is capable of the same actions as Calnter, but is less intrusive and more personalized. There are apps that exist to count one's calories, and the data does not need to be hosted on a remote server as it is on the hard-drive of the device. Another concern arose when the group stated that a debit card could be associated with one's account in order to appease someone's question. Debit cards should never be tied to an online account of any kind as they can be completely drained, without any fraud detection. While credit cards are susceptible to theft, they cannot be drained completely.

Overall, Calnter was a very conscientious idea that offered a solution to a deeply disturbing national health issue. However, the calorie counter itself was too intrusive, difficult to adopt, and surpassed by existing solutions. The presentation was great and the idea was very thoughtful, while backed up with strong, supporting statistics.