Existing Technology
Despite there being several competitors that offer similar outcomes on the market as of today, our company has excelled at developing a practical, advantageous, and economical product and solution for our target markets.
the “smart toilet”
Currently there are toilets that are equipped with a variety of settings and technology, called the “smart toilets”. This specific type of toilet contains the capability to perform multiple urine tests without much input from the user. There are also countless other features available with this toilet model. Although these toilets are fully equipped and require no effort, the price range for such a toilet is $3,500-$6,000.
comparable urine tests
There is a similar device that allows for a hydration test to be done inside of a urinal. This product is placed at the bottom of a urinal and gives a read-out on a display located above the urinal. In order to perform the test it utilizes specific gravity readings of the urine sample. This product uses similar test methods as dip-sticks, which also use specific gravity to determine hydration levels, except dip-sticks require the user to either urinate directly on the test strip or insert the strip inside the toilet after urinating.
alternative hyrdation test
Equivalent hydration tests have been developed. These include sweat patches that are placed on the skin that record ion concentrations such as sodium and chloride. This patch requires the user to place on their arm, for example, anytime they wish to observe their hydration level and can be currently worn for approximately a week.
How We Compare
- Similar to our competition our products also require minimal interface with the users. This still gives the consumers the comfort of receiving insight about their health without much putting in much effort to each test, which makes it easily integrated into the user’s daily life. Our product also comes equipped with a display that not only informs the user but allows for simple feedback of their test results within seconds.
- Unlike some of our competitors one of our devices will cost around $70, this makes it more feasible for the common household to eventually bring the product into their home. This low price also allows for larger companies, like gyms, to bring in these devices in bulk without causing to much of an inconvenience for them. Along with the pricing, our product is made considerably more practical by it’s lifespan, each device is expected to last several months. Due to the simplistic design the mechanical malfunctions are expected to be at a minimum.
- In contrast to the urine test that involves specific gravity and color sensors, the conductivity sensor implemented in each of our devices drastically reduces the size of the device. The conductivity sensor is beneficial by accommodating the certain limitations that are faced when the samples taken aren’t in a lab setting, allowing for more accuracy and ease of use.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Sources:
http://www.hydralert.com/
http://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/diagnostics/sweat-sensors-will-change-how-wearables-track-your-health