Liftware facts for kids
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| Founded | January 1, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Anupam Pathak |
| Headquarters |
San Francisco, CA, US
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| Products | Liftware |
| Owner | Google (2014–2015) Alphabet Inc. (2015–present) |
| Parent | Google (2014–2015) Verily Life Sciences (2015–present) |
Liftware is a special kind of spoon that helps people who have shaky hands. These shaky hands, called tremors, can be caused by medical conditions like Parkinson's disease or essential tremors. The company that created Liftware is called Lift Labs. It was started by a smart person named Anupam Pathak.
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What is Liftware?
Liftware is a brand name for a unique spoon designed to make eating easier for people with hand tremors. It helps to keep the spoon steady, even if the person's hand is shaking. This allows them to eat more easily and with less spilling.
How Does Liftware Help Shaky Hands?
The Liftware spoon is very clever! It has tiny sensors inside, like an accelerometer, which can tell when a person's hand is shaking. An accelerometer is a device that measures movement and changes in speed.
Once the spoon detects a tremor, it uses a small motor, called an actuator, to move the spoon head in the opposite direction. This quick, tiny movement cancels out the shaking from the hand. It's like the spoon is dancing to keep itself still! This technology helps the spoon stay steady, making it easier for people to eat their food.
When Was Liftware First Available?
The first Liftware product became available to buy in December 2013. It was a new and exciting invention that offered real help to many people.
Lift Labs Joins Google
Lift Labs, the company that made the Liftware spoon, was bought by Google in September 2014. Google wanted to add Lift Labs to its special life sciences division of Google X. This division works on new ideas related to health and science.
When Lift Labs joined Google, Anupam Pathak, the founder, became a technical leader for this division. This meant he continued to work on improving the technology.
Google's Version of Liftware
Google launched its own version of the Liftware spoon in November 2014. It was sold for about $195. This made the special spoon available to even more people who needed it. Later, Liftware became part of Verily Life Sciences, which is a company under Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.
