Forget the Apple watch and Android Wear and the Pebble; this is what you should put your money on. The Japanese arm of Dole, the biggest fruit and vegetable company in the world, has created what it describes as the “world’s first edible wearable.”
Dole Japan has sponsored the Tokyo marathon since 2008 and it always supplies its potassium-rich bananas to runners who need a pick me up mid-marathon. The company’s given out bananas with runners’ time and stats printed on the peel before, but now it’s going one step further.
This “smart banana” is essentially wired parts stuck to the inside of an opened banana peel, which is then stitched back together. Once strapped to runners’ wrists, the bananas will show racers’ times, tweets, heart rate — and when to eat the next banana.
“The power source is a small battery connected to the wearable banana. Inside the battery there are ultracompact LEDs and other electronic components,” said Dole Japan spokesperson Itaru Kunieda. Adding a hint of intrigue, Kunieda added, “These are the only details about the specs that we can tell you at the moment.”
And, yes, they’ll be able to eat the banana once the race is over. “The banana will be peeled first to remove its content, and then resealed after a LED display and a smaller banana is put inside,” Kuneida said. It’s unclear exactly what variety is being used, but Dole will also be handing out its premium $6 Gokusen bananas along with Lakatan “sports bananas” at the race.
Two runners are scheduled to compete in Tokyo Marathon wearing the banana watch, but Dole Japan did not disclose the cost of developing the gadget. The company said mass production is unlikely at this point but they may look into creating other wearable devices for runners in the future that can hold a banana inside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzCrsuTRfmo