sciencetech-blog

The Pavlok wristband can track your movement - and give you a mild electric shock if you're not getting enough exercise.

The firm has raised over $100,000 in investment already, and is planning to launch a crowdfunding campaign soon to raise money for its first batch of bracelets, says founder Maneesh Sethi.

'It's not about the shock as much as it is about training your brain to do the things you say you're going to do,' Sethi told Boston.com.

Negative reinforcement 'really does make people pay attention,' he said.

According to the firm's website,'Pavlok offers a simple, wearable device that helps consumers form better habits.

'Using psychologically proven and user tested algorithms, the Pavlok wristband enforces users' commitments to fitness, productivity, and more — even if that means 'sparking' their commitment by delivering a mild (but jolting) electric shock.'

The idea came from work on behaviour at Stanford - and it is hoped it could go on sale this year

Although the firm hasn't revealed exactly how it works, it say 'Pavlok combines accurate tracking capabilities, powerful commitment techniques, and 'on-your-wrist' reminder triggers to change users' brains and form the habits they wish they had.

'Through our proprietary negative and positive reinforcement technique, Pavlok doesn't simply nudge someone to change their behavior - it pushes them to transform themselves and form the habit to maintain their transformation.'

The band locks together on the wrist, allowing it to give a small shock to the wearer to 'reinforce' their behaviour

In 2012, Sethi hit the headlines when he advertised on Craigslist for someone to slap him if he became distracted.

I figured, 'This is stupid, why am I wasting this time doing nothing? When I have a boss, or someone of authority watching me, I always get my work done. How can I simulate the authority figure?

'Naturally, I believe that an authority figure should have real authority.

'And I am a big fan of Slap Bets. Put those together — and I realized I needed someone to make me work, with permission to slap me in the whenever I cheated.'

He then advertised the unconventional job under 'gigs'on the San Francisco section of the online classified site Craiglist - and eventually hired a woman to hit him - saying it boosted his productivity.