As you apply sunscreen before you go outside or spend the afternoon at the beach, how sure are you that you have covered all of the areas that will be exposed to the sun? Sunscreenr is a small and lightweight viewer that lets you see where your skin is covered or not covered by sunscreen.
Currently Sunscreenr is in a funding campaign on Indiegogo and it has more than doubled its initial goal, so there is a great chance you will see it in retail and online outlets if all goes well.
The Sunscreenr is the brain child of David Cohen, who was driven to create this device after watching a family member struggle with skin cancer. He put his PhD in biochemistry as well as his experience in developing products for consumer, defense, forensics, medical device and life science research markets to work developing this product with co-founder Jon Meyer.
So how Does Sunscreenr Work?
After you apply your sunscreen, you use the device to view your body. The areas that have the right amount of coverage will be dark. Any light areas, which can vary in darkness, are an indication that you don’t have any sunscreen or need to apply some more. If you are alone, Sunscreenr has a 30 second recording and playback feature that lets you see the spots you missed.
The device works by removing all light except the spectrum sunscreen absorbs using a special filter. The lens, which is made from special materials, along with a sensor are able to respond to UV light. This hardware was then combined with the company’s propriety image processing algorithms to show where you have sunscreen.
At only three ounces and measuring 3 1/3″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″ the device is compact enough to carry anywhere. It has a rugged sealed construction with an Ingress Protection or IP rating of 67, a rating indicating sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures and will be tested to military standards of 810g-516.6. This means even dust as fine as talcum powder can’t get into it. The water proofing capability allows it to be underwater up to three feet for 30 min without damage.
The Sunscreenr’s controls are easily identifiable, and once it is fully charged through the micro USB port, you can use it all weekend long. It also has a tripod/selfie stick mount for when you are alone.
Skin Cancer
According to the company, most people only apply 25 percent to 50 percent of the sunscreen that is needed to protect them from the ravages of sun light. Even when it is applied properly, it can wear off with sweat, swimming, or toweling off.
The American Cancer Society says cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers, but it is also the most preventable. Still if blemishes on the skin are not identified early and properly diagnosed, they can eventually lead to melanoma. The organization estimates there will be around 76,380 new melanomas diagnosed (about 46,870 in men and 29,510 in women) in the United States in 2016, with 10,130 people expected to die from the desease (about 6,750 men and 3,380 women).
You can go to the Indiegogo page and get a Sunscreenr in five different colors for $93. And if you want more than one, you can get two for $175 and 10 of them for $800.
Sunscreenr isn’t simply a good business idea in and of itself. It could also provide some great opportunities for other small businesses during the rest of the scorching hot summer months.
For small businesses that are located at beaches, parks or other outdoor locations, this can be a great way to offer a free service to your customers by quickly scanning them and letting them know how well protected they are.
Image: Sunscreenr/David Cohen
[“source-ndtv”]
