Thinkie: The Wearable Brain Booster
A Seattle-based startup, Thinkie, has introduced a novel wearable device designed to monitor brain activity. This headband-style accessory features a sensor that seamlessly integrates with tablet and smartphone games, providing users with real-time insights into their cognitive performance.
Through its advanced technology, Thinkie measures metrics like mental speed, memory, concentration, attention, and predictive abilities. The accompanying app offers instant feedback, revealing the brain areas actively engaged during various mental exercises.
Beyond gaming, Thinkie can be worn independently to identify the most effective everyday activities for brain training, such as puzzle-solving or playing musical instruments.
The device, priced at $250, utilizes Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology. This non-invasive method employs light to gauge blood flow fluctuations in the prefrontal cortex. Thinkie emphasizes the scientific validation behind its system, citing research supporting cognitive training using fNIRS.
The company’s subscription service, available for $15 per month, complements the app, offering enhanced capabilities beyond the free version.
Initially focused on senior living communities, Thinkie has now expanded its reach to individual consumers. This aligns with the company’s participation in AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative, a startup accelerator program.
Thinkie is a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., a Japanese conglomerate. Its leadership team, led by CEO Kota Ageiwa, has a background in business development at Mitsui.
Ageiwa highlights the importance of brain activity for maintaining cognitive well-being: “Just as exercise strengthens the body, mental stimulation is crucial for preserving our sharpness and overall fulfillment.”
Thinkie’s compact team operates from an office in Bellevue, Washington, continuing to develop innovative technologies that empower individuals to monitor and enhance their brain health.
