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Pavlok is a slightly dystopian device that can shock you during your bad habits that you want to kick such as smoking, biting your nails or eating unhealthy food
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Though the device has got mixed reception online, Amazon has decided to put the Pavlok 2 on its marketplace
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The creators assure that the 350-volt shock to your wrist is no worse than a static shock
So this may sound like something right out of a near-future dystopian novel, or better yet Netflix’s Black Mirror series but Amazon is now selling a shock collar for your wrist that is designed to condition you against your bad habits.
The Pavlock 2 by Pavlock is a little fit bit looking device with a somewhat unusual and sinister feature, it has a button to shock your wrist if you eat junk food or smoke or really anything that you classify as a ‘bad habit’.
Worse yet, with the device’s app, your friends can also shock you from their phones when you do something you want to stop such as smoking, we’re sure that feature won’t be abused at all.
According to the manufacturer: “Pavlok allows you to speak your brain’s reptilian language by adding an unpleasant element (a safe and harmless ‘zap’ of electricity on your wrist) to what you have been taught to love (your nasty lingering habit), quickly conditioning your mind to associate an ‘unpleasant’ feeling with your bad habit… and stopping it all together.”
The maverick inventor goes onto say that “There’s a real power in using a little bit of pain to help you break your bad habits.”
It may not be quite as Black Mirror-y as it sounds though, the device isn’t plugged right into your brain to realise when you’ve bitten into the third Big Mac this week, the shock is dependent on you yourself pressing a button to punish yourself. That takes some personal will power, or of course you could ‘trust’ your friends to do your shocking for you.
One customer wrote: “Wrist band is a little awkward but it does allow for the contacts to be positioned closely to your skin for the best results. I’ve only used the button on the device to administer the shock.
“I can’t comment on how the hand motion function works. The app is ok and does give some information and videos on how to beat whatever habit you’re trying to break. At 100 percent on a decent charge it is more than enough of a zap to get your attention.
“I’m glad I bought it, so far I believe it is working. It’s not going to cure a lifelong issue in a few days so you have to stick to their plan and really work on it.”
On a lighter note, the device comes with an app that has little training courses to help you kick those most common of habits, a bit of stick and carrot here it seems.
The device is currently on Amazon for around US $199.
