What does it mean to be “thermally underserved?”
Today, in a typical internal environment (home, workplace, or elsewhere), we spend most of our days seated. Maybe some of us have a standing desk or even a small treadmill, but we’re all still typically at the mercy of a built-in thermostat situation. At a large office, we have even less control given the number of people with their own temperature preferences. It is likely that we are all “thermally underserved”. We may not even realize we’re uncomfortable until we feel really uncomfortable.
Think about how difficult it is to concentrate, or simply enjoy yourself, when you feel like you’re freezing. Or sweating and getting a little nauseous. Being at the wrong temperature certainly affects us physically, and it definitely affects our general mood. While we may not be able to adjust the thermostat at will, we are able to regulate our own temperature with a simple approach.
Thanks to in-depth research by Dr. Hui Zhang at the Center for the Built Environment at UC, it was discovered that localized temperature sensations on a small area of your body can alter how you perceive the temperature of your space on the whole.
Embr Labs worked with Dr. Hui Zhang at UC Berkeley to evaluate how our wearable thermal technology could alter one’s perception of the actual temperature in the room just by applying a localized a thermal sensation. Results showed that “cooling” with the Embr Wave could at minimum make a person perceive the room as 5ºF cooler.
To put it simply, in the same way that you would stick your foot outside the covers at night if you’re too hot, by activating a temperature change sensation on your inner wrist with a product like the Embr Wave 2, you can cool yourself down or warm yourself up.
It’s unfortunate that women in particular are continually faced with the realization that many societal norms around environmental temperature are based on old-fashioned infrastructure designed based on the experience of men. Large companies have generally not prioritized the unique needs of women, especially when later in life when our bodies and our sensitivity to temperature can change, leaving it to women to manage their own comfort..
Embr Labs aims to change the way we feel with a small but impactful temperature sensation on the inner wrist. For women in perimenopause, menopause, or anyone managing the impacts of thermal discomfort, there is an option for discreet relief that puts people in the driver's seat, giving them control in an uncontrolled temperature environment.
For anyone experiencing the effects of being thermally underserved, the Embr Wave is a device that keeps you from feeling the frustration of temperature discomfort. In a way that doesn’t draw more attention to your experience.
