BBC reports that scientists from University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) are trying to discover the concept of the "internet of food."
This includes the use of advance technology - smartphones and software will be utilized to help people in choosing the right food and drink that best fits their needs. Of course, this can be innovative for diet enthusiasts as well as allergic individuals.
This concept can be compared to the "internet of things" - products like the washing machine are controlled using online tools.
The lead researcher and digital health expert, Prof Maged Boulos, said that the technology is comprised of the following: "A new breed of automated food scanner apps, devices and methods is emerging which aim at identifying the nature of food and drinks in our diet." The university relies on the project as something that can be used to protect people with sensitivities as well as individuals who want to watch their calorie intake closely.
The professor also added the ways how they can execute the project: "Methods include barcode scanning, weighing with portable electronic scales, measurement of weight/portion size with smartphone photos and remote food and drink recognition by crowd sourced volunteers or dieticians."
Boulos also added that the technology can direct people to select the appropriate food and drink - this can greatly affect their health and lifestyle. It will definitely have an impact in the improvement of an individual's health status.
The professor, however, thought that this research needs to be investigated more. Also, funding is an issue.
He stated as well that this will be a big endeavor for the academic community. It will include a lot of research centers as well as the universities and industries. It will cost them years and a hefty amount of money (in euros) just to complete the initial version of the research.
It's still something to hope for as this study can be immensely beneficial to mankind.
