Most of us dread the thought of aging and the wrinkles that are certain to creep in on us. In the absence of a miracle drug that can keep us young always, and in the presence of our unhealthy lifestyle that does more harm than good, we have to accept that there are going to be changes in the way we look even a few months down the line, and this is a fact we cannot duck away from.
Talking of future shocks, there is a mirror that shows us what our future holds and the sight may not be all that pretty, especially for those of us that have cultivated the so-called modern habits.
The “persuasive mirror” as it is called is a product of the latest technology that allows people a glimpse into their future. This is being developed by Accenture Technology Labs and it is meant to show people what bad habits can do to their faces over a period of time.
The person who wishes to see his “future face” has to answer a few questions related to his habits and lifestyle and also upload a digital photo. The mirror then processes the details and based on the information provided, digitally ages the person six months down the road and shows the effect in the photo.
Modernization of our society, along with the great inventions and innovations, also brought with it a lifestyle that is damaging to our health. We are aware of the consequences of smoking, consuming alcohol, obesity, and the negative effects these can have on our body, but in moments of instant gratification, everything is forgotten. As if the external effects such as pollution in the air we breathe and water we drink is not enough, we indulge in unhealthy dietary habits like eating processed foods and drinking aerated drinks.
According to the makers, the idea behind the creation of this mirror is to give a peek into the future and let people see for themselves what bad habits can do to them, in the fond hope that at least this will encourage people to start leading a better lifestyle devoid of all the negative influences of the modern world.
ABC Online quoted Andrew Fano of Accenture Technology Labs, as saying, “On the one hand it’s to scare you and on the other it’s to reward you,” he said.
Currently, the mirror is in the final research stage, where researchers at the University of California at San Diego are scrutinizing the mirror’s effect on people’s behavior.
This is expected to be finalized and brought into the market in May. Accenture also has plans of modifying the mirror before releasing it. Fano Said, “A basic mirror is essentially a technology we turn to on a daily basis that does influence our decisions, whether we need to lose weight, what we decide to wear, how we feel about ourselves.” He hopes that people will do the same with the “persuasive mirror” and start leading a healthier lifestyle.
