Johnson & Johnson-owned Neutrogena “announced today a hardware product called SkinScanner that attaches to the upper portion of a smartphone and, using a combo of sensors, is supposed to give users the kind of magnified image of their facial skin that you usually see in before-and-after pics in ads,” Lauren Goode writes for The Verge. “The scanner wirelessly syncs up with a mobile app, called Skin360, which will show a person’s skin health over time and suggest they improve their skin.”
“The Neutrogena SkinScanner will be formally unveiled next week at the annual CES in Las Vegas. It’s the latest in a series of connected beauty products that have been shown off at CES in recent years,” Goode writes. “It’s also the latest in a series of beauty products that promises self-betterment through a Bluetooth attachment to a specific brand.”
“Using machine learning, the app compares your skin to other users in your age range. It then assigns a score, up to 100, for each of these three categories. Below that, the app shows a blue ‘Improve’ button, which leads you to a Neutrogena store,” Goode writes. “The Neutrogena SkinScanner will start shipping in the US this summer and will cost $50.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Goode reports that the device/app won’t “attempt to treat acne or detect signs of melanoma” because that would require FDA approval. We’s like to see Johnson & Johnson or some other company seek such FDA approval as a product that could detect melanoma early would be of great value.
Rather than DETECT problems , it could notice possible problems and make the user aware so a doctor could make final decision. Thereby skipping the FDA requirement. Just a thought.
Very well intentioned and reasonable on your part, but what if it misses a sign….
FDA requires drugs and medical devices to be “safe and effective”. False alarm and false security both fail.
Except in the hands of a licensed medical professional….
Hey, why not an Apple stylus you can pop yer pimples with?! Now THERE’S a killer app.
As an old Mac site used to say: OT – hey MDN, tunnelbear VPN you recommended is okay, but canno’ even go to Craigslist while it’s on. Yeah, I turn it off then (as in right now) while on Craigslist, but yappari, it is about the same as IPVanish I used before I switched to Tunnelbear. Oh, skin thingamajig, eh? Yeah, whatever.