Google's Parkinson's Spoon

Let’s get to the bottom line in the first line. The PD spoon works and is worth it if you need it but it is expensive (currently about $200) and can stand a few improvements.You know the story. Developed by Google because one of the founders mother has PD. Not fully true. Google didn’t invent it. The original “smart spoon” actually debuted in December 2013 and was designed by Lift Labs, a startup that Google has now acquired. My family gave me the Parkinson’s spoon as a present. I had mixed feelings and didn’t know how to respond. Why did they give this to me? Were my tremors that bad and they thought I needed it now or was it because they we're being thoughtful and looking ahead?

I should have known but had to laugh when I discovered “spoon task analysis”. It breaks eating with a spoon down into the following tasks: move hand to spoon, pick spoon up, move spoon to plate, scoop food onto spoon, bring food to mouth, put food into mouth, move spoon back to the plate or put the spoon down. The PD spoon helps with the heart of the problem, getting food onto the spoon and then into your mouth.

It is technically called a “tremor-canceling” invention, which means that it reads incoming movement and uses built in motors to offset that movement and keep the bowl of the spoon as stationary as possible. It isn’t just mechanical shock-absorbing stabilizing technology. It has to dynamically undo the movement caused by the tremors and random nerve movement of Parkinson’s while also identifying and not trying to offset the user’s attempts to move the spoon toward his mouth.

The utensil has two parts: the stabilizing handle with all the technology and three possible utensil attachments consisting of a soup spoon, a dessert spoon, and a fork. Each utensil has to be purchased separately. Attach a spoon or fork to the handle and the utensil automatically turns on. Place it face down and it turns off. It comes with a travel case and so can be taken to a restaurant or a friends house. Lift Labs claims the battery charge will last for “several” meals.

Improvements. The spoon looks techno but doesn’t feel right in the hand. The handle length is too short, handle width too thick. It feels awkward to hold and takes getting used to. You hold it in your fist like a shovel not in your fingers like a spoon. It will not work if your hand shakes too much and there are some reports of the battery not charging after a year. Only the detachable spoon is washable not the handle.

My family was excited to see me try it out so I gave it the soup test and even though my hands shake I didn’t spill a drop. Was kind of fun for a while. I finally understood what to do. Thank my family and be happy that they thought and cared about me but I decided to return the spoon and get an electric toothbrush instead which unlike the spoon I will use every day. According to my son, they were great about the return and seemed to be genuinely interested in his feedback. May purchase it again when I am more in need of it and it will hopefully be improved and less expensive.