Humans survive and even thrive in an astoundingrange of environmental conditions. The air we breathe tops the list of significant factors that affect wellness and quality of life. Because we adapt so quickly to new smells, light levels, and, to a lesser extent, temperature, judging relative air quality often can be difficult within our range of toleration. Tzoa focuses on measuring air quality and environmental mapping by detecting temperature, humidity, UV and ambient light, atmospheric pressure, and particulate matter. The data is transmitted to a cloud server to create crowd-sourced environmental maps. The company has a research field device called the Tzoa-R and a wearable: Tzoa.
The Tzoa device clips to your clothing. It samples and records air quality using six sensors. The sensors include a particulate sensor and sensors to measure ultraviolet light, ambient light, humidity, indoor and outdoor temperature, and atmospheric pressure wherever you are. The device battery charges with an included cradle, and it can store up to a week’s work of data. With a paired smartphone and app you can access real-time information about the quality of the air at your current location. You can also configure Tzoa to trigger alerts based on configurable settings.
The Tzoa particle sensor counts particles but also sorts them by size. The app displays concentrations and distinguishes between ‘coarse’ PM10 particles and ‘respirable’ PM2.5 particles. PM10 particles such as dust, pollen, asbestos, and mold tend to be allergens. PM2.5 particles, which are small enough to embed in your lungs, include “woodsmoke, vehicle exhaust, kitchen fumes, and anything that has been incinerated.” If you need to avoid areas with high allergen levels, the real-time reports and area mapping can be helpful in planning trips or even while out and about during the day. The crowd-sourced maps, which would improve over time with readings from more Tzoa users, could help you make informed decisions where to live, work, and recreate.
This isn’t the first rodeo for the Tzoa wearable. According to the company’s blog, the first version was shipped to all who ordered it earlier this year, but problems with components and issues with not operating after freezing sent the company back to the testing lab. There is no announced date for the re-launch of the Tzoa, but the company states it knows which components caused the problems and remains focused on delivering a more stable and robust product.
