L’Oréal creates motorised lipstick tool for people with limited hand and arm mobility
Beauty giant L’Oréal claims to have created the world’s first handheld computerised make-up applicator that’s designed for users with limited hand and arm mobility, offering them a way to steadily apply lipstick at home.
Allowing its users to create an ultra-precise lipstick look, HAPTA (which translates to science of touch) is under development by L’Oréal scientists and engineers. The device incorporates technology originally created to stabilise utensils, which was vital in giving people with limited fine motor skills the capacity to eat with confidence and independence.
HAPTA works thanks to a combination of built-in smart motion sensors that work in real time, plus customisable attachments that give the user an improved range of motion and increased ease of use for difficult-to-open packaging.
The device can distinguish between hand tremors and the intentional movement of the hand, allowing sensors to adjust to the user every second to maintain stability.
Attached to the hand with a strap, there is also a magnetic attachment that allows for easy ergonomic use giving 360 degrees of rotation and 180 degrees of flexion.
A “clicking” feature, also allows the user to intuitively set and lock the intended position so they don’t have to readjust it each time they use it. Finally, a built-in battery means you get up to 10+ applications once it’s fully charged, which takes about three hours.
While the device is not available just yet, HAPTA will be piloted with L’Oréal-owned Lancôme later this year.
The World Health Organisation reports that around 15 per cent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability and yet only four per cent of beauty and personal care brands create products that cater for physical disabilities, according to research carried out by Procter & Gamble.
Daily gestures like applying lipstick are often taken for granted by able bodied people, yet an estimated 50 million people globally live with limited fine motor skills, making these rituals somewhat challenging.
The HAPTA was recently honoured at CES 2023 tech event, which took place in Las Vegas earlier this month, alongside other innovations, such as the dyslexia solutions app, MYdys.
