Just in time for the holiday cheer season comes the Android release of the BACtrack Mobile Breathalyzer app. Together with the BACtrack device, the app records your blood alcohol content and warns you if you've been, ahem, overserved. Sometimes, especially during the holidays, the Quantified Self — the popular movement in which you track your activities using gadgets like a Fitbit — transforms into the Inebriated Self. When that happens, it’s time to blow into a small gadget that analyzes your breath for its Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). The device, which looks as if it were designed to light electronic cigarettes, is called the BACtrack Mobile Breathalyzer ($150). Via Bluetooth, BACtrack connects to its free namesake app on your iOS device. An Android app was recently released as well. After initiating the connection, the app gives you a countdown timer. When the time is up, blow into the BACtrack device—and trust me, you need to blow as hard as possible. Within a few seconds, the app will give you a BAC reading as well as an interpretation of the BAC number. For example, on a recent night out, I had two cocktails with dinner, strictly in the spirit of research. I waited for 15 minutes after drinking and eating, which is what the app recommends. Then I went to the restroom and blew into the Breathalyzer. (I don’t recommend using the BACtrack in public, unless looking like a drunk nerd is your style). On this occasion, I received a reading of 0.09, which meant my “judgment is impaired and motor skills debilitated.” It’s also above the 0.08 BAC limit in California, where I live, though the app didn’t tell me that. Rather than, say, using GPS to determine your location and the state’s BAC limit, the BACtrack app simply tries to discourage anyone from driving with even a 0.01 reading. “It is unsafe to drive at any intoxication level,” a reminder states. “While you are under the legal driving limit, you can still be arrested for DUI at (the 0.01) level.” I understand and appreciate BACtrack’s intent — you don’t want to inadvertently encourage someone to get behind the wheel because they’re still under the state’s legal BAC limit. At the same time, if the app and device’s ultimate purpose is to discourage anyone who’s had a drink from driving, will people pay $150 for that? More to the point, I suspect the $150 price tag will deter many casual drinkers from using the BACtrack’s Mobile Breathalyzer. That’s too bad, because knowing your BAC in real-time could help save lives—or at least prevent an unfortunate DUI arrest. Ultimately, if you’re into the Quantified Self movement and want to exercise caution when drinking, I think the device is worth the investment. The app tracks your drinking habits by location, date and time, type of drink, and other criteria. If you’re feeling bold (or boozy), you can even share your BAC results via Facebook or Twitter. But in my opinion, sharing BAC feels like TMI. Related content feature Expedia poised to take flight with generative AI CTO Rathi Murthy sees the online travel service’s vast troves of data and AI expertise fueling a two-pronged transformation strategy aimed at growing the company by bringing more of the travel industry online. By Paula Rooney Jun 02, 2023 7 mins Travel and Hospitality Industry Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence case study Deoleo doubles down on sustainability through digital transformation The Spanish multinational olive oil processing company is immersed in a digital transformation journey to achieve operational efficiency and contribute to the company's sustainability strategy. By Nuria Cordon Jun 02, 2023 6 mins CIO Supply Chain Digital Transformation brandpost Resilient data backup and recovery is critical to enterprise success As global data volumes rise, business must prioritize their resiliency strategies. By Neal Weinberg Jun 01, 2023 4 mins Security brandpost Democratizing HPC with multicloud to accelerate engineering innovations Cloud for HPC is facilitating broader access to high performance computing and accelerating innovations and opportunities for all types of organizations. By Tanya O'Hara Jun 01, 2023 6 mins Multi Cloud Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe