THIS WEEK A TWIN CITIES
COUPLE WON FIRST PLACE IN THE
LARGEST COMPETITION FOR
ENTREPRENEURS.
THE GRAND PRIZE OF $50,000
WENT TO HABIT WEAR.
THE COMPANY MAKES A TRACKER WORN
ON THE WRIST.
THE DEVICE HELPS BREAK HABITS.
Reporter: IT'S CALLED KEEN,
A SMART BRACELET WITH A SECRET
SKILL.
IT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP
MANAGING IMPULSE CONTROL ISSUES
LIKE HAIR PULLING, SKIN PICKING,
NAILBITING AND THUMB SUCKING.
IT'S A COPING MECHANISM FOR
STRESS OR ANXIETY.
THAT'S JUST HOW IT MANIFESTS FOR
ME.
I PULL MY HAIR OUT WITHOUT
REALLY REALIZING IT.
Reporter: KUMAR IS THE
COFOUNDER.
SHE KNOWS FIRSTHAND WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE ASHAMED OF A
CONDITION YOU CAN'T CONTROL.
I HID IT FOR 20 YEARS AND
THEN MY HUSBAND, THREE YEARS
INTO OUR MARRIAGE, HE CATCHES ME
WITHOUT EYEBROWS AND ASKED ME
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Reporter: THEY CAME UP WITH
AN IDEA OF CREATING SOMETHING
THAT COULD HELP.
ONE DAY WE'RE WATCHING TV
AND I'M PULLING, AND HE GENTLY
GRABS MY HAND AWAY.
I LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID, I
WISH I HAD SOMETHING THAT
NOTIFIED ME BUT WASN'T YOU.
Reporter: IT LOOKS LIKE A
FITNESS TRACKER.
IT VIBRATES WHEN IT SENSES THE
ACTIVITY YOU'RE TRYING TO AVOID.
YOU PUT THE BRACELET ON.
YOU TRAIN IT USING A MOBILE APP
FOR THAT SPECIFIC BEHAVIOR THAT
YOU DO, THAT REPETITIVE MOTION.
IF YOU'RE A NAIL-BITER, YOU'D
TRAIN IT FOR THAT MOVEMENT.
Reporter: WHEN IT SENSES A
MATCH, IT VIBRATES, MAKING YOU
AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
SHE SAYS PEOPLE WHO ARE USING
THE TRACKER HAVE USED TO CONTROL
THEIR IMPULSES.
ANGELA DAVIS, WCCO 4 NEWS.
ANILA AND HER HUSBAND
RECEIVED A $300,000 GRANT FROM
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH TO CONTINUE THEIR
RESEARCH AND WORK.
THE KEEN TRACKER IS SOLD IN 25
COUNTRIES AND COSTS $149.
THE APP IS FREE.
