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They've been called "Big Mother" -- gadgets designed to help you sit up straighter, breathe deeper, and slow down at mealtime. O editors test-drive three of the latest devices.


The Gadget: HeartMath Inner Balance Trainer


($99; InnerBalanceApp.com[1] )


Goal: Dial down stress.



How it works: A sensor clips to your earlobe to track your heart rate.


Real-life road test: I attached the sensor to my ear while at the office (luckily, my hair covered it or I might have felt weird wearing it at work). When a few last-minute tasks made me late for an after-work event, the app picked up on my increasing heart rate and a message on my phone prompted me to inhale and exhale along with the onscreen breath pacer. Three minutes later, my anxiety had dissipated, leaving me feeling more energized than frantic.


Good idea or bad idea: More good than bad. I appreciated the reminders -- "Breathe just a little deeper" -- when the program sensed I was entering stress mode before I did.


— Ashley Williams, senior editor


The Gadget: Hapifork


($99; Hapilabs.com[2] )


Goal: Curb mindless eating.


How it works: The fork buzzes when you take bites quicker than ten seconds apart.



Real-life road test: As O's health editor, I know that study after study has shown that mindless eating can lead to weight gain (the faster you eat, the more you eat). Could a high-tech fork fix that? After making stir-fry, I used the fork for the first time, and even though I was primed to expect the vibrations, I was surprised by how fast I ate. With every subsequent meal, it became easier to pace myself -- and realize I didn't need as much food to fill me up.


Good idea or bad idea: Good -- for a little while. It's impractical to use only one fork, but when I reverted to normal silverware, I still waited a few more beats between bites.


— Jihan Thompson, health editor


The Gadget: Lumoback


($149; Lumoback.com[3] )


Goal: Stop slouching.


How it works: A sensor worn around your lower back vibrates when you slouch.


Real-life road test: Whenever I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror while sitting, I'm horrified by how hunched over I am. Sitting up straight wouldn't be so hard if only I could remember to do it. However, once I strapped on the sensor, the constant vibrations were impossible to ignore! A color-coded stick figure appeared on my phone so I could see how I looked. When the little guy was green, I was good; when he was orange, I knew I needed to readjust.



Good idea or bad idea: Good. The sensor hid easily under my clothes, and while I mostly wore it at work, I naturally started sitting up straighter even when I didn't have it on.


— Emma Haak, assistant editor



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  • Clear


    Called <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/7/3613664/clear-for-mac-review" target="_blank">"The iPhone's most beautiful to-do list app"</a> by The Verge, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clear/id493136154?mt=8" target="_blank">Clear</a> ($9.99 for Mac) is a productivity app for those who care about aesthetics just as much -- if not more -- than functionality. But it's also incredibly user-friendly: Just swipe to check an item off the list, and simply shake your phone for the option to email your list. The user can also create separate lists for work, shopping, personal goals and more. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5885307/clear-app-cross-chores-off-your-to+do-list-with-a-swipe" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a> deems it "perfect for busy people."




  • Pocket


    Formerly known as Read It Later, the free app <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-formerly-read-it-later/id309601447?mt=8" target="_blank">Pocket</a> can be used to save articles, videos and web pages that you don't have time to read but want to return to later. Like Evernote, the app syncs across platforms for easy access and streamlined link-saving. CNET gave the app a five-star review, <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/software/pocket-android/4505-3513_7-35473909.html" target="_blank">writing</a>: "If you're looking for a bookmarking tool that syncs across devices, then look no further. Better than Instapaper and other competitors, Pocket is the app to beat in the category."




  • Evernote


    Sync all your notes, clippings, to-do lists and reminders across devices with Evernote, the highly-rated productivity app that makes it to the top of many reviewers' lists. The <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8" target="_blank">free app</a> conserves time and energy by saving all your files, photos, reminders, to-do lists, tweets and more in one app accessible from all your platforms. Email notes to yourself or others, and search within notes for easy access to any information. "Evernote is the last notebook you'll ever need," <a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/node/1524231" target="_blank">Social Media Today</a> wrote.




  • MindNode


    Before you dismiss the idea of mind-mapping as something out of The Matrix, try the brainstorming tool <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindnode/id312220102?mt=8" target="_blank">MindNode</a> ($9.99). The iPhone and iPad app could lead you to some of your best ideas in less time by allowing you to organize projects and concepts in a vibrant graphic. "The theory is that these large, pictorial networks mirror the way our brains work, making it easier to spot connections and insert new ideas," <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/02/08/5-best-apps-for-getting-and-staying-organized/2/" target="_blank">a Forbes article explains</a>.




  • Mailbox


    If just looking at your overflowing Gmail inbox makes your pulse quicken, the free iPhone app <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mailbox/id576502633?mt=8" target="_blank">Mailbox</a> is your new best friend. The app helps you tackle that mounting inbox -- with the goal of getting down to the elusive "inbox zero" -- with convenient labels for all your unread emails and a feature that allows you to instantly swipe messages to archive or trash. "Mailbox largely fixes a problem most of us have with email: quickly getting rid of the junk we don't want, and saving the stuff we do for later," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mailbox-iphone-app-review-2013-2#ixzz2YUY5c7Yq" target="_blank">writes Business Insider</a>. "You'll want to give it a try."




  • CloudOn


    <a href="http://mashable.com/2013/04/26/5-apps-boost-work-productivity/" target="_blank">Recommended by Mashable</a> for boosting work productivity, CloudOn (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloudon/id474025452?mt=8" target="_blank">free in the App Store</a>) allows you to use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to create documents on the go using your iPhone, iPad or Droid. Users can sync with Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and SkyDrive accounts, and also email files to contacts directly from mobile devices, so you don't have to wait until you get to a computer to add that attachment. "If you find yourself in a pinch needing to work with Microsoft Office files, the free CloudOn app might be just what you’re looking for," <a href="http://techland.time.com/2013/04/15/50-must-have-ipad-apps/slide/cloudon/#ixzz2YUZao2Ru" target="_blank">writes TIME TechLand</a>.




  • Checkmark


    You've written on at least five to-do lists that you need to pick up your dry cleaning, but can never seem to remember at the moment you're actually walking past the dry cleaner. Of course, there's an app for that. Try <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/checkmark/id524873453?mt=8" target="_blank">Checkmark</a>, which can set up reminders based on time and location. For $4.99, users can create repeat notifications, or snooze reminders to save for next time. "While Apple's built-in Reminders app does location-based tasks pretty well, Checkmark makes it dead simple," <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5963231/checkmark-is-still-the-best-location+based-reminders-app-around-is-99-today" target="_blank">LifeHacker raves</a>.