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Can’t tell if you’re thirsty? We’ve got a dumb Kickstarter gadget for you

This is the very definition of 'unnecessary.'

 

Dylan Love

Internet Culture

Posted on Jun 4, 2015   Updated on May 28, 2021, 4:25 pm CDT

The latest Kickstarter to smash its fundraising goal really didn’t deserve to.

Check out the curiously spelled HidrateMe. This is a water bottle that’s been “improved” by way of electronics, so that it can monitor your water intake, sync that data with your phone, and—oh god, we just can’t take it anymore.

Here’s what a $45 HidrateMe water bottle looks like when it’s sitting on your desk, going unused as you dehydrate yourself:

Here’s a shot of the overpriced water bottle talking to a well-known overpriced phone:

When the HidrateMe decides that it’s time for you to drink water, it will glow, not unlike a certain weapon imbued with Elvish magic:

The Hobbit

From the Kickstarter page:

The HidrateMe bottle is a 24 oz. – 710 ml. reusable water bottle, made out of BPA free Tritan plastic. It’s dishwasher safe and comes with a leak proof cap. The sensor stick inside the bottle automatically tracks how much you drink throughout the day. It sends information to the Hidrate app on your phone and glows when its time to drink more water. The battery is easily replaceable and sold in most stores, and it lasts over a year, so you never need to recharge it.

Yep, this is a water bottle that requires batteries. Despite the inanity, people are voting yes with their money. Project creator Nadya, who does not give her last name, sought $35,000 to bring this thing to life, and people have at the time of this writing thrown $105,000 her way.

There are 39 days of fundraising to go. Here’s the pitch video that fetched more than $100,000 for a water bottle that runs on electricity. Enjoy it while we sneak out for a quick drink.

H/T Gawker | Photo via Hidrate Inc./Kickstarter

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*First Published: Jun 4, 2015, 11:54 am CDT