New sunglasses claim to beat winter blues

Hardly sunglasses, this latest piece of wearable technology does the opposite of what sunglasses do by providing light therapy to ward off symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression.

Light therapy has been proven to work, although treatments haven't often been portable until now. SEQINETIC hopes to change that because it can be worn just like regular sunglasses.

Equipped with six high-yield LED-emitting diodes, its 2,500-lux power is reported to be just as effective as that of non-wearable solutions. The light is UV-free and harmless, according to founders, who recommend using them for 30 minutes per day to reap the benefit.

Portable solutions exist such as the Valkee Bright Light Headset, which transmits light to the brain via the ears, although with SEQINETIC it's possible to actually see the light.

The product, which completed a successful crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter, can be pre-ordered for $50 and will eventually retail for $80.

Delivery is expected for October, just in time to chase the winter blues away before they start.

www.seqinetic.com