GB2506891A

GB2506891A - An incentivising placemat

Info

Publication number: GB2506891A
Application number: GB201218236A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Declan Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-11
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2014-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-11
Also published as: GB201218236D0; GB2506891B

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method to incentivise children and people with learning difficulties to consume an entire meal. The present invention relates to an incentivising placemat 10 and a method of encouraging the consumption of food, by automatically determining an amount of food consumed and providing encouraging feedback to the user. The placemat may comprise load sensors 150 determining the weight of the amount of food placed thereon, and further sensors to detect the presence of items such as a plate, bowl or items of cutlery 60, 80. These sensors may be optical 30 or magnetic sensors 170, or may include a further load sensor.

Description

AN INCENTI VISING PLACEMAT

The present invention relates generally to plaeemats and a method of encouraging the consumption of food and tinds particular, although not exclusive, utility in placeniats for children and/or people with learning difficulties.

Parents and caters often have difficulty encouraging their children and/or people in their care to eat. In particular, they may have difficulty in encouraging these people to finish an entire meal. The present invention provides an apparatus and method to incentivise people to consume an entire meal.

lO According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an incentivising placemat for encouraging the consumption of food, comprising: a placemat surface for receiving food to he eaten; and a feedback unit, comprising: at least one first sensor configured to generate a first input signal in response to a load acting on the placemat surface; at least one second sensor contigured to generate a second input signal in response to the presence or absence of an object on the placernat surface; a processor, including a memory for storing instructions and/or data, configured to: determine whether the second input signal has been or has not been generated; compare the first input signal with data stored in the memory in response to receiving the first input signal from the first sensor and determining whether the second input signal has been or has not been generated; and generate an output signal in response to comparing the first input signal with data stored in the memory; and at least one indicator for indicating a reduction in the load due to consumption of food in response to receiving the output signal from the processor.

In this way, users, for instance children and/or adults with learning difficulties, may he encouraged to consume food placed on the placemat surface, either directly or on an intermediate container such as a plate, howl or cup. The at least one first sensor may comprise a load cell. For instance, in one specific embodiment, the incentivising placemat will first determine whether an item of cutlery has been placed in the correct position on the placemat, by using magnetic sensors to identify a magnet associated with a specific item of cutlery being in the vicinity of a magnetic sensor. Once this has been determined, the incentivising placemat will measure a load due to a portion of food to he eaten that resides on the placemat surface. If this is the first such measurement, it will he stored to memory. However, if it is a subsequent measurement, the incentivising

I

placemat will make a comparison between the current measurement and the earliest measurement. If the measurement of load has decreased below some threshold value (i.e. if a predetermined proportion of food has been removed from the incentivising placemat since the earliest measurement was made, such as 30%), an indication is made to the user of their progress. In particular, in this speciflc embodiment, a light may he illuminated, revealing the first panel in a storyboard if 40% of the food initially placed on the placemat surface has been eaten, a second panel may be revealed if 600/u of the food has been eaten, a third panel may he revealed if 75% of the food has been eaten, a fourth panel may be revealed if BS°/o of the food has been eaten, and so on until the lO final panel of the storyboard is revealed once substantially 100P/o of the food has been eaten. The progress of a user in consuming food on the placemat surface can therefore he monitored, and encouraging feedback may he presented to the user to incentivise them to continue.

The incentivising placemat may he for encouraging the consumption of foot] by a child. The incentivising placemat may he a placemat for use on a table and/or for receiving food thereon. The incentivising placemat may he for measuring the decrease in a quantity of food and/or for detecting a decrease in food remaining to be consumed.

The iticentivisi ig pIwetiitt may he for deterrTnnng the progress of a user through a meal and/or for providing feedback to a user relating to consumption of food.

The placemat surface may be wipe-clean. The placemat surface may be wood-effect, and/or provided with a picture and/or design. For instance, the picture and/or design may show a deep-sea diving scene, show a picture of a football pitch, have a pirate theme, show fairies and/or dolls, and/or show any other picture and/or design.

The placemat surface may he made from a plastics material, wood and/or metal. The incentivising placemat may he a conventional placetnat sh'e, having a horh<ontal extent of for instance, approximately 20cm by 25 cm. The depth of the incentivising placetnat may he between approximately 1cm and 5cm, in particular 2cm and 4cm, and more particularly approximately 3cm.

The feedback unit may comprise any number of first sensors, for instance, at least two first sensors, at least three first sensors, at least four first sensors, or only one, two, three, four or five first sensors. The first sensors may he distributed over the feedback unit. Alternatively, the first sensors may he localised in one or more regions of the feedback unit. In this way, the first sensors may he arranged to detect the location and/or distribution of a load or toads on the pacemat surface. The first sensors may be configured to detect a load up to a maximum of between approximately SOOg and 5kg, in particular, between approximately 1kg and 4kg, and particulafly approximately 3kg.

The placenat surface may comprise a substantially transparent portion. In this way, visual access to the feedback unit may he provided.

The at least one second sensor may comprise an optical sensor. In this way, presence of an object above thc optical sensor may be detected. The optical sensor may be a photoresistor, photodiode and/or light dependent resistor. The at least one optical sensor may be located substantially underneath the substantially transparent portion of the placemat surface. In this way, the at least one optical sensor may be prevented from damage.

The at least one second sensor may comprises a magnetic sensor. In this way, the at least one second sensor may, for instance, detect the presence of cutlery on the placeniat surface. This may ensure that the at least one first sensor does not detect the load of the cutlery, he requiring the cutlery to he located away from the at least one First sensor. Alternatively or additionally, this may ensure that good table-manners anti/or tidiness is encouraged by requiring the correct placement on cutlery before detection of a oat] b the first sensor may he perriiitted. The magnetic sensor may he a reed switch.

The incentivising placemat may further comprise at least one item of cutlery having a magnet attached thereto. In particular, cutlery for use with the incentivising placemat may be provided with a unique magnetic signaturc. For instance, a first item of cutlery may he provided with a single magnet attached thereto and a second item of cutlery may he provided with two magnets attached thereto. The at least one second sensor may he configured to detect correct placement of a knife and fork on respective sides of the incentivising placemat. Alternatively, magnets of differing strength may he employed in order for the at least one second sensor to distinguish between the respective items of cutlery.

The at least one second sensor may comprise a metal detector. In this way, an item of metal cutlery may be detected without the need to rely on magnets embedded in or attached to items of cutlery. In particular, the metal detector may he an induction loop arrangement.

The at least one second sensor may comprise a load cell configured to detect a load independent of a load detected by the at least one first sensor. In this way, the at least one second sensor may, for instance, detect the presence of cudery on the placemat surface. This may ensure that the at least one first sensor does not detect the load of the cutlery.

The feedback unit may comprise any number of second sensors, for instance, at least two second sensors, at least three second sensors, at least four second sensors, or only one, two, three, four or five second sensors. The second sensors may be distributed over the feedback unit. Alternatively, the second sensors may be localised in one or more regions of the feedback unit. Tn this way, the second sensors may he arranged to detect the location and/or distribution of an object or objects on the lO placemat surface. Alternaflvey or additionally, the second sensors may generate an averaged second output signal. The second sensors may be configured to detect different objects and/or different attributes of one or more objects. For instance, the second sensors may he configured to detect one or more of a pbte, bowl, cup, glass, knife, fork, spoo food and/or drink by detecting their/its weight, opacity, metalic 1 5 nature and/or magnetic profile.

The feedback unit may further comprise at least one third sensor contigured to generate a third input signal in response to the presence or absence of an object on the placertiat surface, and the proceor may he further configured to coitipare the first input signal with data stored in the memory in response to additionally determining whether the third input signal has been or has not been generated. The feedback unit may further comprise at least one fourth and/or fifth sensor, similar to the at least one second and third sensors.

The at least one indicator may comprises at least one visual indicator. In this way, a visual indication of the amount of food consumed by a user can he provided to the user. For instance: a progress bar may show the amount of progress in relation to an end goal; a weight of food eaten (e.g. in grams or ounces) may he displayed; a story may he depicted and played out as progress is made; an image may he grad ually revcalcd; a puzzle may be incrementally solvcd; and/or somc other visual indication or combination of visual indications may be made to the user. A storyboard may reveal a sequence of pictures that convey a story to the user; the story may he a reference to a well-known story, or may he a simpk indication of, say a sequence of concurrent events, such as a person hungee-jumping. The individual pictures associated with the visual indicator may he removable and replaceable in order to customise the placemat and/or update a theme for the placetnat. The visual indicator may be a light, LED, LCD display and/or another display.

The at least one visual indicator may be located substantially underneath the substantially transparent portion of the placemat surface. In this way, the at least one visual indicator may he protected from damage.

The at least one indicator may comprise an audio generator. In this way, an audio indication of the amount of food consumed by a user can be provided to the user.

The indication may he a congratulatory message, a tune, a chime, ringtone, song, pre-recorded message or other audio indication. The audio generator may be, for instance, a lO loudspeaker, such as a radiating electro-dynamic driver, horn, piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, electrostatic, ribbon, bending wave, fiat panel, distributed mode, plasma arc or digital loudspeaker, or hell air motion transducers.

Food placed on the place mat surface may he detected by the at least one first sensor. The flrst signal may he a detected load. The detected load may he stored in the memory. If a subsequent detected load is less than the load stored in tnemory, an output signal may he generated to encourage a user to continue consuming food. If a subsequent detected load is not less than the load stored in memory, an output signal may he generated to encourage a user to corinnue consuming food. Different output signals may he generated depending on the result of the comparison. For instance, a relatively large decrease in the load (which may optionally be over a short period of time) may generate a first output signal, a relatively small decrease in the load which may optionally he over a large period of time) may generate a second output signal, no decrease in the load (which may optionally he over a large period of time) may generate a third output signal. In some embodiments, a detected load is compared to a predetertimed load stored in the memory, which may he independent of any previously detected loads. The feedback unit may he proviclI with a reset for resetting the load(s) stored in the memory. The reset may he a reset button. The feedback unit may he provided with a tare button to tare the placemat, for instance in order to discount the load due to a plate, upon wInch food may be placed.

The feedback unit may he configured to detect a load with the at least one first sensor after a pre-determined period of time, for instance, 5, 10 or 30 scconds, or 1, 5, or 15 minutes, or any other similar length of time. Alternatively or additionally, the feedback unit may be configured to detect a load with the at lirast one first sensor conttnuousy.

Additionally, the feedback unit may be configured only to perform the comparison if the at least one second sensor has detected the presence of an object.

The second sensor may be configured to generate the second input signal when such an object is detected, or when such an object is undetected.

The feedback unit may be releasably attachabk to the placemat surface. In this way the feedback unit may he removed from the placemat surface in order for the placemat surface to be washed and/or cleaned. Furthermore, alternative designs of i0 placemat surface may be exchanged to suit different users, the moods of a particular user, and/or to allow use of the incentivising phtcemat while a single one of a selection of placemat surfaces is being washed and/or cleaned. The feedback untt may he slidably engagable with the placemat surface. Alternatively or additionally, the placemat surface may he configured to engage the placeniat surface with one or more clips.

Alternatively, the feedback unit may he permanently attached to the placetiat surface.

Tn this way alignment of sensors with the placetnat surface may he ensured.

The feedback unit may be sealed. In this way, the incentivising phicemat may be washed and/or cleaned without risking damage to the feedback unit. For instance, the feedback unit may he substantially waterproot, substantially dustproof and/or substantially dishwasher safe. Alternatively, the feedback unit may be unsealed. In this way, cost of manufacture may be reduced.

The feedback unit may further comprise an internal power supply. In this way, the feedback unit may he powered without need to couple the incentivising placemat to an external power supply. For instance, the internal power supply may he conventional batteries, such as AA or AAA batteries. Alternatively, the feedback unit may he connectable to an external power supply. Tn this way, the need to replace batteries can he obviated. The feedback unit may further comprise a manual on/off switch. In this way, power can he conserved. Alternatively, the feedback unit may not have an on/off switch. For instance, the feedback unit may be configured to sleep in the absence of light, or after prolonged periods of non-use, or may he on continuously when a power supply is connected. In this way, accidental svitching-off of the device by a user can he prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of encouraging consuniption of food, cornpnsrng: detecting the presence or absence of an object on a placernat surface using at least one second sensor; detecting a load acting on the placernat surface using at least one first sensor, in response to detecting the presence or absence of an object on a placemat surface using the at least one second sensor; comparing the load with data stored in a memory in response to detecting the toad acting on the placernat surface using the at least one first sensor; and indicating a reduction in the load due to consumption of food in response to said comparing. Detecting the presence or absence of the object, detecting the load acting lO on the placemat surface, comparing the toad with data stored in memory and indicating a reduction in the load may be done automatically.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of encouraging consumption of food, comprising: detecting a load acting on the placemat surface using at least one first sensor; detecting the presence or absence of an object on a placenat surface using at least one second sensor; comparing the load with data stored in a memory in response to detecting the presence or absence of the object on the placernat surface and detecting the load acting on the placemat surface; and indicating a red uction in the load due to coitsutliption of food in response to said comparing.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an incentivising placetnat according to a first embodiment of the presetit invention.

Figure 2 is an undcrsidc schematic view of an inccntivising placernat according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

The present invention will he described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings hut the invention is not limited thereto hut only by the claims. The drawings described arc only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the st7e of some of the elements may he exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for (lescrlhing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and lO the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to he noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not he interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to he interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Similarly, it is to he noticed that the term "connected", used in the description, should not he interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device A connected to a device B" should not he limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may he a path including other devices or means. "Connected" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other hut yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, hut may refer to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should he appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped lO together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to he interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the follo\ving claims, any of the claimed embodiments can he used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

Ilowever, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may he practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of

this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an imphed statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may, in some embodiments, mean only one.

The invention will now he described by a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention. It is clear that other embodiments of the invention can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an incentivising phicemat 10 according to lO the present invention. The placemat 10 is substantially rectangular in form, having a length of approximately 25cm, a width of approximately 20cm and a depth of approximately 2cm. The placemat 10 has substantially rounded edges and corners to reduce the risk of damage to the placemat 10 and to improve comfort for a user.

The placemat 10 has a placemat surface 20 on its upper side, for receiving food either directly or indirectly thereon (e.g. on a plate or in a howl). Located substantially in the centre of the placetrat surface 20 is a light dependent resistor 30. The light dependent resistor 30 is configured such that its resistance decreases with increasing incident light. Accordingly, food (for instance, iii a bowl or on a plate) pl:i over the light dependent resistor 30 prevents light from reaching the light dependent resistor 30, thereby causing its resistance to be at its higher level rather than its lower level. As will be described in relation to figure 2, below, this effect can be used to indicate the presence of food on the placemat surface 20.

A visual display 40, having a substantially rectangular form, is located adjacent a long edge of the placemat 10 on the placemat surface 20. The visual display 40 may he any form of display for indicating information to a user. In preferred arrangements, the display 40 is an LCD display 40 that may present a sequence of pictures to a user. In one particular form, the sequence of pictures that the LCD display 4-0 may present show the passage of a football across a football pitch, and the eventual scoring of a goal. The LCD display 40 is arranged such that the display 40 is visible to a user, even when a dinner plate is placed on the placemat surface 20. In particular, the display 40 is visible when food (e.g. on a plate or in a howl is placed over the light dependent resistor 30.

A cutlery receiving region 30, having a substantially rectangular form, is located adjacent a short edge of the placemat 10 on the placemat surface 20, and is indicated in figure 1 by a dotted line. The cutlery receiving region 50 may be visually observable to a user. lor instance, the dotted lines marked in the figure may be present on the placemat surface 20; however, this is not necessarily the case. The cutlery receiving region 50 may comprise a slight depression in the placemat surface 20. Tn this way, a user may he able to accurately identify the cutlery receiving region 50 in order to locate cutlery in this region. An item of cutlery (specifically a fork) 60 is shown residing on the cutlery receiving region 50. In some embodiments, there is no visual indication of the cutlery receiving region. Tn any case, the cutlery receiving region 50 is located such that it is visible to a user \vhen food (for instance, in a bowl or on a plate) is placed over the light dependent resistor 30.

A further cutlery receiving region 70, substantially the same as the cutlery receiving region 50, is located adjacent the opposing short edge of the placemat 10 on the placemat surface 20. In the figure, a knife 30 is shown residing on the further cutlery receiving region 70.

The knife 60 and fork 30 shown in the figures comprise magnets embedded therein. However, various embodiments are envisaged in which no magnets are used.

As will be described in relation to figure 2, below, the cutlery receiving regions 50, 70 rilay he associated with sensors that provide at' indication of whether cutlery is present in the cutlery receiving region.

The placemat 10 includes an on/off switch 90 located on a side of the placemat 10. In preferred embodiments, the on/off switch 90 is located on a long side of the placemat 10, adjacent the LCD display 40. In this way, accidental actlvation and/or deactivation by a user can he minimised.

Figure 2 shows an underside view of a placemat 10 substantially the same as that of figure 1; however, the LCD display 40 has been replaced by four LED displays located at peripheral corners of the placemat surface 20. The TED displays are each ill uniinated by three TEDs located in the LED housings 140. The LED housings 140 are located in respective corners on the underside of the placemat 10. The LED housings 140 are connected to a combined processor-memory unit 100 by wires 110.

Only four wires have been indicated with reference sign 110, for the purpose of clarity.

The LEDs located within the LLD housings 140 illuminate when, for instance a certain portion of food on the placemat has been eaten. For instance, when substantially 25% of the food on the placemat has been eaten, the three LEI)s located within a first one of the LED housings 140 will illuminate; when substantially SO% of the food on the placemat has been eaten, the three LEDs located within a first and a second one of the LED housings 140 will illuminate; when substantially 75% of the food on the placemat has been eaten, the three TEDs located within a tirst, a second and a third one of the TED housings 140 will illuminate; and when substantially 100% of the food on the placemat has been eaten, the three LEDs located within each one of the LED housings will illuminate. When the LEDs of one of the LED housings 140 illuminate, a picture may he visible on the placemat surface 20 that is not visible when the TEDs are not illuminated.

The light dependent resistor 30 is connected to the combined processor-memory unit 100 by wires 110. (I)n/off switch 90 is also connected to the combined processor memory unit 100. An indicator light 120 is arranged adjacent the on/off switch 90 for indicating whether the placemat 10 is switched on or off. In the present embodiment, the indicator light 120 is a red LED. Also coupled to the combined processor-memory unit 100 is a power supply 130, which provides povver to the placemat 10. In the present embodiment, the power supply comprises four AAA batteries located in a housing.

The placetnat 10 mcI udes four load cells 150 located in a square fonu on the underside of the placemat tO approximately one third of the way in from each edge.

The load cells 150 measure a load placed on the placemat surface 20. The load cells 150 are connected to the combined processor-memory 100 by the wires 110, and via intermediary printed circuit hoards 160 that allow routing of the wires to and from the combined processor-memory to each of the load cells 150. The load cells 150 and the combined processor-memory 100 allow the average load on the placemat surface 20 to he measured, and to compare this to previous measurements.

Three magnetic sensors 170 are connected to the combined processor-memory by the wires 110. One of the magnetic sensors 170 is located under the cutlery receiving region 50. The remaining two magnetic sensors 170 are located under the further cudery receiving region 70. \Vhen an item of cutlery including one magnet 60 is placed on the cudery receiving region 50 a signal is passed from die magnetic sensor 170 located under die cutler receiving region 50 to the combined processor-memory unit 100. When an item of cutlery including one magnet 80 is placed on die cutlery receiving region 70 a signal is passed from the magnetic sensors 170 located under the further cutlery receiving region 70 to the combined processor-memory unit 100.

In this embodiment, the combined processor-memory 100 is conligured in the following way. Power is supplied to the combined processor-memory 100 when the on/off switch 90 is on. The combined processor-memory 100 is contigured to process data only in response to (i) the light dependent resistor 30 receiving substantially no light, for instance due to a plate being placed on the placemat surface 20, and @i) all three of the magnetic sensors 170 indicating the presence of a piece of cutlery on the cutler receiving regions 50 and 70, respectively. In response to these conditions being satisfied, the combined processor-memory 100 is configured to receive an indication of a load from the load cells 150 which it then compares to data stored in memory. In some circumstances the data stored in memory may he a previous load measurement from the load cells 130, or a pre-determined value of a load. If the load indicated by the load cells 150 is below a certain threshold, determined from the data stored in memory, one or more of the LED housings 140 will he activated, illuminating the LEDs therein and presenting the pictures associated with that respective LED housing 140 to a user.

The progress of a user in consuming food on the placernat surface can therefore be riiorutored, atiti encouraging feedback may he presented to the user.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An incentivising placemat for encouraging the consumption of food, coinpri Sing: a placeinat surface for receiving foot] to he eaten; and a feedback unit, comprising: at least one first sensor configured to generate a first input signal in response to a load acting on the placernat surface; at least one second sensor configured to generate a second input signal in response to the presence or absence of an object on the placemat surface; a processor, including a memory for storing instructions and/or data, configured to: determine whether the second input signal has been or has not been generated; compare the first input signal with data stored in the memory in response to receiving the first input signal from the first sensor alit] determining whether the second input signal has been or has not been generated; and generate an output signal in response to comparing the first input signal with data stored in the memory; and at least one indicator for indicating a reduction in the load due to consumption of food in response to receiving the output signal from the processor.
2. An incentivising placemat according to claim 1, in which the at least one first sensor cotnpnses a load cell.
3. An incentivising placenrat according to claim I or claim 2, in which the placemat surface comprises a substantially transparent portion.
4. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the at least one second sensor comprises an optical sensor.
5. An incentivi.sing placernat according to claim 4, when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 3, in which the at least one optical sensor is located substantially underneath the substantially transparent portion of the placemat surface.
6. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the at least one second sensor comprises a magnetic sensot
7. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one item of cutlery having a magnet attached thereto.
8. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the at least one second sensor comprises a metal detector.
9. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the at least one second sensor comprises a load cell configured to detect a load independent of a load detected by the at least one first sensor.
10. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the feedback unit may further comprise at least one third sensor configured to generate a third input signal in response to the presence or absence of an object on the placemat surface, and the processor is further configured to compare the first input signal with data stored in the memory in response to additionally determining whether the third input signal has been or has not been generated.it. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the at least one indicator comprises at least one visual indicator.12. An incentivising placemat according to claim 11, when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 3, in which the at least one visual indicator is located substantially underneath the substantially transparent portion of the placemat surface.13. An incentivising placetnat according to ally preceding claim, ii winch thc at least one indicator compnses an audio generator.14. An incentivising placeniat according to any preceding claim, in which the feedback unit is releasahly attachable to the placeniat surface.15. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the feedback unit is sealed.16. An incentivising placemat according to any preceding claim, in which the feedback unit further comprises an internal power supply.17. A method of encouraging the consumption of food, comprising: detecting the presence or absence of an object on a placemat surface using at least one second sensor; detecting a load acting on the placemat surface using at least one First sensor, in response to detecting thc presence or absence of an object on a placemat surface using the at least one second sensor; comparing the load with data stored in a memory in response to detecting the toad acting on the placemat surface using the at least one first sensor; and indicating a reduction in the load due to consumption of food in response to said comparing.18. An incentivising placemat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.