Bird-Like Air Monitor ‘Faints’ When Your Room’s Air Quality Is Cuckoo

Images via Canairi

Having your air quality assessed sounds like a boring, grownup thing to do, but a chirpy new experience is set to change that.

Meet ‘Canairi’, a friendly birdy that tells you, through body language, when the amount of carbon dioxide in your room reaches an unhealthy level.

Keep your space well-ventilated and this winged friend will be perched upright. In contrast, when there’s too much carbon dioxide (more than 1,000 parts per million) for longer than 10 minutes, the bird “drops dead”—in the words of the creators. That’s your cue to open a window.

Image via Canairi

The idea sounds cuckoo, but it’s a semblance of what miners did in the past. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, up until 1986, miners would head into coal mines with a caged canary in hand to be alerted of the presence of toxic gases. If the bird passed out or died, the miners knew they had to leave.

Worryingly, indoor ventilation can be five times more polluted than outdoor air. The fact that people are spending most of their time between four walls—an estimated 90% for Americans—isn’t helping, either. It could give rise to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and even respiratory issues, Fast Company notes.

People aren’t ignorant of the wonders of good air quality on health; they’re just forgetful. That’s why designers of Canairi are tapping into humans’ protective instincts to remind them—because if you’re not thinking of your wellbeing, maybe keep this bird alive?

Unlike a real pet bird, or even your Tamagotchi, saving your Canairi is pretty easy. If it ever passes out, open your window, and give it about 10 minutes to pop back to life. A dead battery doesn’t equate to a dead canary—the mechanical bird simply rests at 90 degrees.

The product is a playful yet simple design solution that gently reminds people to breathe easy without the annoying prompts of alarms or blinking lights.

Canairi is currently on Kickstarter mode, though it has far exceeded its US$7,069 goal. To date, the project has raised nearly US$417,000 and will begin shipping the product in October.

[via Fast Company and Gizmodo, images via Canairi]