The units themselves feel like weighty travel utensils at first, but don't feel too light or cheap. The brains of the machine are hidden inside, and the end cap is where you'll get access to the USB connection. The handle sheaths are entirely removable for easy cleaning.

It's a mild vibration ... but it's enough to trigger a reaction. By the time I was four bites in, I was making a conscious effort to keep the buzz at bay and, as a result, chewing significantly more before swallowing.

Despite the thicker handle (which is removable for washing the fork in a dishwasher), the HAPIfork was fairly comfortable to hold. An accompanying Android and iOS app lets you track you meals, too.

What it comes down to is a touch sensitive smart tip that knows you’re eating, how fast, and if you’re chewing long enough. It won’t know what the users is shoveling in their beautiful faces, but it will certainly still try to help you out.

All-in-all, it's a nice idea, and something a bit different for weight loss. The science seems to back it all up, but it requires users play by the "rules" to get the most from it. So people keen to lose weight should find it useful, those who aren't committed will struggle. But then that's true of...

So is it worth it? I took the HAPIfork out for a meal earlier this week, and found that while the device works as advertised, it may require some customization on the user's part to change any habits. Your eating mileage may vary.