Gadgets to test your blood alcohol level, track fitness goals

Every day, people who drink make a decision about when they have had too much.

The AlcoMate Revo portable breathalyzer is about the size of a deck of playing cards with one button and a single line, backlit LCD screen, and it can help people make that decision. There is a hole on the right side in which you insert a small plastic mouthpiece. So, quite easy to use.

When you remove the plastic rear cover to insert two AAA batteries (included), you'll see the preinstalled sensor, which is built into a replaceable fuel cell module. AK GlobalTech, the manufacturer of the Revo, says that its sensor requires no calibration and that it stays accurate for up to 1,000 tests or 12 months, whichever comes first. A replacement sensor module costs $90.

The Revo is approved for use in alcohol screening by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard. However, the results are inadmissible in court.

The other drawback is that you need to wait at least 20 minutes after consuming anything — food, alcohol, gum, a cigarette — before taking the test, which seems like an eternity. Failure to wait 20 minutes may lead to inaccurate results and could damage the sensor.

Interesting, but is it useful? Each person would need to determine that for him- or herself.

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The kit comes with three smart devices — a wristband, a scale and a heart-rate monitor — all of which record information that is collected in an app, UA Record.

The wristband has a monochrome touch-screen that allows you to start an activity, such as walking, running or cycling, then tap to find stats such as calories and distance or to control music. The sleek scale measures weight and body fat, and the heart-rate monitor snaps to an elastic strap worn around the chest.

Combined with the app, the HealthBox provides an accurate look at your fitness goals and progress. But all that connectivity comes at a cost; for those wanting to start smaller, the wristband, called UA Band, is sold separately for $180.