If you follow MAKO Design + Invent here on our blog or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram, it is unmistakable that we have a passion for innovative new product developments! Today, MAKO discovered an exciting new product developed by 15-year-old Kenneth Shinozuka, proving that age is just a number.
Age doesn’t provide limitations as to the creation of that little “what if” idea at the back of one’s mind!
What is this New Product?
This innovative new product is called the SafeWander; the first wearable technology in the form of socks containing a sensor. This new product is targeted towards individuals who suffer from the cognitive disorder Alzheimer’s.
The SafeWander contains a sensor, a transmitter, and a smartphone app that is downloaded from a caregiver’s phone. The pressure-sensitive sensor is activated when the body weight of an Alzheimer’s patient is acknowledged.
It then accordingly sends an immediate audible alert to their caregiver via WIFI, notifying them to be aware of potential ‘wandering.’ Wandering is a common behaviour for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and is used to describe when a patient is on the move outside of a secure location.
How will SafeWander Help?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3 out of 5, or 60% of those with Alzheimer’s will wander off. That is quite a staggering amount of people and worrisome for a caregiver and loved ones. In addition, if individuals are not found within 24 hours when wandering, half will be vulnerable to serious injuries due to weather elements, falls, traffic, or death.
These statistics were true to Kenneth from his own personal experience with his own grandfather’s wandering, prompting him to invent the SafeWander. The SafeWander will improve the safety of Alzheimer’s patients, as well as relieve the burden that is placed upon caregivers.
This new product will remove a caregiver’s constant worries and fears, hovering over the patient, and late-night monitoring to prevent wandering.
For more information about the SafeWander, check out this video.
Wearable Technology and Healthcare
SafeWander is just one example of how wearable technology is revolutionizing healthcare. Another is Google X’s glucose monitoring contact lenses for diabetics. The demand for wearable technology for health purposes is not only being fueled by consumer interest and awareness, but as well as various competitors. The variety of technology and different health concerns being addressed are adding to the popularity of products within the commercial sector. ABI Research, a market research and market intelligence firm, has reported that by 2017 wearable devices for sports and health will be expected to reach 170 million units!
Here at MAKO Design + Invent, we believe that all innovations have the ability to create lasting impacts. An idea like the SmartWander started off as a solution for a family’s personal experience. It now has the potential to protect 36 million individuals worldwide battling Alzheimer’s and help ease the burden of their caregivers and loved ones. If you have a new product idea and don’t know where to begin, contact us today and speak to our experienced staff to let us know how we can help!
About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!
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