Extending independence with dignity for the vulnerable

Jean Anne Booth is the CEO and Founder of UnaliWear the makers of the Kanega watch. This watch is a self-contained voice controlled watch that offers emergency assistance, guide me home assistance, medication reminders, and fall detection. It helps seniors to be more independent, active, and safe.

This idea came about when Jean Anne wanted to create a simple, easy, and convenient way for her mom to stay safe while still maintaining her style. Current Personal Emergency Response Systems on the market were big, bulky, and had limited functionality while still requiring charging. There wasn’t a device that was a good solution for her mom, so she made one.

Episode Highlights:

Unaliwears mission is to extend independence to seniors with dignity

and independence.
They have now extended the service to vulnerable people overall.
Jean Anne’s mom was turning 80, but she didn’t want to wear an

emergency alert.
Jean Anne wanted a way for her mom to maintain independence and still

be safe.
She decided to build the Kanega watch specifically for her mom and

others in similar circumstances.
She wanted to create something stylish and that didn’t require a

smartphone to use.
Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) they come in a pendant or

bracelet with a button that only works in your home.
Mobile PERS there may be a cell phone that makes the connection when

pressing the button. These are big and have to be charged.
There are also passive monitoring systems in the home. Such as

sensors on the refrigerator or a pad by the bed.
Passive monitoring systems are too intrusive.
The problem with monitors is if you press the button your kids show

up and take away your car keys. You press it again and they move you

into a care home.
There is a fear of pressing the button and losing independence.
The Kanega watch is like a wearable OnStar or a smart watch for

grandma.
It uses an easy speak interface and no smartphone required.
This is a purpose built smartwatch that delivers independence with

dignity.
This is a medical assisted device. They also have a battery system in

the band and you don’t have to take your watch off to charge. This is

patent pending.
Unali is Cherokee for friend and Kanega is Cherokee for speak. It’s

the friend who speaks to you.
The watches can have different names.
Notifications are permission based and this watch is discrete as a

medical device.
User experience testing has been interesting. They have been

addressing usability concerns on the physical watch and the software.
The look of the watch has improved a lot since the first iteration.
Less than 12% of the population are willing to use a PERS device.
With the Kanega watch the person wearing the watch controls what

information is shared.
The goal of Kanega is to create something for the 88% of people who

are afraid of using a PERS device and losing control.
Because of the Kickstarter campaign they discovered there were other

markets for the device besides seniors.
The watch is in production right now, and they are waiting for FCC

approval then it will be out on the market.

Listen to this HealthRedesigned podcast episode on Hanno's website

Resources:

UnaliWear
UnaliWear on Kickstarter
UnaliWear on Facebook
@UnaliWear on Twitter