AT&T will provide connectivity for the UnaliWear™ Kanega watch, a go-everywhere unobtrusive wearable designed for those who are both independent and vulnerable. The Kanega watch has discreet support for falls, medication reminders, and a guard against wandering with guide me home assistance.
The UnaliWear Kanega watch looks just like a traditional watch, and uses an easy speech interface rather than buttons or touch screens. It learns the wearer’s lifestyle to provide predictive, pre-emptive support, such as directions home or notification of gait or speech changes that may be signs of a medical problem such as stroke.
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Connected by AT&T, the Kanega watch supports an active lifestyle for independent but vulnerable populations wherever they go. Thanks to the patent-pending battery system in the band, just like a traditional watch, wearers don’t need to take off the watch off to charge it. The waterproof (up to 3 ATM) watch can also be worn in the shower, bath or a water aerobics class.
“My 82-year old mother is the inspiration for the Kanega watch,” said Jean Anne Booth, CEO, UnaliWear. “She wasn’t willing to wear other medical alert products because she thought they were ugly or marked her as ‘old.’ Like many of today’s independent-living seniors, she chose not to use medical monitoring support rather than suffer social stigma. She now serves as our Senior User Experience Advisor.”
“We see the value of connecting healthcare, particularly when we look at hospitals, caregivers and the people who are empowered to take control of their health,” Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things, AT&T. “The Kanega watch links wearers in near real-time with the support they need and allows people to live independently and for longer.”
Originally developed for senior citizens, UnaliWear’s successful Kickstarter campaign in early 2015 broadened the company’s outlook. The Kanega watch is entering beta testing, and should be available in the U.S. in the second half of 2016. For more information about UnaliWear, go to www.UnaliWear.com.
