7A - Testing the Hypothesis Part 1

7A – Testing the Hypothesis Part 1

1.      Opportunity: Safety Devices for parents to monitor their children’s health statistics.

2.      Why: This will keep the parents informed and alarmed if the child is in distress. Examples of use are if the child is in a hot car: The child’s temperature will rise, heart

rate will increase, etc. The alarm tone will sound on the parent’s smart watch or phone. This could be used while the child is with a caregiver or otherwise. The child could wear a smart anklet or bracelet. This opportunity could be further used for the elderly, sickly, or for pets (pets would wear a smart collar).

3.      Who: Primarily for all parents of young children not old enough to exit a car on their own, for example. Could also be expanded to people with elderly parents or sickly people. Pet owners could also benefit (you can even monitor your pet while in the kennel).

4.      Questions:

a.      Who else might be able to use these devices? Who else already does use something similar?

b.     Would parents purchase a product like this? How much would they pay for it? (How much is their child’s well-being worth to them?)

c.      The “why” holds for everyone. It is to be able to monitor someone who needs assistance and cannot always ask for help. It could expand to people who go hiking or jogging at night. Heart patients could benefit from their loved ones helping to monitor them.

d.     Caveats: There are similar products that exist.

e.      Solution to the caveat: I would like to specifically use this product first and foremost for children that get left in cars without their parent’s knowledge. It will also help in many other areas for safety. I would like to keep the price as affordable as possible. It would be similar to a baby monitor.

Interviews        

1.     Garrett Johnson: New first-time dad:

a.      Would you want a product such as this? “that is essentially what an owlet is and we use that for James (their newborn born January 2^nd). It measures his heart rate and oxygen levels so yes, I would definitely use something like that.” 

b.     How much would you be willing to pay? “The Owlet was $200, so something in that range would be affordable.”

c.      Why would or wouldn’t you like to use it? “It’s essentially a sock that you put on the baby and you have a base station that will set off an alarm if the baby’s heart rate is too high or too low and does the same for oxygen. It’s also in the app that has a feature that tracks sleep patterns. It’s awesome, it honestly lets you sleep at night better. Especially after the scare at the hospital, I want to know all about how he is doing. I can sleep better at night knowing he’s okay.” (James was recently in the hospital and had stopped breathing. It was due to drinking too much breast milk at one time as the milk came in too quickly.) “It will alert me anywhere my phone is including if I’m not at home. They just came out with a cam that I will be getting when he moves from his bassinet to the crib.”

2.     Brian Davis: Soon to be New First-Time Father:

a.      Would you want a product such as this? “I’m afraid people wouldn’t put a device on a baby or dog when they put them in the car. Maybe something in the car that reads body temps and then turns the car on or something if it senses overheating?”

b.     I thought about a heat sensor in a car too. I was thinking it could open a window, but then you would have a new problem. If the car turns on and the baby is by itself, that would also be a security risk. “Yeah, I just don’t think people would take the time to put something on the child before they get in to a car.”

c.      I was thinking the child would wear the device mostly all the time (like we wear a watch). “That might be better.”

3.     Lyn Johnson: New first-time grandmother:

a.      Would you want a product such as this? “I saw an item called Fever-Bugz, a stick-on temp monitor with a readout on the sticker. Lasts 48 hours, works while baby sleeps. Not exactly the application you’re envisioning though.”

b.     That would be cool, but you would need to be able to alert the parents that the child is in distress or locked in the hot car. “Maybe it could be a combination of things. Options of what to wear.”

c.      Very true.

4.     Patrick English: Soon to be New First-Time Father:

a.      Would you like a product like this? I think it’s a cool idea. There may be some backlash, though, about wearing something that could get hung on something, or if a sticker was pulled off and put in their mouth. I would think a while on how it would be attached to a baby.

b.     Good points coming from a lawyer!  I’ve heard of products that are in development that are something you wear like a t-shirt. They’ve made these things for sports enthusiasts.

c.      That would be great. It wouldn’t hurt the baby or child, they wouldn’t lose it, and it would be comfortable.

5.     Kitty: Soon to be new Grandmother:

a.      Would you like a product like this? Naah, I don’t see it lasting a long time. It may be cool at first, but I think the novelty would wear off.

b.     Why don’t you think it would last? “I think that most of the time the people that would leave their child in a car are either in a hurry (very busy) or don’t care. These people wouldn’t most likely spend the money on a product like this or take the time to put the piece on the child every day.”

c.      What about those who do care or take the time or spend the funds? “Then maybe it would be a good product. I would have to see how it’s developed. How much will it cost?”

d.     I’m hoping to keep the retail cost at $199 or less. Then, it would last for several years most likely and then the baby or child would be grown up enough not to need it. “I’d like to see how far you take it and what you come up with.”   

6.      Summary: This product idea isn’t a new one after all. It has been developed in similar ways already. It still, however, hasn’t been developed to specifically address the problem of an over heated car!  I think it still needs lots of further development, maybe I’m looking at it wrong and maybe it should be a sensor in a car? I still like the concept as an overall safety monitor. I think it will help with other problems too. What if your child has a sickness that keeps them from enjoying every day life? Maybe this could help them live a normal life!