Jules ShermanHealthcare product design & research since 2012

Physical Product · 2012

Pediatric Personal Electronic Response System

According to FBI data, an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing every year in the United States, which includes children lost in stores and malls.

Pediatric Personal Electronic Response System
Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 2012

Problem

According to FBI data, an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing every year in the United States, which includes children lost in stores and malls.

Solution

  1. Electronic personal electronic response device for kids with a circular face that has one button to call a parent or guardian if they are lost.
  2. Two cute wristbands for kids that connect to the personal electronic response call button wearable device.
  3. Electronic personal electronic response device for kids with a circular face that has one button to call a parent or guardian if they are lost. This design is brown with hand tools illustrated on the wristband.
  4. Electronic personal electronic response device for kids with a circular face that has one button to call a parent or guardian if they are lost. This design is brown with hand tools illustrated on the wristband.
  5. Electronic personal electronic response device for kids with a circular face that has one button to call a parent or guardian if they are lost. This design is purple with kittens illustrated on the wristband and face.
  6. Electronic personal electronic response device for kids with a circular face that has one button to call a parent or guardian if they are lost. This design is purple with kittens illustrated on the wristband and face.
  7. Gele skins design for applying to a kid’s personalizable PERS device. This design has flowers.
  8. Geleskins design for applying to a kid’s personalizable PERS device. This design has camo print.
  9. Gela Skins design for applying to a kid’s personalizable PERS device featuring two vintage-style compasses, one above the other, on a gray background.
  10. Four white cards with different patterned Gele skins stickers, each labeled with different styles or themes. Two are pink with floral designs, one with camouflage, and one with watch faces.
  11. A wrist with a pink floral-themed watch with a pink face decorated with cherry blossoms, attached to a pink fabric band with floral patterns.

Research & Discovery

In research with parents of children ages 4–10, many parents wanted customizable designs on an emergency call device, they felt personalization would encourage their child to actually wear it. Most agreed a wrist-worn accessory would be easier and more comfortable than a clip-on version. I also presented a belt option, but some parents worried that young children still mastering restroom routines would find a belt an added challenge.

Design & Testing

The concept grew out of my work with clients such as Great Call and QMedic Health on personal electronic response systems for older adults. In 2012, as the parent of a toddler myself, I designed the device to be wrist-worn and personalizable, exploring a range of wristband designs and Geleskins™ appliqués so each child could make it their own, rather than the clip-on or belt-worn alternatives.

Final Product

A wrist-worn emergency call device for young children with a single button to reach a parent or guardian. It personalizes through interchangeable Geleskins™ and a variety of wristband designs, so children are more likely to keep it on.

Outcome

Concept work, not carried to manufacture. Research with parents of children ages 4–10 pointed the same way as the adult work: a device gets worn when its wearer can make it their own. Parents chose wrist-worn over clip-on and belt-worn, and named their reasons, which is why the design put personalization ahead of features.