Callaid
The Challenge
All employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees; within the healthcare profession for many working remotely or even with challenging patients this is an acute problem. So that healthcare professionals can page assistance from a colleague nearby or raise the alarm if they feel threatened, GX developed the Callaid 1138, a radio linked pager device. The device needed to be small enough to be wearable, plus capable of withstanding being dropped and also waterproof.
The Solution
The product design that GX developed included a rugged case which housed a 3.8v Li-ion or 3.8v Li-polymer battery, since this has a minimum capacity of 700mAh. In addition, the team included a micro USB connector to allow software upgrades and easily recharge the battery.
The pager was also fitted with a membrane switch panel of five buttons capable of transmitting preselected information to other pagers and also to configure pager settings. These buttons also generate audio feedback via the speaker. To attract attention Callaid has a pull mechanism at the base of the pager which the wearer pulls so that a panic call can be transmitted.
In addition, the device utilises output audio files including voice files. The wearer can control the volume and also amplify it via an internal speaker. The speaker can also pulse vibration through the case instead of using a traditional style vibrator. When a call is received information is displayed using a small colour OLED two-line display. Other functions displayed on the screen include battery level and signal strength. Internally mounted LED’s are used to instantly show the level of the call by making the entire case flash in a variety of colours
The Result
The design that the product realisation team at GX developed utilised a number of in house skills that meant the project could be completed quickly and most importantly to a strict budget. Both the software needed to power the device and the electronic engineering was completed alongside the product development. This co-ordinated approach to product design saved many hours and meant that as the product design team evolved the design everyone was involved in its development.