At CES 2016 (the International Consumer Electronics Show), I saw a pretty inventive company that was making a smart bracelet with interchangeable modules that you snap in an out, and each of these smart modules was programmable to allow different features. Neat concept overall. Honestly, I didn’t write about it until now because it was still a proof of concept and not quite ready to market. It was a neat idea, but it was bulky, and the overall sentiment for smart watches was they couldn’t be too bulky, even for the sake of new and expansive features. But, I kept them in mind for when they evolved their device into a production ready unit.

That’s all changed as of today.  The Nex Band has arrived. Far upgraded from the concept I viewed at CES, this device is no less than incredible and the possibilities are endless.  The video below will show you more of a social aspect to the band. It can be integrated into your home’s smart devices, like garage door openers, gate openers, security lighting, or join with many other smart devices in your home. It has a great social aspect, such as being able to detect close proximity to friends, auto message sends, tagging locations for reminding you about things, like making a Yelp review, or adding a restaurant to your favorites list.

It has a gaming aspect as well. Imagine playing a virtual “tag, you’re it” game while working in a System Status Management agency. When I worked at MedStar, a traditional game was to place a special bowling ball on another crew’s ambulance, in a cabinet, on their gurney, etc., so when they took a corner, accelerated, or braked, they had to call their unit on the air and declare that they had the ball. So every crew tried to avoid the crew with the ball. Sometimes, the mass of six or seven ambulances at a hospital would mysteriously disappear and the ball was left on the driver’s seat. The Nex Band bracelet could be used like this too, along with a “no tagback” rule.

Check this out…

Seems pretty cool, eh? So let’s talk about the serious aspect of the utility that the Nex Band can provide.

Let’s say you have a family member that has Rheumatoid and Osteo Arthritises (sp?), or COPD or CHF. Maybe they’re getting some knee replacements shortly since there is literally no cartilage left in their knees. They also have been given their first smartphone, like a Samsung Galaxy J3 V, with “Easy Mode”. They aren’t moving the best and we’re afraid they might fall again (one visit from the fire department for a lift assist is enough to realize it’s getting worse and they don’t want to be in an assisted living facility). As much as we would hope they would carry their phone everywhere in the house, it isn’t going to happen for a late night bathroom visit, or just to get up and get a meal. Enter the Nex Band. A slip and fall can be dealt with by a simple push of a pre-programmed button that calls their son or daughter, or sends a pre-programmed text message saying they need help, or dials or texts an E9-1-1 PSAP. Another button turns on the speakerphone so they can talk from where they fell. A medication reminder may be programmed for another button. Another could remind them to do their physical therapy and respiratory exercises. Another can open the garage or unlock the front door for emergency responders and turn the lights on.

How about for us in EMS and public safety? We could use it as a panic button for when we find ourselves needing the cavalry on a call, since pushing a button on a bracelet is far more discrete than picking up a radio or phone and calling a MAYDAY alert, and that might get you shot or make you the target of an aggressor. It could be used by a flight crew as well (I’m okay, I need help, MAYDAY, on scene, transporting, etc.).

Do you see where I am going here? There is no limit to the amount of benefit to the pre and peri-hospital and general medical fields. The Nex Band can help with nearly any home therapy or call for assistance we can provide. It can be a safety device for crews that cannot speak or use a radio. And it’s waterproof. It’s still a bit bulky, I admit, but it isn’t like any other smartwatch out there. You can adjust each module from the app, or you can hack each module if you want even more customization. When I saw them at CES, you could even integrate it with IFTTT.

Learn More:

They’re getting ready to come to market soon. If you want to learn more, you can sign up on their site for more information here: The Nex Band