In the medical alert world, safety and innovation go hand in hand. Every time a company comes up with a new solution to provide greater peace of mind for seniors and recovering patients, others quickly follow the trend to provide customers with a broader range of options. 2018 is already rich in exciting new offers: Bay Alarm Medical has introduced an in-car medical alert system, and now Medical Guardian has expanded its family of products with an emergency smartwatch called Freedom Guardian. The wristwatch grants the same press-of-a-button alert technology and adds further quality of life features to put the whole family’s mind at ease.
The official release of the Freedom Guardian was on 6 August. The lightweight watch is fitted with a 1.22” vibrating touchscreen with a 240p resolution, with which the user switches between functions by swiping left or right. Two buttons – a white one on the top and the red at the bottom – are located on the left-hand side of the device, with one for activating or deactivating the screen while the other is for sending emergency signals.
Medical Guardian’s smartwatch is the next evolution of the standard wristband button, although there are a few significant differences that customers should be aware of. For starters, the old-fashioned buttons come with built-in batteries that last for years, and even if the power runs out the standard warranty guarantees a free replacement. This new smartwatch, however, is only operational for 48 hours even with minimal usage and the recharging must be done manually.
Another important difference is the way that the help signal is sent. Previously one simple press was enough considering that the wristband had no other purpose, but due to the multifunctional nature of Freedom Guardian the help button must be held down for three seconds to ensure that no false alarms happen by accident. The other way of activating an alert involves swiping on the screen until the help menu appears and pressing the screen for three seconds.
Freedom Guardian also shares features with the mobile button, which has been the pinnacle of medical alert technology up until this point. The smartwatch utilizes GPS tracking to pinpoint the wearer’s location wherever they go, which is incidentally also accessible by both service operators and family members alike. Lastly, the device boasts two-way communication just like the mobile button, but improved since it’s far lighter and doesn’t need to be fished out of the pocket or purse in order to be used.
It’s at this point that the parallels with other medical alert products end, but Freedom Guardian still has some other tricks up its sleeve. It displays the current and upcoming weather for the next two days and reminds the user of important dates and events. But none of these hold candle to the communication system, which can loud incoming text messages read out thanks to its text to speech program. This same technology can be used to record a verbal answer from the user. Seniors therefore have the means to send and receive messages without having to fiddle too much with the small screen.
As mentioned already, innovation is the lifeblood of the medical alert industry and Medical Guardian has a knack for coming up with new ideas; it offers an activity monitoring kit, too. As for the medical alert smartwatch, it’s a must have for any tech-savvy seniors who love to accessorize. Still, we’re hesitant to call it a viable alternative to mobile buttons because Freedom Guardian lacks one important feature: fall detection. Until medical alert system manufacturers find a way to enable the wristwatch to detect the sudden collapse of the wearer, the prudent choice is to stick with a reliable mobile button because the fall detection of such a pendant can save many people’s lives.
Share your thoughts, ask questions, and connect with other users. Your feedback helps our community make better decisions.
©2012-2025 Best Reviews, a clovio brand –
All rights
reserved
