Wearables aren’t just for adults anymore – more and more devices are adorning kids’ wrists, and the Kiband is another child-oriented device to toss in that bucket. The “smartband to keep kids close” is a wireless leash to ensure children don’t wander too far from their parents.
The Kiband is a water-resistant bracelet that’s half an inch thick and 0.75 inches wide. It uses a Bluetooth 4.1 chip to sync with a smartphone running the free Kiband app up to 200 feet away.
Parents using the Kiband can set custom distance perimeters to make sure their children are within sight in different settings. For instance, a mother may not want too much of a gap between her and her child in a crowded mall during the holidays, but she may be OK with a larger gap at a local park.
When a child wearing the Kiband walks close to the edge of the designated perimeter set by the parent, the bracelet will vibrate to alert the child that they’re wandering too far for their parent’s liking. When a child crosses the edge of the set perimeter, the wristband and mobile app both sound an alarm to help the parent see where their child has wandered without having to take out their smartphone. The Kiband will also alert the parent when it’s submerged in water.
The Kiband app (currently only for iOS, though an Android version is in the works) can sync with up to six bands. The bracelet is available in two colors: blue and pink.
The Indiegogo campaign for the Kiband, which closes on Jan. 17, has raised about 86 percent of its $25,000 goal. The device will retail for $115, though supporters of the crowdfunding campaign can get it at a discount. Deliveries of the Kiband are expected to begin in June.
