Innovation > Innovation
OWLET
R/GA, New York / OWLET BABY CARE / 2015
Awards:
Overview
Credits
Overview
ClientBriefOrObjective
Owlet is a scrappy, 10 person startup with a limited budget and resources. As parents, we knew there was a need in the wearable and health markets. We first spoke to numerous new parents to hear what their concerns and needs were in order to create solutions and to inform and design the working prototypes. Working with simple sensors and complicated algorithms, we went through several rounds of prototypes and feedback before we were able to focus on the requested, utilitarian features and before we could refine the product to its simple design.
Bulky baby monitors haven’t changed for decades, and they still just act as an extension of a parents’ eyes and ears, as long as they’re in range. Owlet wanted to deliver updates by simply using mobile devices to give parents messaging that their infants were ok or that they should be checked on.
Owlet identified Pulse Oximetery as the common and fundamental hospital technology used to illustrate a patient’s heart rate and oxygen levels. They took the technology known as the little red light that doctors clip onto patient’s fingers in the hospital, and converted it into simple readings of red, yellow and green to message the numerical readings and updates of oxygen levels and heart rates to parents.
As of March 2015 Owlet transitioned from beta testing to public release of the product in the United States. Owlet has had over 3,000 preorders and will be shipping 12,000 more orders this year. As there is such a high demand for the monitor, there is a waitlist of about 2 months., available only through our website at this time.
Implementation
Owlet solves a very delicate situation that parents face as they leave the control, safety, and helpfulness of the hospital and return home feeling insecure about taking care of their newborn. Every parent worries if their child is healthy and breathing safely. Owlet is the first baby monitor to actually provide real peace of mind by alerting parents their baby stops breathing in the middle of the night.
We believe that in 5 years from now, every baby will go home wearing a health monitor. Just like it is required in the US for the baby to leave the hospital in a properly installed, infant car seat, we would like to see each infant leave the hospital with a wearable device like the Owlet Baby Monitor, or something similar to monitor the baby’s health. We believe that we will become a hardware platform that will connect parents and pediatricians and improve the health of our world's infants.
We are also supporting the creation of the largest data set of infant health data that has ever existed. Researchers will be able to help many facets of infant health using the data they’re collecting. Parents using the Owlet Baby Monitor are ultimately supporting a healthier and safer future for their children.
Nothing like Owlet has been developed before. We have taken hospital technology and made it accessible to the public by making it 1/100th the size and 1/10th the cost – keeping it wireless,wearable and functionable.
At Owlet we want to develop a medical version that can be used and sent home by doctors. This would give doctors a more meaningful view in infant health data instead of just a snap shot of their health every time they come into the office. we received a $1.85 M seed investment last year.
Outcome
Our goal is for 5 years from now, to have every baby leave the hospital with a health monitor on. Just like it is required in the US for the baby to leave the hospital in a properly installed, infant carseat, we would like to see each infant leave the hospital with a wearable device.
Fewer infant conditions will go undiagnosed with consistent monitoring for parents. The recorded data will provide a high quality, ongoing picture of your child’s health for the pediatrician. It will provide more than the snapshot of health parents are currently receiving during routine doctor visits.
Most notable, one of our beta testers was having a lot of red alerts. After our medical advisor looked at their child’s data, he said it was obvious that the baby had a heart condition and sleep apnea. The parents requested their doctor run some tests, and discovered our advisor was correct. This is a great example of our vision and how long term monitoring at early life stages will to help change and potentially save lives, just as we did with this beta testing family.
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