Comarch ConTe is a bracelet designed for improve the safety and quality of life of frail patients and the elderly. In fact, behind that toy-like appearance hides a technological heart, made up of chips, sensors and a GPS that sends the position of the wearer to the caregiver.
But how does it actually work? And what do they, patients and azians think about it that they should wear and use it every day? Well, to find out I opted for an unusual test.
The Comarch ConTe review
Before sharing my considerations with you, let me tell you what Comarch ConTe does and how it actually works.
Aesthetically it resembles, in shape and size, a smartwatch but no, there is no display. The top in fact includes 3 buttons: the cross that initiates a call to the preset emergency number, the handset which allows you to call a second number, always preset, e the circle – or Function key – which tells you what time it is and how many steps you have taken during the day.
The lower part houses instead the heart rate sensor and the one that lets you know if Comarch ConTe is actually on your wristwhile the strap is soft and designed to be worn for days without causing irritation and discomfort.
Inside the bracelet we naturally find all the technology necessary for its operation, including the drop sensor, a microphone, a small speaker, GPS and a SIM, supplied by Wind3. What is it for? Both to manage outgoing and incoming calls and to send the data collected to the Comarch application.
How does all this translate into practice?
The first step is the configuration. To do this you will need to download the Comarch application, create an account and follow the instructions that allow you to associate the bracelet with your profile.
Important note: the app is not intended for the wearer of the bracelet.
In fact, as anticipated, Comarch ConTe must be on the wrist of the elderly or fragile patient you want to monitor. The application, on the other hand, is for the caregiver, that is, the person who takes care of him. This is because the app allows you to monitor the position, the heartbeat, to receive alerts if a fall is detected and to initiate calls to the bracelet.
The opinion of the elderly
To find out how it actually behaves in the field, I entrusted Comarch ConTe to my grandmother and, after ten days of use, I asked her what she liked and what did not convince her.
In general the user experience was very positive: the bracelet is comfortable, simple to use and above all it represents an extra security. The fact that I always knew where to find her made her feel better. And no, she has never had any particular concerns related to her privacy.
The least convincing aspect is undoubtedly the speaker: the volume, although set at the maximum possible level, has always remained very low, which made phone calls a little less easy. On the contrary, I heard very well, with the microphone which is therefore well optimized.
The caregiver’s opinion
As anticipated, here the people involved are two: patient and caregiver. And yes, in this case I was the caregiver.
I also liked Comarch ConTe a lot. It really is extra securityalso useful when the elderly forget their smartphone at home or simply to find out where it is when you have difficulty contacting him.
The heartbeat then helps you to monitor your health Plus, you always know when it’s being worn and what battery status is.
The only element to improve is the drop sensor. I have received several times notifications that reported the fall of my grandmother, but they did not correspond to the truth. It is true that after a while you understand that she is perhaps too sensitive but it is also true that you risk ignoring a real fall. Our suggestion is to also evaluate the heart rate: if it is high or too low, then immediately call the elderly person or patient who is wearing Comarch ConTe.
The Comarch ConTe review: conclusions
Comarch ConTe can be purchased on the Wind3 website.
The cost? € 8.99 per month, including the device and the SIM tariff which includes 500 MB, 200 SMS and unlimited minutes, with an advance of € 39.99. Alternatively, customers can purchase the SIM-free device only, in a single solution, at the cost of 149 €.
Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes, especially considering that you have data and phone calls included. It really can help you monitor the elderly and frail people in a simple and immediate way, reducing the daily worries a little.