2018 DW MGM Wireless - Business SA Design for Export Awards
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South Australia's
Design-led
Exporters
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South Australia's
Design-led
Exporters
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South Australia's
Design-led
Exporters
Celebrating
South Australia's
Design-led
Exporters
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AWARDS > 2018 Gallery
2018 WINNER
SPACETALK
MGM WIRELESS LTD
Category:
PRODUCT DESIGN
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
Design:
MGM WIRELESS TEAM
About
SPACETALK is an all-in-one children’s smartphone, watch and GPS tracker that allows parents and primary school aged children to be in constant contact without exposing kids to the dangers of social media apps or the internet. It keeps busy families connected and kids safe.
Design Challenge
SPACETALK was conceptualised from MGM’s longstanding school communication and absence management business which has been used by over 2000 schools in Australia and New Zealand. MGM pioneered the use of SMS messages to inform parents that their child hadn’t arrived at school. These messages have parents asking: ‘Where is my child?’ After trying to solve this problem for over 10 years, we hit upon the extremely ambitious idea of building an all-in-one mobile phone, watch and GPS for kids. We focused on reliability, safety and security. After four years of development here in SA, building several prototypes that we couldn’t get to work reliably, we finally discovered how to build this product well. This involved designing and developing the hardware, firmware, apps and server software – the whole ecosystem. SPACETALK successfully launched in October 2017 and sales continue to grow quickly
Design Solution
Parents hesitate to buy their kids a smartphone due to the risks of social media, potential privacy breeches, cyber bullying and the risk of children losing or breaking an expensive device. At the same time, parents want to stay connected to their kids and they want to know that their kids are safe. We identified the need for a small, wearable mobile phone and GPS device for children that was safe, secure and had no open access to the internet. SPACETALK is controlled by a parent’s phone using the AllMyTribe app. Parents customise and configure all of the settings on their child’s SPACETALK and predefine who they can call and who can call them. SPACETALK has no social media apps to distract children, and an integrated step counter encourages kids to get moving. SPACETALK’s privacy and data security features are second to none. It has been tested by independent Cyber Security experts to ensure all our claims were validated, and that SPACETALK would meet the tough new European GDPR requirements – which it does. We want to give kids the freedom to be kids and the confidence to adventure and explore.
Design Impact
SPACETALK is a highly reliable and dependable device. It’s proven to keep kids safe and families connected. Other benefits include: 1. Giving kids confidence to be independent – kids report that they feel confident and safe to do things alone as they know their parents know where they are and can contact them at any time. 2. Children and Parents staying connected throughout the day E.g. SMS like ‘Goodnight Mum/Dad – I love you’ are something that parents and children love sending to each other, especially if they are separated. 3. Ability for families to more efficiently manage time. E.g. – change in pickup times and locations. The global market potential for SPACETALK is very large. Gartner Research is forecasting that 30% of all smartwatches sold will be to children in the 2 to 13-year-old range, and by 2021 the market size for smartwatches will be $17.4 billion. In Australia – this translates to the market size for kid’s smartwatches to be 120,000 to 180,000 units annually.
Other Key Features
SPACETALK is the first device of its kind to be developed in Australia and one of the first worldwide. SPACETALK is considered by the industry to be the best kids smartphone watch on the market. Other features include: 3G Phone (2 way)* Make and receive phone calls to and from a set of parent-controlled contact numbers. SMS Messaging* SMS messages can be sent and received from contacts you allow through the app. GPS Tracking* Parents can view their child’s location on demand and location history using the AllMyTribe app. AllMyTribe app* Available for iOS and Android, allows parents to control all devices in one easy to use app. Social Media Free SPACETALK is a smart phone with no open access to the internet, and no social media apps to distract kids from the real world. School Mode Silence SPACETALK during class to avoid distracting the child and others. High Security Privacy and security is assured. All data is hosted in Australia in highly secure data centres. SOS Alerts A dedicated SOS alert button can be programmed to call a sequence of guardians and even local emergency authorities. Safe Places Safe zones can be setup with customisable alerts to inform you when the child arrives and departs these zones. 40+ Hour Battery Actual battery life will depend on location update settings and time spent on calls. Overnight charging is recommended. Step Counter An integrated fitness tracker with voice feedback monitors the child’s physical activity. Alarm Clock Set multiple alarms or reminders to prompt your child enabling them to become more responsible. Stopwatch The Stopwatch function comes with a lap timer, so your child can measure their progress for training and competitions. Torch Turn on the Torch and SPACETALK emits a bright light, enough for your the to find their way around in a dark room. Water Resistant SPACETALK is dust, splash and water resistant but not swim proof. Tested to IP54.
