As parents, we are always worried about our children’s movements – where they are and how they are doing when they are out-and-about, especially during the holidays. It is hard to not be concerned. However, Vodacom has a solution.
Neo, the smart kids watch featuring Disney, should be on every parent’s radar.
This smart kids watch, which is part of the Designed & Connected by Vodacom range, is a fantastic gadget that will give kids a sense of independence when on holiday or just going about their daily routine.
Staying Connected
Connectivity between parents and their kids is a key aspect of Neo. It provides parents with a window into their children’s activities, as well as letting parents know precisely where kids are at all times. This is due in no small part to the built-in Vodacom SIM, which lets parents and kids stay in touch even when they are apart.
Neo’s SIM connects to Vodacom/Vodafone’s trusted global network, which means Neo can connect with smartphones over very long distances. There is also no need to top up with airtime or data as Neo’s monthly subscription fee is an all-inclusive deal.
Neo brings peace of mind and fun together for parents and kids alike, while sprinkling a healthy amount of Disney magic into the mix. It works to keep kids active and interested in exploring their environments while at the same time offering parents reassurance that this technology is both reliable to use and handy for keeping tabs on their children’s activity. The fact that it offers encouragement to its young users, courtesy of Darth Vader, is just the icing.
Buddies and features
Aimed at children aged between 6 and 9 years, Neo comes in two eye-catching colours (Mint Green and Ocean Blue) and is waterproof for up to 1.5m while submerged for 30 mins. It also comes with an ergonomic strap that can be adjusted to fit every wrist, even offering the option to tilt the watch face so the user doesn’t have to strain their head to look at it.
Fire it up, and users have a series of ‘buddies’ to choose from – iconic characters from © Disney. © Disney/Pixar. © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. © 2021 MARVEL. – which not only gives their smartwatch a cool theme, but the characters themselves leap into action whenever the user checks their device.
At present users have a choice between Minnie Mouse, Elsa, Iron Man, Buzz Lightyear, Darth Vader, Micky Mouse, Rapunzel, Black Panther, Woody, and The Child from The Mandalorian TV series (or as we all call him, Baby Yoda), but more are on the way, and will be available at no extra charge via device firmware downloads. Besides opening the watch’s user interface with a flourish, Neo’s ‘buddy’ will also offer the user encouragement as they go about their activities.
Neo boasts a camera for kids to capture snapshots while out and about. It allows them to communicate with the trusted contacts chosen by their Parents using chats, calls, and emojis via their smartphones. It has an activity tracker which records the number of steps they take and unlocks new challenges as current ones are completed, a calculator, and up-to-date information about the weather. On top of that, it houses a calendar into which both the child wearing it and the parent who is monitoring it, can enter events and activities in the scheduler.
Parent-friendly
Remote access and monitoring – available through the Vodafone Smart App – are also part of the device’s major selling points, as everything is managed within one app. It’s a fun and funky device for kids on the move and there are tons of features on it to keep tykes occupied. But for parents who may have concerns about the technology their kids use, or the way it is used, Neo is ideal.
Through the Vodafone Smart App, parents can organise their kids’ schedules via the calendar app, but they can do so much more. For a start, they can locate Neo’s whereabouts on a map via their smartphone, monitoring their kids at all times.
Parents can also look through the pictures that their child has taken while on their adventures and check their activity progress. Parents can curate up to 9 trusted contacts, which are the only contacts with whom the Neo primary owner can share access, from content to calls and chats. Parents can also manage their child’s screen time through its Quiet Mode. And, another winner for parents, Neo cannot be used to browse the internet.
