Whizz kid, 17, on his way to take on California's Silicon Valley with GPS wristband for hospitals

Friday, 9 September 2016

Otaki school boy Ben Bell develops a hi-tech hospital wristband.

Benjamin Bell is as surprised as anyone that an idea that popped into his 11-year-old brain would one day take him to all the way to Silicon Valley.

The 17-year-old entrepreneur jets off to California's Stanford University to pitch his hi-tech hospital wristband at Stanford MedX, a week long summit billed as the world's leading patient-centred health tech conference.

Bell came up with the idea of placing a GPS-like device in a wristband, later branding it a Wellbands, after visiting his father in hospital and getting lost in the maze of corridors.

Benjamin Bell will this month present his vision for hi-tech hospital wristband - Wellbands - at one of the most prestigious health innovation summits in the US.

'I remember looking at my Dad's wristband and thinking it could be useful for more than just a name,' says Bell.

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After years of research, a crowdfunding campaign, and a bit of help from mum, Bell now has a prototype he hopes will impress the 500-strong audience during his five minute pitch.

Wellbands uses bluetooth technology that pairs with a smartphone app or desktop system to locate the wristband wearer.

'Not only can it help families and friends find loved ones, it can also provide incredibly useful patient data for hospitals,' said Bell.

'The hospital will always know where their patients are, how long they spend in waiting rooms, or if they have been in the bathroom for an unexplained period.

'Further phases of the product will include using them to purchase items at vending machines, and helping to lock valuables away in lockers.'

Bell hopes to launch the first hospital trial of Wellbands next year in New Zealand and says he has a few people to thank for helping him to this point.

'My mum has been incredibly supportive and driven me to so many hospitals for my research, the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency have also been a big help,' he said.

He plans on taking a gap year after his final year at Paraparaumu College to pursue Wellbands full time.

'It's hard to come up with a plan B when I'm so focussed on plan A but I would love to go to university in the States, I just still don't know what I want to do when I grow up,' he says.

'It gives me confidence to see some success but I'm also aware of the mountain to climb in the entrepreneurial space, it's a hard market and you have to be fearless.

'Something I'm learning with every road bump along the way.'

The Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency David Jones said: 'Ben's determination, vision and drive mark him as an innovator to be reckoned with.

'These qualities, along with a maturity beyond his years, will serve him well at Stanford MedX.'