Videotron launches physical distancing wristband

Quebecor Inc. has launched a wristband that lights up and vibrates when individuals come too close to each other, marketing it as a solution for businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Videotron Business on Thursday announced it had launched the Radius wristband in a bid to support physical distancing in the workplace. The product is immediately available to businesses in Québec, at a cost of $100 per unit or $10 per month for Radius Pro, which includes the wristband and access to a management portal that allows a company to view the notification history and the location where alerts had been issued. The wristband can be purchased for $90 or $6.75 per month for Radius Pro, if a business is ordering 1000 or more units, according to the company’s website. According to a press release, the wristband records “overly close interactions” using an anonymous ID. The business purchasing the wristband is the only entity to know who wears each wristband, the statement says, with Videotron having “no access to this information.” The wristband will alert an employee if they are too close to another person wearing the device, but a business must purchase Radius Pro in order to see a history of notifications emitted by the devices. Videotron said in the release that the device does not use geolocation or privileged information. In an email, Videotron spokesperson Merick Séguin said Radius was developed in partnership with Montreal-based radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology creator Connect&Go. Asked if Videotron had consulted the federal privacy commissioner, Séguin said a privacy impact assessment for the device and software was conducted and Radius was "designed to ensure compliance with privacy and protection of personal information laws." Québec is one of two Canadian provinces to have opted not to use the federal government’s COVID Alert application, alongside British Columbia, citing privacy concerns. Note: The piece has been updated to include Videotron's statement that it conducted a privacy impact assessment for Radius and Radius Pro.

Videotron launches physical distancing wristband

Brief | September 24, 2020

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Videotron launches physical distancing wristband

Brief | September 24, 2020

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Wireless data essential tool for study of urban recovery from pandemic

CRTC rejects Stingray COVID relief request, orders broadcaster to pay $9M in tangible benefits

Government, Telefilm, extend support for uninsured Canadian productions

CRTC sides with creative sector in broadcasters’ CanCon relief proposal

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us