i-Kids lets lost children hit panic button

It's a simple fact of life: Good ideas often miss something obvious that would make them great ideas. One example is GPS devices for locating lost or missing children.

(Credit: Mobiles2go)

Many of the tracking technologies we've seen are basically one-way systems--you stick a sensor onto a backpack or clothes, then the parent tracks it with a main unit. But why not make it work the other way around as well?

The "i-Kids" safety system promises to do just that, giving your child a device that allows them to touch a single button that alerts you to his or her location immediately up to 65 feet away. That's not the farthest range, but if you have or had small kids you know that it doesn't take much for them to get lost and for you to panic.

The price of the accompanying service is probably too steep for mass markets (about $31 a month, according to Red Ferret), but competition would undoubtedly make systems like this more affordable. The only other suggestion we have is to combine the units with MP3 players or game devices--two uses that would greatly improve the chances of your kids not losing them.

[2happyrobersons]

Here's an IDEA!

Be a responsible parent and keep an eye on your kid. This might be useful in a amusement park or another crowded venue.

[Mike Yamamoto]

An excellent point

I couldn't agree more! --Mike

[cu8164kp]

Integrate Cell components?

Why not use GPS cell components to do the same thing. This would give you global range, and if you have something similar to the Nextel service you could do the walki-talki thing. Which would be nice for the kid if they got lost or the parent to call them back.

When my kids get in there teenage years, I would need to add pulse and respiration monitors so I can chime in and ask "what do you think your doing".

[bigmac2007]

and use what platform?

All very well to have SirF type chips, but whose platform are you going to use to link to GPS? This product provides adjustable geo-fencing on it's platform.

[Laurel Papworth]

Tis a LBS/GPS phone!

This review gives the wrong impression guys - this IS a LBS/GPS phone - you can check on a map on your phone or on a website where your little darlin' is, set 3 zones (home, school, sport for example) and be SMS'd if they step outside and basically have 90 odd satellites tracking the kids. The four buttons (programmable by the parent) can call your mobile, or grandad, or whoever and the last emergency button is for a response centre. In a world of unpleasant divorces and snatched children, that is useful. The rest of the features are cool for picking the kids up from sporting events, or just checking they aren't at the mall. :) . http://www.i-kids.net shows the countries that currently sell this worldwide service.