The gadget can be clipped to children's clothing or carried in their pockets
Posted on 07/15/2007 2:33:43 AM PDT by Stoat
It could be the perfect answer for parents anxious about their children's whereabouts.
A device the size of a large matchbox is being launched that exactly pinpoints a carrier's location through a global positioning system accessed by computer or mobile phone.
The gadget, called buddi, can be clipped to children's clothing or carried in their pockets. Parents then log on to see their child's position on a detailed map via satellite tracking.
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The gadget can be clipped to children's clothing or carried in their pockets
Buddi also has two buttons that can be pressed if the wearer is lost or in trouble to alert friends or relatives through an emergency call centre active 24 hours a day.
It is the first such device to be launched in Britain and is the brainchild of Sara Murray, 38, a former marketing consultant. She spent two years developing the idea as a result of her own experiences as mother of a daughter, now 14.
"When my daughter was little she got lost in a supermarket and in that moment of panic when I realised she was missing, I wished I had something I could put on her to keep track of her," she said.
"I found her safe and sound but, as she grew up, there were many more occasions when I worried where she was and thought there must be a better way of monitoring her. Then, two years ago, I came up with the idea for buddi."
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Satellite minder: Inventor and mother Sara Murray and her tracking device for children
Ms Murray, who lives in Pimlico, South-West London, said her idea could help other vulnerable people such as those with dementia or learning difficulties.
"We live in difficult times and any service that can provide people with the confidence that they can be traced within seconds, or alert people in emergencies, is something I am sure will help people," she added.
The device is backed by organisations responsible for vulnerable people, such as Parents and Children Together and the National Autistic Society. It goes on sale on the internet next month, costing £299 to buy plus £20 a month to operate.
But critics warn it could encourage parents' paranoia and lead to children being over-reliant on the system rather than developing skills to cope with potential dangers. Michele Elliot, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "Tracking devices could be useful in certain circumstances, such as for children with learning disabilities or elderly people with dementia.
"But I would warn parents to use their common sense and not become too dependent on them.
"I worry that giving these devices to children will send out the message that the world is very dangerous and they can't ever be out of contact with their parents. They might never learn important lessons for themselves."
Ms Murray has also launched a product called petbuddi, which can be attached to a pet's collar and used to track them.
But the version for children has a more intriguing alternative use. Maybe it is just the job for suspicious wives fretting about a husband "working late" again.
OR
And probably many more uses........
Already available.
My wife told me a long time ago not to try anything because she has a homing beacon sown into the waistband of my underwear.
And I believe her. I can’t get away with anything!
I always think it would tell you where your husband’s trousers are, but not necessarily where HE is.
I can see where this would be useful for finding people with Alzheimer’s Disease. They’d be unlikely to remove it, if it were attached to a belt or purse, because they’d forget it had been put there.
Maybe it is just the job for suspicious wives fretting about a husband "working late" again.OR.. HOW about for the husband to track his cheating wife?! I needed that 5 years ago here in Japan.. MJ
I wonder how this thing can get the weak gps signal when heavy tree cover can block it. It certainly wouldn’t work indoors.
I guess wives never work late and are above suspicion. :0)
This is unbelievable. You can track anyone via their cell phone by using the satellite GPS link that is built in to all new cell phones. Click on the link below, type in the cell number of a friend (or your spouse) and click "start search." The GPS location is linked to Google maps and you can zoom in on the exact location of the phone by clicking within the zone(s) indicated by the brackets.
Try out this mobile phone tracker. Track any connected mobile phone using a satellite map with coverage anywhere in the world!!!!
Visit:
GPS Tracking
16 out of nine times, wives can tell when their husbands are cheating.
Yeah, but when a wife cheats, it’s really her husband’s fault. When a husband cheats, otoh, it’s because he’s a lowlife rat.
Cute
More like Husband tracker.
The cheating wives have outnumbered cheating husbands by better then 2 to 1 from what my wife and I have witnessed among family and friends. We often chuckle at articles about errant husbands because of the statistics we have been witness to.I don't know the statistics... but I wouldn't doubt your 2 to 1 at all... I have witnessed similar here in JaPain... (my ex is Japanese... Sad, but true. I knew something was up QUICK.. I noticed a change in most of her habits and clothing style. Took me about 4 months to catch her though >.
Not my statistic, I was responding to another post. Howie Carr points out, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, if you cheat on you wife and get caught and divorced, you owe her $2,000,000. OTOH, if your wife cheats on you and gets caught and divorced, you owe her $2,000,000.
“Honey, did you see where I left my phone?”
Maybe it is just the job for suspicious wives fretting about a husband "working late" again.OR.. HOW about for the husband to track his cheating wife?! I needed that 5 years ago here in Japan..
I'm so very sorry.....what an absolutely awful, devastating thing. I hope that you have been able to repair the damage in your life, at least somewhat, and have been able to find true, honest happiness.
This is so terribly saddening.
Best wishes to you and all others here that have been similarly harmed.
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