GPS Showing Up in the Darndest Places
As we've noted before, tracking devices powered by GPS are becoming increasingly ubiquitous these days. GPS-equipped phones have recently made headlines for such disparate reasons as aiding police and enabling stalkers. While many of us are a little weirded out by the increasing prevalence of these devices, a recent story in the Telegraph demonstrates that some folks are quite comfortable with the gadgets.
Preparing for her son Harry's backpacking trip to Australia and Thailand, Rachel Wilder made sure that the 19-year-old left their Oxfordshire, England home carrying a tiny GPS tracker. Called Traakit, the device is small enough to fit in Harry's wallet, from whence it will transmit his location to a Web site that his mother, in turn, can access. Even more remarkable than the device's tiny size is the fact that young Harry seems to be just fine with the situation, explaining to the Telegraph, "[If] you were to get kidnapped or driven off into the jungle, people would be able to find you from the signal."
While this whole tracking thing still strikes us as a little creepy, we can certainly appreciate the value of such a device in unfamiliar, potentially dangerous areas. Plus, either way, Harry and his mum seem to have come to an understanding (whether we understand it, or not).
Our primary concern, though, springs from a comment made by the Traakit's inventor (and Harry's uncle) David Clayton at the end of the article: "We have also had several women want to buy one because they think their husband might be cheating and they want to put it in the back of their car and keep tabs on where they are going." Now that's creepy. [From: Telegraph]
GPS Shows Up in the Darndest Places
Sometimes technology treads into such intimate territory that it freaks us out. Such is the case with GPS technology, which is increasingly finding itself implanted in everything from tennis shoes to USB drives these days, potentially tracking our every move. The eight non-traditional-GPS-gadgets we've compiled range from the useful to the downright creepy -- take a look!
--Lee Bains
1. GPS Shoes
Offered by Quantum Satellite Technology, these tech-rich and style-poor kicks will allow your friends to track your every literal step. If you can justify the $350 price tag, you'll also enjoy the onboard panic button, which can call upon emergency services.
2. Garmin Astro GPS Dog Tracking System
Geared towards hunters, this canine-tracking system promises to let "sportsmen spend their time looking for game, rather than ... their dog." Considering this camera-, alarm-, compass- and barometer-equipped device's $440 price tag, maybe avid hunters would just rather get their hands on better trained dogs?
3. GPS USB Drive
This sneaky gadget is begging for a lawsuit. You can deposit this innocuous-looking device in the trunk, glove compartment, or even jacket lining of a loved (and distrusted) one, and then retrieve it later on. Just plug it into your computer to find out exactly where that good-for-nothing partner of yours snuck off to. Several companies offer such devices on Amazon.
4. GPS Shopping Buggy
Designed, we can only imagine, for senile seniors and munchy-stricken potheads, these buggies, designed by British developers, aim to help the easily distracted navigate the aisles of the grocery store.
5. Speed Demon
Designed by a 20-year-old college student, the Speed Demon plugs into a car's cigarette lighter, monitoring a car's speed the whole time. Differentiating between speed limit zones, the device emits a squeal when a driver is speeding, and can send e-mail notifications of such violations (to a watchful parent, for instance). It can be had for $250.
6. Trutex School Uniform
The British uniform company Trutex offers this maximum-security scholastic wear as a way to keep tabs on those mischievous kids. Sewing tracking devices into school uniforms, Trutex is well on its way to being the de facto clothier of the impending One World Government.
7. GPS-Equipped Nativity Scene
We all knew those kids in high school that took great delight in amassing "baby Jesus" collections around Christmastime. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for those of us who find that kind of thing dumb at best and sacrilegious at worst, Lightning GPS offers free GPS units to non-profits and churches that wish to safeguard their nativity scenes.
8. GPS Golf Balls
It seems that the British have gone GPS-wild. Developers at Geostate have come up with a GPS-enabled microchip that can be planted in golf balls, allowing golfers to figure out exactly where that awful slice wound up. Truth be told, though, we'd probably just rather forget those balls that wind up in the lake.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pushka said 6:53AM on 5-28-2009
I have to admit it gigs me out a bit to think about big brother watching in another way, however it makes sense with people who have gone missing and been hurt as a way to find them if they are doing extensive wilderness hunts. It would cut down on the cost of trying to find them. As soon as I read the article though I wondered how many spouses would use one of those to track a cheater .. lol .. I guess I got my answer. My only other concern would be if someone was in an abusive relationship and tried to get away and had one of those things on them. It's a good and evil deal. In this young man's case the good outweighs the bad.
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ADMR said 12:35PM on 5-28-2009
Are U a CHEATER???
Keith J. Mohrhoff said 7:49AM on 5-28-2009
Lee Bains:
Why do you think it is creepy to want to know if your spouse is cheating on you? We're not just talking about wounded pride here...these days, that sort of information can save your life!!
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harmonybrush said 10:41AM on 5-28-2009
but the problem is that it's a form of stalking (a crime i might add). Imagine if you were the one whom your spouse thought was cheating. Whether or not you're guilty as accused, it's still eerie to think someone could be watching every place you go. Especially if you're innocent.
I think the spouses who suspect something fishy should talk to their s/o more and if they're s/o won't open up, then they should make a decision for themselves, not spy and stalk them.
strider_mt2k said 7:53AM on 5-28-2009
Great.
Kid thinks he's Rusty Venture or something.
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jeffstorrs said 8:12AM on 5-28-2009
It is kind of NICE KNOWing THAT i CAN LEAVE MY PROPERTY AND A LITTLE CHIP WILL TELL ME IF anything i WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IS MOVED EVEN A TEWNTH OF AN INCH!! sorry bout caps but I am not retyping this
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Malaycobra said 8:25AM on 5-28-2009
Did you see the thing?
No way is it going in a wallet. And if you carry it while wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, you're either going to make a lot of new friends or get arrested for public indecency. Maybe it could be marketed as a 21st century equivalent of a rolled up sock.
However, with the correct lifestyle choice and a little K-Y, it could possibly be kept about your person after a kidnapping...
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Jan Crump said 8:54AM on 5-28-2009
If my son was going backpacking into another country you can bet your damn skippy I'd use this device. It would give me peace of mind. Think about the people who have run off the road in their cars and haven't been found for days...if they had this device they'd be found in less than 24 hours. Also, missing children - kidnapped or parent-napped - it would save a lot of children from lives of horror! They should be implanted in babies when they are born. My opinion, sure it's not a common one, tho.
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sadiemae1214 said 10:06AM on 5-28-2009
No, Jan, you aren't the only one that feels that way. So do I as long as the device can be removed when the baby is of legal age and then they can decide if they want to be tracked. Think of all the missing, exploited, kidnapped children that could be returned home. They should be implanted in sexual preditors and pedophiles as well and anyone convicted of a violent crime.
Deanna said 12:57PM on 5-28-2009
You make a good point. Just think, never having another Polly Klaas, Danielle VanDam, Samantha Runnion, Jessica Lunsford, etc., etc. I believe the benefits strongly outweigh any "creepy" feelings people have toward any potential monitoring. My life is so boring I doubt I would be the target of any "monitoring" by big brother. Those who fear this monitoring makes one wonder what they are up to? Maybe therein lies the creepiness.
stephanie said 1:12PM on 5-28-2009
I have a problem with that, I mean, I understand tracking children, but it really reminds me of "1984." Too much of Big Brother for my taste. As it is, we are tracked on phones, internet and credit cards. They track to see what we are buying, what sites we visit, etc.. No, not being paranoid, don't really care if they want to know what I buy, just realistic. I see if the person knew if they were being tracked and if it were removeable, but not implanted.
Angela said 9:33AM on 5-28-2009
Damn. Mommy's apron strings stretch around the world! Ahh haa ha! A teeny, tiny GPS tracking device in junior's wallet? Um, has sonny-boy realized he has a far greater risk of having his wallet stolen than getting kidnapped? But anyway, it should be interesting for mom to feel releived knowing her son is staying in one place in a local village or town, not knowing the junior's pocket was picked and the only thing in staying in one place is his wallet a trash can!
If there is a serious chance your child, spouse or self might be a kidnap victim, why not implant the chips in their body? Although it should be kept private, I would support President and Mrs. Obama in a heartbeat if they had microchips implanted under the skin in Sasha and Malia, and actually, in themselves, too.
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elgato1175 said 9:31AM on 5-28-2009
Rusty Venture!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!
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Deela said 10:28AM on 5-28-2009
Wish I could have stuck one in my ex-boyfriend's car when he was cheating on me. Would have resolved the matter quicker and with less pain instead of just happenstance.
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Kelly said 10:30AM on 5-28-2009
I think that is such a brilliant idea!! I want someone to invent a GPS tracking device that we can implant into our children so no perverts or child murderers can ever take our children again!!!!!!!! Track everyone!!!
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mustangmccance said 11:17AM on 5-28-2009
implanted in your wallet awesome then when someone steals your wallet you can track it too doubly cool for traveling.
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dunnrh46 said 12:54PM on 5-28-2009
if someone were to take my kid,it would be the most miserable day of their lives!!i could charge them to take my kid back!!!
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danamannigdana said 11:28AM on 5-28-2009
I don't think it's creepy to want to keep your child safe. What's creepy is the way it can be used. There are too many missing people in this country.
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bpeter3196 said 11:32AM on 5-28-2009
Big deal LOL celebrity & kids of politicans have them have for years. There's low jack for cars and even commericals for batteries talk about "child locator" devices. Welcome to the modern age. If your not wanting to be track or fear the possibility dont cheat seriously. Especially in areas of high risk or large open spaces or little people traffic it make perfect sense how many times have we heard someone go hiking or boating even and get lost think how much easier it would be if the person with it could just activate it & alert someone at home who could then tell police. You could program it to dial a list of numbers say 5 of friends & family then you go hiking or boating and get lost or fall over board & activate the wrist band to dial those 5 numbers till it gets through or better yet sent a sos message to those five numbers & when someone finally checks to see it they can call the person or police & say here's where he is.
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bpeter3196 said 11:38AM on 5-28-2009
Osama Baracks kids, the bush twins, the princes of the UK especially prince william have locator devices williams is a bracelet which is on all the time since in a kidnapping he might not be able to activate anything others have key chains that look like your car alarm key chain & they just hit that & it activates the tracker. Stop cheating if you're worried about getting caught seriously anyone who's scared of it is a fool & probably a cheat.
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