New Wrist Watch Helps Parents Track, Find Lost Kids

Most parents have experienced that terrifying moment when you turn to take your child's hand and it isn't there. First, you scan the area, breathe, slow down and scan again.

Still nothing? As your stomach falls to your knees your imagination kicks in but you brush that aside because you have to alert EVERYONE as quickly as possible that your baby is missing.

Now imagine that your lost child is wearing a wrist watch that has a big red button the child can press that will dial your smartphone. But wait, you left your phone at home? That's okay...the child's wristwatch will dial four more numbers that have been pre-programmed until someone answers.

It's called the VivoPlay wristwatch and TheDailyBeast.com reports it was unveiled recently at the world's largest consumer electronics show, which started Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Using the Evado Filip app, parents can program a child's VivoPlay watch. It has a speaker and a microphone, so when a parent picks up the call their lost child can describe where they area.

"Say he doesn’t push the button, though, and Mom or Dad just wants to locate him. The watch uses first GPS (the most accurate, but it doesn’t work indoors), then triangulated Wif (which isn’t always available), then the cellphone technology GSM (the fail-safe, albeit least accurate, option) to get as precise a location as possible. Simple as that," as reported in the DailyBeast.com.

The inventor, Sten Kirkbak, of Norway, had the idea for the watch after a trip to the mall with his four-year-old son turned into "the longest 20 minutes of his life."

The DailyBeast.com reports that Kirkbak hopes the device will help "freaked-out" parents as well as ward off would-be kidnappers. "Once word gets out that there are watches like this on the market, potential child snatchers might think twice about scooping up a youngster if he’s got a funny-looking watch on his arm. The Evado Filip, and VivoPlay, will be launched this summer with a pilot phase in Los Angeles."

Slashgear.com reports the watch has another "nifty feature that allows parents to create safe zones. If your child wanders outside of the safe zone you’ve designated, you’ll be alerted with a text message, and in turn you’ll be able to contact your child and see what’s up. It’s a very cool little device and it even comes with a built-in emergency feature that a child can use to get help quickly."

"There's no word on pricing or availability, but we're told the outfit is working with carriers and that pre-orders will begin in the second quarter of 2013," according to engadget.com.