If you would ask our parents how did they manage to keep us safe and sound in a world that was not so technological savvy back in the day and in the absence of mobile phones or tracking devices, they would tell you that their world was less threatened by dangers stalking children every step of the way. Somehow, animated by a healthy dose of paranoia, they put up with us being late from school, exploratory wanderings around the neighborhood and even our teenage escapes to a nearby party.
But nowadays times have changed and the healthy dose of paranoia is not enough to keep our kids safe. While children track devices, GPS, mobile phones and all sorts of new gadgets are meant to keep them safe (as we can know any time where they are) are not a new thing on the market, having a four – five year old sometimes involves your smart mobile devices demise before they even prove themselves useful.
Fortunately, FiLIP Technologies came up with a simple, yet interesting mobile phone – wrist watch that allows parents to breathe at ease knowing that their little ones’ moves can be followed from a distance, while the children can signal any dangers or problems they might encounter.
FiLIP Mobile Phone for Kids Specs
Making phone calls is limited, as parents can upload up to five essential contacts the kid can call. Children will not be able to send text messages, but the parents have this option using an app that allows them to send short, 24 – characters texts. The location tracker is perhaps the most important feature of the phone, as it uses GPS, open Wi – Fi spots and cell towers to locate the child on a map. You can set the FiLIP to recognize up to five Safe Zones and alert you when the child gets into one or leaves it.
The big red button used for all the applications above also has the role of a panic button as, if pressed for more than three seconds, it will connect to an automated operator who in turn calls all five contacts listed until somebody pick up. Then, the person they reach gets into contact with the child via voice. If you feel tempted to ask why doesn’t FiLIP get in touch with the 911 service, the answer is obvious, but the panic button is a smart feature, provided you teach the child how to use it wisely.
While the company aims to produce similar FiLIP mobile phone for kids models – especially children older than eight, they aren’t exactly in a hurry. Giving parents some peace of mind through a mobile phone acting like a cool watch is a great step forward and the company seems to aim to explore even more possibilities in the field of child safety and location tracking. In case you were wondering, the FiLIP mobile phone for kids costs $200 and for further information you can check the manufacturer’s website.