Author: Nevaeh

Fourteen lessons to help us carry on during the coronavirus

I usually focus on technology to track our children when they are away from home. In our current state of social distancing and isolation there is little need for tracking. Most likely, by now you probably wish you had enough space between you and your children to need a tracking device.

Like many of you I have been keeping abreast of the current events, reading, watching TV and reflecting. I found an article on the internet–Fourteen Lessons To Help Us Carry On During The Coronavirus Pandemic by Bill Gates. A major newspaper published the article. Then learned the content was written by somebody — not Bill Gates. So, the newspaper retracted the article. The article was posted throughout social media. Yet, to my knowledge the author is unknown. The end result-I don’t know who to credit for the original lessons. That said, Fourteen Lessons to Help Us Carry On During the Coronavirus Pandemic sparked self reflection, aspiration for myself and mankind. I embraced some lessons in the article and found a blended version to be thought-provoking and inspirational for me.
Perhaps it will have a similar effect you.

1) The Coronavirus is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless
of our race, culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or fame.
Hopefully, we have leaned not to judge a person by their job title.
This disease treats us all the same. A much-needed helping hand can
come from anyone, even the less unexpected person.

2) The virus is reminding us that we are all connected. Something
that affects one person affects another. We are reminded that the virus transcends boundaries, states, oceans and countries.

3) Ideally, our temporary oppression and isolation will help us gain
insight and empathy for those who have spent their entire life in
oppression. Perhaps we will come out of this with the desire to be more
humanitarian and strive to lift the oppression of others.

4) It is reminding us of how precious our health is and how quickly life can slip away.

5) The Coronavirus is reminding us of what is most important – helping each other. Especially those without family and those who are immobile, elderly or sick.

6) It is reminding us of how materialistic we are and how, when in
difficult times we need the essentials – shelter, food, water medicine
and a lending hand from others.

7) It is reminding us of the importance of our family and home life.
We have been forced to stay sheltered in our houses giving us an opportunity to
rebuild them into our home and strengthen our families.

8) Our true work is to look after each other, to protect each other and to be of benefit to one another.

9) It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. We can survive
without going to the barber, nail shops and beauty salons. And no matter
how great we think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.

10) We can choose to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give
and to support each other. Or we can choose to be selfish and look
after our selves and no one else. Difficult circumstances bring out our
true colors.

11) The Coronavirus is reminding us that we can be patient, or we can
panic causing ourselves more harm than good. We can learn to be still
taking time to smell the roses or we can be anxious and bored.

12) We can either understand that the Coronavirus is not the first
crisis of this magnitude. And like other crises it will pass.

13) This can be a time of reflection, understanding and growth or it
can be the start of a cycle which will continue until we finally learn
the lessons meant for us.

14) It is reminding us that life is cyclical, and this is just a
phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.

Covid-19 can be a
new beginning if we reflect, grow and seize the opportunity. I see it
as a potential catalyst for giving, creativity and invention.

Tracking Kids

T-Shirts That Can Track Your Child’s Location.

I’ve discussed wearable kid tracking devices that are small in size and carried or worn by kids. Generally, the child knows he/she is wearing the device. There is another wearable device, the B’zT, that can track kids with or without their knowledge. This kid tracker is as wearable as a device can be.  It is sewed onto a T-shirt!

B’zT is a smart, comfortable, cotton, fabric T-shirt with a hidden tracker built in. It looks like a regular T-shirt. And is not easily detected.

The tracking device is a proximity-based Bluetooth tracking chipset. The chipset is sew into the fabric or a patch on the shirt.

What is proximity-based Bluetooth tracking?

In order to understand the B’zT compared to the other devices previously discussed, I need to give you a technical overview.  But I’ll keep it brief.

Proxmity-based Bluetooth is a wireless portal that connects devices that are in close proximity to each other. It allows them to communicate over radio waves. B’zT is not a GPS system like many of the tracking systems.

The technology supporting B’zT’s is Bluetooth Low Energy. The development of Bluetooth Low Energy (known as BLE or Bluetooth 4.0) increased the way Bluetooth devices are utilized. BLE can be placed in tabs and other small devices. It can be attached to keys, purses and other items you want to track. B’zT is on of many devices that depend on BLE .

These tiny devices function off a small battery for almost a year without having to be recharged or having to replace the battery. Due to low energy usage it is ideal for a chip that can be embedded in the clothes our children wear which allows you to track your kid while the shirt is being worn.

The chip is linked to your smartphone via BLE. It forms a radio-based link that creates continuous communication between you and your gadget. The B’zT then attaches you to your child through your smartphone, computer and/or tablet using this technology.

What does this technical gibberish mean for B’zT ?

The chip is embedded in a patch, pocket or fabric. The T-shirt and chip are machine washable. The chip has a battery that lasts 10 months.  The batter does not require charging and does not have to be replaced.  B’zT has to be activated by pushing its button 10 times. Manual activation prevents the battery from being drained when not in use. The design of the button combined with the type of molding material used on the chipset protect the B’zT’s electronic circuits when washed.

How does the T-shirt track your child?

The B’zT is easy to set up with your smartphone. It’s similar to setting up a Fitbit to the Fitbit app except there is an additional step. You register your child. Once B’zT is setup, the app scans the tracking device automatically. When your child is wearing the B’zT and wanders off, the B’zT tracking system issues an alarm. When he/she is near you the app shows a green circle on your phone or other devices you’ve linked to B’zT. When your kid is more than 50-70m (164.04 ft – 229.65 ft.) from you, the circle becomes orange and the alarm goes off. The tracker shows the last location of your child before the alarm goes off.

B’zT is another tool in our efforts to keep our kids safe.

The cost of B’zT is comparable to other T-shirts your children wear. And it does not require a monthly carrier fee like many of the other kid tracking devices.

If you are looking to create additional safety for your child, B’zT is a viable option allowing you to keep track of your kid without having to spend a lot of money on the initial purchase and ongoing monthly fees.

Tracking Kids

Tracking Our Kids

Many of us work or do not drive our kids to and from school for a variety of reasons. Consequently, our children may walk to school. Other children may commute to and from on school buses and public transportation. Some may even drive to school once they reach legal driving age. Others may occasionally use car services like Uber or Lyft. Even though, these services have policies against kids under eighteen riding without an adult. Children of working parents may become latch-key kids before and/or after school. When we cannot transport our kids from point A to B we want to know they are safe. We want to communicate with them. And we want to know their location. Did they get to school safe? Are they home after school?

Their independence and mobility make parents seek resources to locate their kids and help ensure their safety. These circumstances are ideal for parents to use technology for tracking kids.

Our children attend after school activities, sports games or social events that takes them away from home and outside our direct supervision. They may travel to and from their engagements with friends. Or they may travel alone without you or other adults. Sometimes we relish their independence. Other times their independence can be troubling. Their freedom becomes worrisome when it conflicts with our need to know their whereabouts and our concern for their safety. Their freedom to move about without us becomes a problem when our child has not answered our calls or has not responded to our text messages in a timely manner. Parents begin to worry when they are out of touch with their kids. We fear they are not where they should be, lost or in harms way. Our violent society feeds their apprehension. Kidnappings, acts of violence and reports of missing children occur all over the nation. We hear about these threats and acts all too often in the media. No wonder we are looking for ways to track our kids.

There are several devices on the market that are available to help us track our kids and ease our concerns. These devices vary in functionality and scope. I’ve found that kid tracking technology comes in three different forms:

    1. Smart watches
    2. Gadgets that can be worn on our kid’s clothes.
    3. And devices that are carried in a pocket or attached to wrist band or a clip.

I am going to take a closer look at the devices in that are not smart watches. Instead, I’m going to examine tracking devices that attach to kids’ clothing or are carried in pockets, wrist bands or clips

I found several devices that are attached to clothing or carried with some type of holder such as a band, clip or loop. Three of the most popular are the AngelSense Kids’ GPS Tracker, Jiobit and PocketFinder.

The AngelSense Kids’ GPS

The AngelSense Kids’ GPS is a GPS tracker that attaches to your child with special fasteners. It can be securely attached to a pocket or belt. The only way to remove AngelSense is to unlock the device with the magnetic key. OR remove the clothing that it’s attached to. The device is good for a special needs child or anyone that has autism or dementia.

In reality AngelSense Kids’ is an older Verizon phone. But it doesn’t work like a regular cell phone and it doesn’t have a screen. AngelSense offers:

    • Safety-zone setup
    • Thirty-second updates
    • Parent’s listen-in functions. Put your mind at ease by checking on your child. AngelSense gives you a chance to spy on your kid. You can see for yourself if she is okay. Is someone bullying your son?
    • Two way voice – walkie-talkie style. You and your child can talk without the need for him to pick up or click on any buttons. This is a valuable feature for children with sensory sensitivities such as sensitivity to touch, sound or light.

You can set up various alerts such as:

    • wandering alert
    • unexpected vehicle stop alert
    • late departure alert
    • runner alert – used for finding a lost child
    • first responder alert – one click, text messaging to a designated group of people regarding yourlost child. Additionally, you have a live view of your child’s location and directions to that location and your child.

“Less is more” comes to mind when I think of a child with autism or other disability affecting his motor skills. Using a cell phone could be challenging or almost impossible to maneuver. AngelSense addresses this issue with the two-way talk feature. The device offers a multitude of other features. In addition to tracking, it helps you stay connected with your child. It offers alerts to keep you on top of his activities. AngelSense gives you the ability to actually hear what is happening as it occurs. As parents, we know that some kids may find this feature intrusive. However, a special needs child may find it reassuring.

The Jiobit

The Jiobit is a tiny waterproof GPS tracker with a built-in loop that can be attached to shoe strings, a belt or a button hole. Attachments are available so the Jiobit can be worn on a waistband clip, secure loop, strap clip or an outer sleeve. It can be attached to shoe strings, a belt or a button hole. It is lightweight and about the size of a double “A” battery.

Jiobit is Kidsafer certified. The company offers a 30-day risk free trial. It has GPS tracking and Bluetooth tethering. Bluetooth tethering sets off an alarm when your child exceeds the range of distance you established. It works with an Android or iOS app. The owner can invite other app users to be caregivers. The caregivers’ phones will automatically attach to Jiobit when it is in range. Parents or caregivers can set Trusted Places, which are geofences. The geofence has a radius of 100 to 800 feet from a specific point/location. Caregivers will be alerted when the device enters or leaves a designated radius

The PocketFinder

The PocketFinder is a key chain size mini GPS tracking device that claims to be the best small GPS tracker for kids and pets. It is made of military grade material providing excellent durability and has military grade privacy protection. Military grade privacy makes PocketFinder hack proof. PocketFinder tracks your child’s location and direction. And it provides up to 60 days of recorded history. You can use a smartphone or web browser to connect to the application. It’s easy to set up and allows you to establish safe zones. Alerts can be set up for when your kid enters or exists a safe zone. When your child needs to contact you, he can send a SOS signal by pushing the PocketFinder’s SOS button. Speed limit alerts can also be set up to monitor vehicles. The PocketFinder features multiple alerts to emails, applications and SMS.

I’ve discussed three wearable devices to track your kid. Each has a GPS tracking, monthly service fees and alerts to notify you of various activities such as entering and exiting safe zones, arriving late for school and more. Prices may vary. I found these range from around $129.99 for the Jiobit, $159.00 for the PocketFinder and the AngelSense sells for $229. Because our lives and that of our children are demanding and busy, we cannot always be present for every kids’ activity. So we seek ways to be in touch with them. We look to devices for support. And we willingly incur yet another monthly service fee for these tracking gadgets. We begin the process of tracking our kids with optimism. Hopefully, we gain some sense of assurance that our kids are accessible to us and safe.

 

Who is Nevaeh?

About Nevaeh Turner

I am one of those people that “minds everyone else’s business”. I don’t get involved in the sense of being a “busy body” or gossiping. Or to stimulate conversation about the news or celebrities. Nor do I think I’m an expert on anything. So. Why do I dig into another people’s business? I think it is because subconsciously I want to fix things. And I believe in the old cliché “you can’t see the forest for the trees”. When I see a problem, I will recommend a solution. Or I’ll make a suggestion that may enhance a person’s situation. This is my version of “minding everyone else’s business”.

MY WORLD GROWING UP

When I was growing up or as one of my kids said, “back in the olden days” parents knew their kids’ whereabouts. Or if they were roaming around away from home, they were out and about after completing their homework or chores. Parents may not have known their child’s exact location. However, the parameters of the kids’ freedom usually involved some geographic radius from home, restricted neighborhoods or other boundaries. Those boundaries may have included such prohibited entities such as railroad tracks or river banks.

You get the idea! There may have even been people that their kids were not allowed to interact with, like the local drunk or perceived hoodlums

I think there is one parameter that gets the most notoriety among comedians and grown folks reminiscing about their childhood. That parameter is the world renown curfew. The curfew that was implemented across the country, the “street light rule”. In case, you don’t know or haven’t heard of the rule, it meant that you had to be home by the time the street lights in your neighbor came on.

Most of us have experienced some, if not all of these restrictions growing up in an era where there didn’t seem to be a constant threat to our safety. My freedom, even with some rules in place, occurred in a time when the world wasn’t the violent untrustworthy place it is today.

Perhaps you grew up in a neighborhood like I did where there was honor among the shady folks, criminals and “thugs”. These undesirable folks didn’t bother or harm children or the elderly. Some actually showed respect for their elders. But we don’t live in that world anymore.

Anyone that has children growing up today has probably experienced the concern or perhaps fear that develops when your child is not at home and you cannot get in touch with them. If you’ve been concerned or worried you probably called repeatedly, leaving messages to call you. And/or you sent repeated text messages hoping for a response. You may have called their known friends hoping to get a lead. Or to find out why your child has not responded to your calls and text messages. Back in the “olden days” parents did not have these concerns as frequently as they do today

TODAY KIDS ARE MORE MOBILE boy on train_person-731165_640-1

It is not uncommon for parents to seek out ways to locate their kids. Particularly when the child is traveling about the town or community without a parent or trusted guardian. This is often the case whether the child is commuting to school, a parent approved activity or hanging out with friends. Today parents have technology to help locate their children.

I am going to explore some of these options. I will provide you with insight into how to track your kids. Whether you might want to locate them because you are curious, they are past their curfew or you have concerns because your teen hasn’t reposed to your call. I will identify existing technology and the pros and cons of each.

This information will help you decide if technology is the right approach for you. And if so, which methods of tracking will give you some control or at least some sense of security over your child’s whereabouts and safety. But keep in mind that tracking devices do not guarantee your child’s safety. They are aides to assist in identifying location.

Nevaeh Turner

Founder of trackingmykid.com

email – nevaeh@trackingmykid.com