FEATURE: Family locators

One of the fastest-growing apps (for android and/or iPhone) is what's known as a "family locator" app.

If you have used "Find my phone" on your iPhone, then you have used a similar application. "Find my phone" uses GPS, ie, Global Positioning System, a technical breakthough of the latter 20th century. See sidebar.

Family locators are also known as GPS trackers. Both allow you to keep track of your children and family members using GPS; what they offer and how they do it is different.

The GPS tracker incorporates a dedicated app or computer program that allow you to see the location of the tracker on a map. They're small and come in several forms, such as watches and tag-like plastic discs. These are also known as personal trackers.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, you can also use a smartphone as a locator or tracker; all modern smartphones have GPS receivers built into them, (you will need to upload the specific app that you want to use).

What these locators or trackers have in common is cost. In 1989, when Magellan Navigation Inc. unveiled its Magellan NAV 1000—the world’s first commercial handheld GPS receiver, these units initially sold for approximately $2,900 each.

With increasing popularity, changes in the GPS technology and a significant price drop, GPS as a family locator and/or tracker is now in the reach of more people and families.

Why should you consider buying a dedicated GPS tracker over a smartphone as a locator/tracker?

According to Daniel Staub, a writer and reviewer for GPS Tracker Review,

For one, smartphone data plans are more expensive than even the most expensive GPS tracker data plan. So, if you want to track your child who isn't yet old enough for a smartphone, then GPS trackers are a more affordable way to do it.

Second, they typically have better battery life than smartphones. This means that in an emergency you can rely on a more dependable battery.

Third, they are more discreet than smartphones. In a worst-case abduction situation, a GPS tracker is far more likely to go unnoticed than a smartphone.

Concerning GPS trackers, while some GPS trackers have the cost of service as part of their initial price, the overwhelming majority requires a service plan from AT&T or T-Mobile. Monthly subscriptions typically cost between $10 and $40 per month, and the GPS trackers we reviewed range in price from $80 to about $250.

For family locator services, most - if not all, of the major cell phone carriers now offer this service. Some services, like Verizon, Sprint and AT&T, charge an extra $5 to $10 a month on top ofyour monthly cell phone bill.

Some products that have received a lot of recent attention are:

Life360 family locator app

Life360 runs on your mobile device to allow you to view your family members on a map, communicate with them, and receive alerts when your loved ones arrive at home, school or work.Download the free app. Premium service is $4.99 monthly.

Website:

Verizon Family Locator

Verizon’s Family Locator enables subscribers to find a family member’s phone on an interactive map via a computer or mobile device. It allows a parent to see when their child or spouse has arrived at or left a location without the need for a phone call or “check in”. Similar to AT&T’s locator service, Verizon’s Family Locator features pre-scheduled text alerts to inform you of your family member’s arrival or departure without needing to look for them on the map interface or contacting them. Cost is $9.99 monthly..+ phone bill

Website:

Amber Alert GPS

The Amber Alert GPS is a GPS tracker optimized for kids. Its features include two-way calling, a panic button and live tracking. It also has customizable zones and alerts.

Website:

Pocketfinder

The PocketFinder GPS tracker is a minimalistic device with exceptional battery life. You won't find extra features, such as voice-to-voice capabilities, but the PocketFinder is simple to track and easy to use.

Website:

Let's think about how you might use this within your own family.

Child

Children have a sense of curiosity that may lead them to wander off or explore.Sadly, children are also abducted or kidnapped.

Wandering is a similar problem found with children with autism; According to the National Autism Association, children with Autism are prone to wandering away from a safe environment. Unfortunately, many cases may end in tragedy.

This article discusses some location devices specific for children.

Link:

This website discusses a product that is specifically for children with disabilities(including autism).

Link:

Person with dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia erase a person’s memory so that familiar surroundings become unfamiliar. The disorientation of the disease often leads to wandering, a common and serious concern for many caregivers who worry their loved one may become frightened, lost or apt to walk into a dangerous situation.

This article describes several location devices for people with Alzheimer's or dementia.

Link:

To help you decide if you need this technology for your family, here are reviews of trackers, apps and family locators:

-Top Ten review of GPS Trackers

-NYTimes review of tracking apps

-Review of Family locators

-

Does your loved one with aphasia need this same technology?

Source:

GPS Locators for Seniors and Children

1