QUEEN'S ROAD: Tatya Global, a city-based start-up run by Ritesh Pandya and Vishwanath V Balur, has devised the gadget that is named Locus.
It weighs 40 gm and is enabled with GPS tracking, a SIM card and a panic button. When the child presses the button, the device will call three emergency contacts stored in it.
Parents can download the Locus app on their smartphones to track their children’s movement.
Ritesh Pandya says, “We realised that the 3G network has connectivity issues. So, we thought the app should be able to work with 2G as well. Not only is it more accessible, it also saves battery.”
The app also allows parents to create an unlimited number of ‘safe zones’ for their children and these can be time-bound. As and when the child steps out of a safe zone, the parent is sent a notification.
If a parent wants to check on where their child is, they can call the device and hear everything that is happening within 30 feet of the child.
The device also allows teachers and the school management to send notifications and circulars to parents regarding assignments and events. Teachers can send videos of the student to the parents. This can be used to share small achievements and milestones in school.
The device is priced at Rs 7,000. Acceptance is the challenge, say the founders of Tatya Global.
“Principals in schools are a little hesitant to accept this device. They still prefer diaries and handbooks over technology,” says Vishwanath Balur, who is the CTO of the company.
Gayatri Devi, principal of Little Flowers Public School, says, “Ensuring safety of children is important. But I am unsure of the gadget’s effectiveness, especially with the ever-increasing technology requirements. I don’t know the amount of safety it can guarantee for my students.”
Shashi Kumar D, general secretary of Karnataka Private Schools Association, says, “The device has its plus points but the constant monitoring can invade the child’s personal space. Such an invasion of privacy can cause psychological issues. Children can also misuse this device by leaving it anywhere they feel like. Another issue is the cost. Elite schools can afford it, but not government and small schools.”
Aparna Viswanathan, parent and entrepreneur, says, “The device will be useful only if the child is comfortable with it. Once the child is 10-11 years old, he/she might not want to wear it.”
She goes on to add that the device can be helpful in the case of little children and girls.”