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Comment by callmeed | Hacker News Reader

As a parent of 4 (ages 1 to 15), here's what springs to mind:

- Privacy. Just the thought of a service knowing my child's whereabouts at all times or their historical data being in "the cloud" will probably give some people pause.

- Having a locked bracelet/anklet on anyone immediately makes me think of house arrest/imprisonment/sci-fi movies. I know that sounds silly, but it did enter my head.

- I live in a very safe city (Bend, OR). Maybe it's different in urban areas, but really ... how many people would say "I feel like my neighborhood is unsafe"

- Furthermore, of those who live in an unsafe city and need this service, most of them probably can't afford it

- How the heck is a bracelet going to prevent a babysitter from hitting my child?

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These are all good points.

Even if one were to figure out just how to target the clinically-paranoid parental market, I doubt there's enough daylight between this idea and the cell phone. Cell phones are in continuous contact with authorities and come with video and audio. But kids actually want to carry cell phones. Having a cell phone gives you capabilities. Wearing a single-purpose electronic leash that's attached to your mom just leads to embarrassment.

Could one market this to the parents of kids too young for cell phones? What kid is that, exactly? Infants don't roam very far, and any kid older than three can use a cell phone. That cell phone will almost certainly be cheaper than this device, and the kid that can be trusted not to break, lose, or perpetually forget to carry this device can probably also be trusted with that cheap cell phone.

I appreciate your comments, becoming aware of what consumers think about this idea was the entire idea of this post question.

Respectful rebuttals: 1. Criminals and sexual offenders are everywhere (see national registry) and I don't think being concerned makes me a "paranoid parent"....FYI- I have 3 kids.

2. Building this functionality into a cell phone is an exciting thought.........but any criminal can just throw it out the window, it has to be affixed in an "alarm system" type way----I am open to ideas.

3. Business Week and TechCrunch---wow believe they agree---have both suggested that there are significant safety/value benefits to such a device. The real issue is that for kids older than 5 it must be cool and customizable so they like it.

Lastly, infants dont roam but are often abused. (i.e. terrible environments, screaming, not being changed often enough, shaking, etc.) that the parent never knows about because when they stop by at 5:30 to pick-up after work all seems perfect. It is a huge deal!

to be true, a bracelet will not prevent your child from being hit/taken/abused, but it will certainly prevent the all-to-common repeated abuse that occurs from "trusted" babysitters and allow you to find them immediately (gps) if God-forbid they are ever abducted.

I am thankful you are in a safe town. Most in the US, not just rural, who go on the national sex offender registry site are alarmed at how many of these criminals are within close proximity to their house and schools.

PS. I have 3 children and have purchased the watch gps option from a company. It has very real design flaws but I am comforted in knowing my child cannot be taken without me immediately notified and informed with location.

As I said, make it a cool looking "apple-like" device and some of the house arrest images will go away, I think. Google the girls Dugard and Smart and the thousands of others that disappear or are abused each year and the business becomes compelling. I DO NOT wish to be an alarmist but bottom line is nobody thinks it will happen to them.

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