Keruve GPS locator promises to keep watch on Alzheimer's patients

There's plenty of people-tracking GPS devices out there to choose from, but if you're in need of something a bit more specialized, you may want to consider this latest device from Keruve, which is apparently intended specifically for Alzheimer's patients. To that end, the system employs a GPS tracker bracelet that's water-proof and can only be removed with a special tool -- it can also apparently fall back on cell tower triangulation (otherwise known as A-GPS) provide a location when regular GPS is unavailable. As you can see above, that gets paired with a handheld unit that pinpoints the patient's location on a map, but the entire kit doesn't exactly come cheap, with it setting you back €850 (or about $1,340).

[Via NaviGadget]

[rick @ Jul 14th 2008 11:31AM]

why am i wearing this ugy wristwatch?

[Ryan @ Jul 14th 2008 11:39AM]

That may be the funniest thing I've ever read in my entire life. Thank you.

[Uprising @ Jul 14th 2008 11:32AM]

neat

[LordHamster @ Jul 14th 2008 11:39AM]

A-GPS is NOT cell phone triangulation.

A-GPS is the GPS device getting satellite orbit data from cell towers rather than over the air, it simply speeds up the process of getting a first lock on.

[Wwhat @ Jul 14th 2008 11:44AM]

Your emphasis on 'not' is a mistake it seems:

An A-GPS receiver can address these problems in several ways, using an Assistance Server:

* The Assistance Server can locate the phone roughly by what cell site it is connected to on the cellular network.
* The Assistance Server has a good satellite signal, and lots of computation power, so it can compare fragmentary signals relayed to it by cell phones, with the satellite signal it receives directly, and then inform the cell phone or emergency services of the cell phone's position.
* It can supply orbital data for the GPS satellites to the cell phone, enabling the cell phone to lock to the satellites when it otherwise could not, and autonomously calculate its position.
* By having accurate, surveyed coordinates for the cell site towers, it can have better knowledge of ionospheric conditions and other errors affecting the GPS signal than the cell phone alone, enabling more precise calculation of position. (See also Wide Area Augmentation System)

[Magallanes @ Jul 14th 2008 12:15PM]

So yes, usually a-gps is misslabeled as those "fake gps" service where the cellphone will try to triangulate the distance and to obtain a "not so near" position, while that a-gps will need a real gps to work.

[natels @ Jul 14th 2008 11:43AM]

LAST!

[andres @ Jul 14th 2008 11:43AM]

first to be a jerk
first to fail
but not first to post

[Idlemind @ Jul 14th 2008 11:50AM]

"...can only be removed with a special tool..."

Like a pair of scissors?

[cayton @ Jul 14th 2008 11:54AM]

Or John Mayer.

[Khris @ Jul 14th 2008 12:29PM]

John Mayer is far from special.....definitely a tool however!

[Dr. Evil @ Jul 14th 2008 11:59AM]

... What, no tasteless pictures of this strapped to Reagan's head this time? What gives? Oh it's not a Paul Miller story.

[Wwhat @ Jul 14th 2008 1:54PM]

Geez you are a bitter person stuck in another decade is what you are telling us then? Well perhaps we don't care, take that into consideration.

[Dr. Evil @ Jul 14th 2008 2:00PM]

Well, I guess, if you call June 27, 2008 "another decade".

Relive the uglyness if you dare:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/27/laser-headband-for-alzheimers-patients-and-for-really-cool-peo/

[mike @ Jul 14th 2008 12:10PM]

Unless it's passively powered by the motion and/or body heat of the wearer, then there is no way this would work. I'm constantly forgetting to recharge my electronic devices, and my brain is still relatively healthy.

[kal326 @ Jul 14th 2008 12:01PM]

Are we really loosing enough alzheimer's patients to warrant such a device? You would think competent medic staff or family would be able to keep these people safe and not out wandering the streets. Wouldn't this technology with the addition of a good sized taser be much more suitable for use on teenagers? Think of it as juniors version of the invisible fence.

[Magallanes @ Jul 14th 2008 12:17PM]

And, can be used with kids?.

[Khris @ Jul 14th 2008 12:30PM]

Don't need to track them when they're locked in the basement.

[Idlemind @ Jul 14th 2008 12:19PM]

it is a little expensive too... well actually cheaper than buying a new Gramps...

[phanbouy @ Jul 14th 2008 12:21PM]

that was about on par with your "FIRST" comment

[Rob @ Jul 14th 2008 12:52PM]

Why would you need this when the person is standing right next to you. Just kidding. This would do fine, I guess.

[onebluehaze @ Jul 14th 2008 12:57PM]

If you have ever taken care of an Alzheimer patient (I have) then you would know that thing wouldn't last little more than 30 minutes on their arm and would probably end up in a toilet or some place bound to keep you on the move. They're some tough, sneaky people!

[kal326 @ Jul 14th 2008 1:25PM]

@onebluehaze
I have not had the "pleasure" of taking care of one yet, my parents are still relatively young (mid 50s) and all of my grandparents have passed. However the day somebody gets this thing off and leaves it in a taxi or straps it to somebody else's luggage would be quite hilarious. Holy shit, grandpa just hit 500mph going due east!

[BossyBoss @ Jul 14th 2008 1:56PM]

Where am I?

[frank @ Jul 14th 2008 2:30PM]

my father in law has middle stage alzheimers, and I think this is a fantastic product. It could cost double that and it would be worth it.

When he is at home he is very easy to deal with, and the product would be not so useful. When we are in crowds it becomes difficult keeping an eye on him. Or if he goes to the bathroom in a mall or something he might not come back. This will give us hope of going on vacation with him again, because as it stands we would not want to risk turning around and having him missing in a foreign country.

[XYZ @ Jul 14th 2008 2:53PM]

Do you know what this article is missing? A picture of Ronald Reagan wearing the tracking bracelet!

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

[TopaZ @ Jul 14th 2008 2:58PM]

I agree with Frank. My Dad is in the very early stages, which is where this device is most useful imo.

Because right now, when he takes the dog for a walk, we're 99.5% certain he can find his way home. But as the disease progresses, we'd like him to continue to enjoy his walks without us having to worry about the first time that he'll get lost.

[BigD145 @ Jul 14th 2008 3:33PM]

Or you could just pay attention to grandpa instead of forcing him into a nursing home he doesn't want to be in and is constantly trying to escape from. /whew Damn run-ons.

[rita hainsworth @ Jul 14th 2008 4:51PM]

I have this attached to my boyfriends..ahh...um..arm.

[Fzzt @ Jul 14th 2008 7:25PM]

The cost of this device is sure a lot less than what an ambulance service charges for rounding up a patient.
What would be really good is to have a device like that built into a watch that old people & kids would want to wear.
I'm not old and I'd wear one just in case.

[xaingo @ Jul 14th 2008 6:04PM]

What does this device do?

What are we talking about?

[Mr Metzer @ Jul 15th 2008 10:18AM]

doesn't it look alot like the nokia 7710

[Madison @ Jul 16th 2008 2:10AM]

and apparently it uses google maps...

[Sherry @ Jul 16th 2008 6:49PM]

Boy are there some uneducated "sick" individuals out there.

Alzhiemers is a very sad disease. Loved ones struggle with allowing

the sufferer to maintain thier independence. It doesn't matter how

attentive family/care givers are. Everyone has to sleep and use the

bathroom. It only takes a second for someone with Alhiemers to wander.

Actually 60-70% of them will. Of them 80% will die if not found in 24hrs.

With secured facilities costing over $5,000- $10,000 per month, $7,000 -

$12,000 plus for around the clock home care putting the client

in unfamiliar surroundings away from what and who they love and

loves them. And with the cost of a search and rescue, the cost is

minimal.

Maybe we need to consentrate on making them affordably to all who

suffer. I agree most Alzheimers people would have it off in a matter of

time but that could be something manufaturers could work on. I think the

idea is awesome, needed and could save the government much money

allowing them to stay home as long as possible.

I wish I had the money and smarts to improve on this idea. It's very much

needed.

[Andrew M. @ Oct 5th 2009 5:26AM]

"I wish I had the money and smarts to improve on this idea. It's very much needed."
I'm agree with you Sherry.

your wishes have been granted:
New Keruve 2010 http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2009/10/03/gps-tracking-for-alzheimers-patients