Shoes made for tracking soon to hit shelves in US

Miami, USA, 1 February 2007 - Quantum Satellite Technology, a company based in USA, has launched $325 to $350 sneakers that is going to hit the shelves in March. The sneakers promises to locate the wearer anywhere in the world with the press of a button. It's the latest in the GPS arsenal, which includes cell phones promising to keep children away from sexual predators and fitness watches that track heart rate and distance.

The shoe works when the wearer presses a button to activate the GPS. Once the wearer presses the button, he or she has about six hours until the battery expires. The call is fielded by the company's 24-hour monitoring system, which costs an additional $19.95 a month. In case of an emergency, such as when a patient with Alzheimer's or a child is missing and doesn't press the button, a parent, spouse or guardian can call the monitoring system and give their password, and operators can activate the GPS.

Although other GPS products often yield spotty results, the company has spent millions of dollars and nearly two years of research to guarantee accuracy. Their 2-by-3-inch chip, tucked into the bottom of the shoe, relies on a patented covert alarm apparatus, which integrates the GPS with a small computer.

Analysts say accuracy often depends on how many satellites the system can tap. "The technology is improving regularly. It's to the point where you can get fairly good reflection even in areas with a lot of tree coverage and skyscrapers," said Jessica Myers, a spokeswoman for Garmin, a leader in GPS technology based in Kansas. "You still need a pretty clear view of the sky to work effectively."

Source : http://washingtontimes.com