 How did we manage without modern conveniences? It's clear that we can't do without cell phones, remote controls, USB drives, and other ever-smaller techno-wonders; we're shocked and inconvenienced when we misplace them.
And it's equally unpleasant losing eyeglasses, purse,umbrella, and other old-school possessions. But it's impractical to glue them down, and the patronizing advice to always put things in the same places is more annoying than helpful. So Loc8tor, a new gadget for finding what's gone astray, is quite handy.
The concept is simple: attach small electronic tags to precious objects (keys, children, remote controls, pets, automobiles, etc.). When they go missing, use the cigarette-pack size handheld locator to find them, up to 600 feet away. Searching starts with a button push, energizing a radar-like display. As you turn in a circle, the screen reveals the rough direction in which to look. Approaching the missing object excites the handheld, raising the tone and volume of its beep and zooming in the display to show precise location.
While the handheld only displays two dimensions (lacking height), it responds to being aimed up or down if you're not on the same level as the missing object. The tag/handheld team works quite well through home walls/floors/ceilings and might even be useful in a multi-level parking structure.
Upgrading to Loc8tor Plus (at initial purchase or later) adds two tricks: First, you can set the maximum allowed distance between tag and handheld. If the tag moves too far away, the handheld sounds an alert. This can prevent forgetting valuables such as a purse or briefcase, or notify when a pet or child strays. Second, a special panic-button tag -- useful for anyone needing to send a quick alert -- can signal the handheld, generating vibration and loud tone notification.
Initial setup and use is straightforward. The handheld gives a cheery greeting when first powered on; it can monitor and locate p to 24 tags. It provides an extensive menu for controlling individual tag status and overall handheld settings. Four colored uttons and a central navigation ring allow quick use of common functions and menu navigation.
Tags are turned on by pulling a small tab to connect the battery, then registered to the handheld with a name you assign. You'll use names to specify which tag to locate or for setting tag-specific options. Tags fasten to objects via double-sided adhesive patches or key-ring loops. Tag failure is avoided by their signaling the handheld as internal batteries lose power.
A few charming but understandable Britishisms in the clearly written manual reveal the product's heritage. The manual describes both the Loc8tor and Loc8tor Plus products with a few sections applying only to the Plus version. With Loc8tor in hand, the product's motto, "Don't lose it, locate it", is good advice.
Manufacturer: Loc8tor, Ltd. www.loc8tor.com
Retail: Loc8tor Pack (handheld, two homing tags) $99.99
Loc8tor Plus Pack (handheld, three homing tags, one panic tag) $179.99
Date: 12/22/2006
This article from the CompuKISS Web site, www.compukiss.com, is copyrighted by Gabriel Goldberg. It may be reproduced, for single use,or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, with attribution to CompuKISS. It should be unchanged and this paragraph included. Please e-mail
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