Portable devices, including cell phones and laptops, are great until their portability makes them ripe for theft or accidental disappearance. To help forgetful – or paranoid – device owners, British company TenBu today unveiled a Bluetooth-powered personal alarm system to ensure no device goes missing.
The simple gadget, nio, is made up a Bluetooth tag and software link that downloads directly onto the user’s mobile phone, creating a personalized security zone of up to 25 meters. The tag protects both the mobile phone and whatever device it is attached to, presumably a keychain. If that zone is breached, the tagged item and phone sound the alarm, an audible noise and flashing blue light.
Nio works on most smartphones, according to the company, and is designed for ease of use. The software can control multiple tags, including on laptops and memory sticks, simultaneously, each with an identifying name and image on the mobile phone. In “high-risk” environments such as a crowded train on a commute, users can active a motion sensor to alert them if anyone moves their tagged item. The device also includes a locate tone for items that are misplaced and a calendar to preset specific times to activate the tag. A rechargeable battery can keep the $65 device on standby for several weeks.
Outside of the stress and expense of having to purchase a new phone or laptop, TenBu points out that protecting portable devices also prevents others from gaining access to the bevy of personal information these devices typically contain. According to the company, an estimated 2,600 mobile phones are lost or stolen every minute somewhere in the world and, often, the user doesn’t realize it’s gone until it’s too late.