Bluespan
Inc., develops and markets
wireless communication devices to help
monitor and find people, property and pets.
The initial product is a patent approved
point-to-point monitoring system (“ionKids ä ”)
consisting of a parent device (Base Unit)
and a child’s wrist device (Wristag™).
Wrist Device, Base
Unit
The Company’s initial product application
was to provide a technological solution
for those frequent periods when a parent
loses sight of their child in a theme park,
camping, hiking, in a store, mall, airport,
or simply in their backyard, home or neighborhood
park. Subsequently management realized
that the product also has invaluable applications
for keeping track both of senior citizens
and pets. The product launch is targeted
at parents of children ages 2-10. After
success in this market the Bluespan is
focusing is product benefits towards parents
of children with developmental disorders
such as Down Syndrome or Autism. Parents
of these special children who have purchased
ionKids products have told Bluespan that
the devices have totally changed their
lives, allowing the parents to keep track
of their child and lead a more normal life.
In addition, persons responsible for adults,
who for example, might be afflicted with
Alzheimer’s, also have voiced a strong
interest in the ionKids products.
Additionally, this product
can be used to monitor objects and personal
property such as purses or briefcases that
might be stolen or lost at airports, malls
restaurants, etc.
The Product
Bluespan created the ionKids communication
system to help parents monitor the whereabouts
of their children. The Base Unit (about
the size of a small cell phone) and Wristag
(a wristwatch sized device) operate in
the 908 to 921 MHz range. They communicate
using patented technology across spread
spectrum and employ “rolling code” technology
that virtually eliminate the possibility
of signal theft and tracking by anyone
but the assigned guardian. In addition,
these technological features allow thousands
of units to operate in a close proximity
without signal collisions or another’s
Base Unit picking up the signals on an
incorrect Wristag.
Each Base Unit can simultaneously monitor
up to four Wristags. Based on comments
from consumers who have purchased the products,
ionKids products dramatically reduce the
stresses associated with the thought of
losing one’s child simply because
the child is out of sight.
How the Product Works
The child wears an adjustable locking
Wristag or a Belt Holder. No actions by
the child are required to make the ionKids
products properly function. The Wristag
is secured to the child using a specially
designed clasp that is nearly impossible
for a child to open. An unlock key is attached
to the Base Unit. (Additional unlock keys
are provided in each Starter Kit.) In an
emergency, any parent device can unlock
the Wristag but only the activating parent
device can do so without setting off an
alarm on both the Wristag and Base Unit.
The Wristag is tamper-proof and will activate
an alarm if the Wristag is removed from
the child in an unauthorized manner. (Sensors
on the underside of the Wristag will detect
if the Wristag is moved more than ½” from
the child’s skin.)
The parent has a Base Unit, unit that
simultaneously monitors up to four children.
Bluespan’s solution requires NO child
interaction. The parent sets the distance
the Wristags / children are allowed to
be from the parent. When the child exceeds
that distance a sounder, lights and vibrating
motor are activated in the Base Unit. The
display shows the approximate distance
from the parent of each monitored child
plus identifies which child is outside
the Zone of Comfort. Pressing the “Find” button
followed by selecting which child to “Find” activates
special hardware and software in the Base
Unit that determines the direction the
Wristag is from the Base unit and displays
the direction of the Wristag. (This is
part of the Company’s patented technology.)
The Base unit also has a Return To Base
feature that activates both a sounder and
lights in the summoned Wristag(s) alerting
the children to return or seek assistance
from an adult.
To set the distance that the monitored
Wristags can roam without activating an
alarm simply requires setting the variable
distance switch on the Base Unit. This
roaming distance is referred to as the
Zone of Comfort. In essence, the parent
activates an invisible circle and as long
as the Wristags remain within that Zone
of Comfort no alarms sound. This allows
children the freedom to play and explore.
If a child approaches the edge of the Zone
an alarm will sound on the Parent Unit.
The parent has options of either summoning
the child (using the “Return to Base” feature)
or extending the Zone of Comfort (by toggling
the distance switch.) If the child actually
moves beyond the Zone of Comfort, the parent
would also use the Find feature to identify
the direction of the child.
The primary features (most protected by
US Patent # 6,778,902 issued August 17,
2004) which represents significant barriers
to entry of the ionKids products are:
- Frequency hopping to change frequencies
for communication. This significantly
reduces the chances of a “scanner” tracking
a child and allows for hundreds of units
to be used in a close area such as a
theme park. (Patented)
- The integration of a omni-directional
(Monitoring) and directional (Finding)
antenna into one device. (Patented)
- One button switching from the omni-directional
to directional antenna. (Patented).
- A childproof locking mechanism on the
Wristag that can be opened only by the
special key found on the Base Unit. Removal
of the Wristag by any means other than
the Base Unit that locked it on the child
will sound an alarm.
- Sensors on the underside of the Wristag
to detect removal. (Patent Pending)
- The ability of the Base Unit to change
immediately from a “monitoring” device
(keeping track of various Wristags) to
a “finding” device (that
pinpoints the direction a particular
Wristag is from the Base Unit.) (Patented)
- The ability of the Base Unit to summon
all Wristags via the “Return to
Base” feature.
- The ability of the
Base Unit to find one Wristag while
still monitoring the other Wristags.
- The capability of the Base Unit to
set a variable distance that Wristags
can operate from The Base.
- The ability to disable one Wristag
while continuing to monitor other Wristags.
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Press below to
purchase one today!
Starter kit is only $199.95
(includes
everything a parent needs for one child)
Extra Wristags
are $49.95 |
Web Sites
Bluespan: http://www.bluespan.com
ionKids: http://www.ion-kids.com
Please contact Bruce Cummings – CEO/President
for additional information at bruce@bluespan.com.
Office 512.610.5300
Cell 512.415.6358
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