The local television station in my area recently did a story on the company GTX and who has managed to integrate GPS technology into tennis shoes. The shoes look like your basic tennis shoes, but have a built-in GPS system that gives parents the ability to track their children on their home or work computer whenever they are wearing the shoes. The shoes are also eqipt with a “Panic Button” that a child can press if they are in a dangerous situation and need help.
When I first saw these shoes I thought they were a fabulous idea. The shoes can ease the minds of parents everywhere who will have the ability to track their children and know where they are at all times. More importantly if your child is every kidnapped they can press the panic button on their shoes and you will know about it immediately. These shoes could mean the end to lost children and frightened parents.
The more I thought about it, the more I disliked the idea however. There are obvious benefits, yes. Chances are if you child is going to go somewhere that they don’t want to be found however they are going to have the common sense to change their shoes beforehand. Likewise, if someone is going to kidnap someone and is in the least bit informed they will more than likely take the kid and leave their shoes behind.
Despite all of those things, I also think that tracking your child’s moves 24 hours a day is a little too much. Ok, I think it’s a lot too much. There comes a point where you have to trust that your child is going to behave appropriately and go where they’re supposed to go and do what they’re supposed to do. Tracking your child 2 hours a day is incredibly intrusive. As a parent I could see it as giving me a sense of security and making me feel better, but it takes so much away from your child. No one needs to be tracked 24 hours a day, child or not.
What are your thoughts?