locator watch

A wireless tracking technology that uses low-power transmitters to keep tabs on whoever is wearing the watch. For example, if a family goes to a large amusement park, parents can rent locator watches for their children. Scientists are using this technology to develop a device with a biosensor to monitor physical ailments (such as diabetes or a heart condition).

A GPS receiver pinpoints the coordinates of its wearer, and a wireless transceiver transmits the diagnostic and location information to a computer, say, in a doctor's office (over a wireless network). Like implanted monitoring technology (see RFID), locator watches raise privacy concerns.