EuroKids MyBuddy Locator
PRODUCT DESIGN I PERFORMANCE AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING I PRODUCTION LIAISON
THE EUROKIDS MYBUDDY LOCATOR STORY
The purpose of good brakes is to allow a vehicle to go faster. The purpose of a useful GPS enabled tracker is to allow kids more time and opportunity for Free Play. Eurokids, and their technology partner, Hug Innovations, engaged with us, when they had only a few months before the onset of summer, when parents sign up for camps and pre-school admissions. They needed a device that could track kids silently and keep the parents informed all the time. This they felt would put them ahead of other play schools in the minds of parents and children.
DESIGN FOR CHILDREN
While the locator houses a high quality powerful GPS antenna, the design is both playful, and matches with Eurokids’ mascot and house style. Children love the round watch like shape and the bunny on its face. They look at the device as if it were a watch like the ones their parents wear. The bright red panic button lets them to quickly contact their care givers. While the speaker warns them when they are going out of the area geo-fenced for them.
MADE TO LAST
The project went from design to manufacturing in under 10 weeks. This meant we had to work closely with hardware and software engineers, and end manufacturer. While timelines were set in stone, we had to ensure there was no compromise on quality. Children have sensitive skins and any rash would cause them to throw the device away. They also tend to fall and bump into things. GPS antennas tend to malfunction under impact or if they come in contact with water. As a result, we had to ensure that the EuroKids MyBuddy Locator was not only good looking, but also tough, safe and water proof.
