Geomate Jr GPS Is One Way to Get Kids To Play Outside
Assuming the entire GPS system doesn't blow up and fall out of the sky sometime next year, the Geomate.jr GPS system seems like a fantastic way to trick your kids into getting outside and being healthy. The fact of he matter is that kids are very techsavvy and tech oriented; a gadget like a rugged, personal, and kid focused GPS device might actually be able to peel a kid away from a PS3 or Nintendo DSi. Plus if the parents have a GPS, then the whole family can go out Geocaching together; maybe everyone can get a bit healthy.
The Geomate.jr GPS runs on a few AAA batteries, and it is both splashproof and shock-resistant. The unit is not too big for little hands, and the color schemes of bright blue and green should catch a kid's eye. It features a monochrome LCD screen, but it is not backlit; after all, it is a sort of technical toy. The Geomate.jr is not a traditional GPS, your kid won't be able to cruise the block on his big wheel using the Geomate for turn-by-turn directions. Instead, it is preloaded with over 250,000 Geocaches from inside the United States, so you and your family can get out and start treasure hunting out-of-the-box.
The Geomate.jr will be available this summer. There is no word on pricing yet, but I would be shocked if the thing was over $99. In fact, I am betting more on the $49 range. If my prediction is true, then the Geomate.jr would be a great low-cost way to introduce a family to the art of Geocaching.
via CNET
