Mobile Technology

Tinitell straps a mobile phone on kids' wrists

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Tinitell is a simple wrist-worn mobile phone designed to give children independence and give parents peace of mind
Tinitell is available in a range of colors that will appeal to kids
Tinitell is a simple wrist-worn mobile phone designed to give children independence and give parents peace of mind
Tinitell is made from silicone, making it durable and water-reistant
Tinitell packs the basic requirements needed of any phone into a small and simple package
Tinitell is designed to be durable enough to withstand kids' play
Tinitell is designed to be durable enough to withstand kids' play
Tinitell means children can play outside but still remain contactable at all times
Tinitell features an oversized answer/hang-up button even the smallest fingers should be able to operate
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Children need to be allowed to play outside from time to time, but some parents are often too concerned for the safety of their little ones to loosen the reins. Having kids wear a miniature mobile phone on their wrist so they can be contacted at any time may help ease those worries, which is where Tinitell could prove invaluable to nervous parents.

With Tinitell, Mats Horn and his team have created a simple mobile phone designed to be worn on the wrist. The design is minimal, with features limited to a microphone and speaker, an on/off switch, volume buttons, and a oversized answer/hang up button. There's no display, with the "face" spanning just over a square inch and the device housing a CPU, memory, GPS, and an accelerometer. The inclusion of GSM makes Tinitell one of the smallest standalone mobile phones ever made.

Calls can be made using voice recognition, with children pressing and holding the main button while speaking the name of the person they want to call. Kids who aren't confident using voice recognition can instead use the volume buttons to scroll through their list of contacts, which are read out by the watch. A variety of ringtones can also be assigned to each Tinitell.

Tinitell features an oversized answer/hang-up button even the smallest fingers should be able to operate

Tinitell can receive incoming calls from any phone, but the adult overseeing operations can limit calls to a pre-defined set of specific numbers. There is also the option to assign numbers that will be answered automatically, so a parent could ring their child and be guaranteed the call will be connected without the child even having to press a button.

Tinitell requires a SIM card to work, which is slotted in under the battery; a battery which should be good for 60 minutes of talk time and a full seven days on standby. Charging is claimed to take less than an hour via micro-USB.

The software is updated automatically, as is the contact list that a parent or guardian can update via the Tinitell website or accompanying iOS and Android smartphone apps. The apps can also be used to monitor calls being made or to locate the Tinitell via GPS.

Tinitell packs the basic requirements needed of any phone into a small and simple package

Tinitell comprises a silicone bracelet designed to fit wrists between 12 cm (4.7 in) and 20 cm (7.8 in). This makes it suitable for children of a wide age range who get their own simple smartwatch while their parents get peace of mind knowing they can locate and contact their kids at all times.

Tinitell is currently being funded through a Kickstarter campaign. It has already hit its funding goal of US$100,000, with the campaign is running until May 29. Pledges start at just $2, but those wishing to receive a Tinitell as a reward need to pledge at least $99 at the time of writing. The retail price if and when Tinitell becomes generally available is expected to be $179.

The video below shows Tinitell being used by some rather imaginative children.

Source: Kickstarter

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8 comments
Brendan Dunphy
This is cool and not just for kids! My father is 93 and I have yet to find a personal alarm system here in the UK that he is able to easily use but maybe this could be it!
Chuck Anziulewicz
"Children need to be allowed to play outside from time to time."
From time to time? How about as often as possible? One of the reasons kids are getting FATTER is because over-protective parents are content to plunk them down in front of the TV with an Xbox or PlayStation rather then letting them explore the real world.
Pat Pending
I wouldn't be surprised if it sells well to adults, make it waterproof and I'll buy one, black I think or the transparent one in the video.
Pity it doesn't have a clock, still, the kids can always phone home to ask the time now...
Bob
Sounds great at first glance but what about the RF emitted from this. The debate is still on about cell phones and adults but young children could be far more susceptible to injury from radio frequency exposure. While this is located on the wrist when used, I could imagine little ones falling asleep with their wrist against their head. There is no substitute for an attentive parent.
kalqlate
Definitely a winner! I agree with the comments above: this will be great for the elderly as well. Though it doesn't have a clock face, I imagine that adding a spoken time function would be very easy. For example, the kid would just say "time", and the watch would recognize that phrase as a function rather than a call and just recite the time. As for adults, a modified version that drops the sim and cellular electronics in favor of WiFi or Bluetooth tethering to a smartphone would be satisfying for most who are desirous of cell functions on the wrist.
frogola
this looks good. you should always know where your kids are.
christopher
They should remove the on/off button.
@Bob & @frogola - Kids are kids, if you've not lost yours yet, rest assured the day is coming.
@Bob - no - the debate about cell RF was over at least a decade ago, and the worryworts already lost (and continue to loose again each time the subject resurfaces)
Bob
Christopher- You might want to do a little more reading. This was from the National Cancer Institute last year along with several similar articles.
"The American Cancer Society Exit Disclaimer (ACS) states that the IARC classification means that there could be some risk associated with cancer, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to be investigated further. Individuals who are concerned about radiofrequency exposure can limit their exposure, including using an ear piece and limiting cell phone use, particularly among children."
How many years and so called studies did it take before smoking was conclusively linked to cancer and heart disease?