Nowadays, you can track the location of belongings such as wallets, bikes and bags with small GPS trackers, and the coin-sized TrackerPad is perhaps the smallest of the lot.
There are already some pretty tiny tracking devices on the market, such as the TrackR Bravo and the Tile. At only 10 x 10 x 3.8 mm (0.39 x 0.39 x 0.15 in), though, the TrackerPad is roughly the same size as a British 10 pence piece or a US quarter, making it significantly smaller than both of those options.
Whereas the casings of the TrackR Bravo and the Tile are made of hard materials, the workings of the TrackerPad are enclosed within a soft, flexible casing. It weighs just 1.6 g (0.05 oz) and is attached to objects using its adhesive rear.
The TrackerPad has a built-in prepaid SIM that communicates with the TrackerPad server and the server, in turn, relays info to an accompanying TrackerPad app on the user's smartphone (platforms yet to be confirmed).
Pads are paired with the app by scanning the unique QR code on the front. Once paired, the pads can then be named for easy reference. For example, you might name them after the object to which they are attached.
Using the app, it is then possible to select a TrackerPad pad by its name and view its location on a map. Automated location reports can be set up at intervals of the user's choosing and geo-fencing can be set up so that the user receives a notification if the Pad exits a defined boundary.
TrackerPads have a battery life of around seven days depending on how often their location is reported. The pads are charged using a wireless charger. Once a Pad has been placed on top of the charger, the user will receive a notification via the app to say that charging has begun.
The company says the devices are waterproof and can be used repeatedly. If a one loses its stickiness, the adhesive surface needs only be run the under water and to "reactivate" it.
A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is underway for the TrackerPad. A pledge of £30 (US$46) put you in line for two TrackerPads, a wireless charging bay and codes with which to download the accompanying smartphone app. Delivery is expected in December 2015 if the campaign succeeds.
The Kickstarter pitch for the TrackerPad is below.
Source: TrackerPad
UPDATE (Aug. 6/15): TrackerPad has now moved its crowdfunding campaign to Indiegogo.
I then went on to read the 82 comments about this product. The main argument seems to be that the inventor will not slice into the pad to show people there are electronics inside. That seems like a fairly reasonable request. Though, to be fair, I can't recall ever seeing any electronics item for sale where the website shows the components inside it. So, to me, that's a wash.
The other comments are things like, "it's a video, anyone can fake this", which seems odd considering what do you want the inventor to do? Come to your house and show you? Someone suggested that the inventor meet one of the backers and video that - but then I can see other backers yelling, "Shill!" and that wouldn't really solve anything.
I am not tech savvy. I am just playing devil's advocate here. I'm really not sure what the inventor can do at this point to quiet his detractors, except possibly answer their (reasonable) questions, which he hasn't - aside from his demonstration video, I don't see any comments from the inventor addressing specific, legitimate concerns. That, to me, is the most damming thing about this product - the inventor's lack of response.
I am going to continue to watch this and see what happens. If the product works as claimed, it would be something I definitely would buy for my son - who is constantly losing everything.
I'm a development engineer in this area, and the current BEST devices that do this are about the size of a small stack of poker chips.