New app-enabled dummy lets parents hook babies up to the internet

New Bluetooth dummy keeps tabs on kids over the internet

Andrew Griffin
Friday 28 November 2014 10:25 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ever worried your baby isn’t high-tech enough? Finally you can plug your babies into the internet of things with a new Bluetooth-enabled pacifier.

Blue Maestro’s Pacifi costs £25, will be released on December 1, comes in a range of colours and is water- and dishwasher-proof.

The smart dummy features a temperature sensor, data from which is then fed to the accompanying app. The software can then plot out the baby’s temperature across a range of graphs, and alert parents if the data looks like it might indicate that their baby is ill.

The app, which can be downloaded for iOS or Android, adds to the slightly dystopian feel.

“Track multiple babies with multiple Pacifis,” the company’s promotional material for the app says.

The software can alert parents and carers that they need to take their baby’s temperature or give it medication, and can trigger notifications if their baby moves beyond a certain range. The smart Bluetooth, which Blue Maestro says keeps the battery usage low, can work over 75 meters.

The dummy also features a buzzer, which can be triggered if it is lost and parents need to find it again.

The battery can last for over a year, the company says.

Geir Langeland, director of sales and marketing at Nordic Semiconductor, which makes the chip inside the dummy, said: “I am sure all parents can remember a moment where they wished for a way to locate that misplaced pacifier.

“This illustrates how Bluetooth Low Energy can be used to solve (for some) this major problem”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in