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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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7

GPS Shoes to Track Alzheimer's Patients

Shoe-maker and tech firm team up

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(Newser) – Two companies are developing GPS-trackable footwear to essentially LoJack Alzheimer's patients, AFP reports. The shoes will spot their location within 30 feet "anywhere on the planet," said a consultant. Sixty percent of Alzheimer's sufferers wander off at least once during the disease, he said, but most retain enough memory to put on their shoes in the morning.

Two companies are teaming up to make 'GPS shoes' for Alzheimer's patients.
Two companies are teaming up to make 'GPS shoes' for Alzheimer's patients.   (Shutter Stock)
These tiny GPS modules are the smallest, most integrated device for location-based functions. A company making miniature GPS technology plans to embed them in shoes to help find Alzheimer's patients.
These tiny GPS modules are the smallest, most integrated device for location-based functions. A company making miniature GPS technology plans to embed them in shoes to help find Alzheimer's patients.   (Photo: Business Wire)
An Alzheimer's sufferer sits on a park bench.
An Alzheimer's sufferer sits on a park bench.   (Shutterstock)
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7 comments
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Observer
Jun 7, 09 6:11 PM CDT
This sounds like a good idea until the Police State requires all citizens to wear "trackable" apparel. How many Alzheimer patients actually get lost? Probably almost none. Kind of like the bogus claims that 50,000 children disappear each year in the United States. The number is actually very few fortunately. But it got everyone up in arms with warnings on milk cartons. Amber Alerts are now part of the fear mongering landscape. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
paul123
Jun 7, 09 7:03 PM CDT
Not everyone with alzheimer's is a patient somewhere. My aunt has it and she's cared for at home by my uncle. That said, the bigger worry is what to do if they take their shoes off.
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Timinator2K
Jun 7, 09 6:41 PM CDT
"Amber Alerts are now part of the fear mongering landscape." UNTIL ITS YOUR KID...your compassion is touching...your idiocy isn't. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
NutsInNY
Jun 7, 09 11:38 PM CDT
"I just want put one" in C_k's shoes so that I can be anywhere but there.
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+2
TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 8, 09 12:52 AM CDT
I want a pair just so I can remember where I've been. Reply
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+1

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