Saratoga News Saratogan invents device that could keep an eye on the kids By Michelle Alaimo Saratoga resident Kerry Lawrence wants to give parents of small children eyes in the back of their heads. Lawrence's invention, a device called KidAlert, could prevent family outings from turning to disasters. The product monitors children by using a small transmitter and a receiver that beeps when a child wanders more than 20 to 30 feet away from parents. The cow-shaped transmitter pin is attached to the child's clothes, and the adult carries the receiver on a belt buckle, key chain or belt loop. KidAlert is designed to beep at a distance at which parents can see their children, Lawrence said. "We do not want parents to think this alleviates parents' responsibility to watch their children," he said. "This is just to help them." Lawrence, parent of three children himself, said he first thought of the idea years ago. About eight months ago, Lawrence said, he began the process of turning his vision into reality. While researching, Lawrence discovered a company overseas that was working on a similar product. Lawrence and his partners, Steve Anzalone of Los Gatos and Willy Soleh of San Jose, formed Silicon Valley Marketing Advantage and joined forces with a Taiwanese-based manufacturer. The trio have exclusive rights to manufacture and sell KidAlert in North America. Lawrence, a local real estate agent, mentioned his new product to Cathie Glynn, an account manager at Fidelity National Title, on 12295 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road--who in turn mentioned it to her accounting manager. The trio then decided to sponsor a child-awareness fair in front of Fidelity's office on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details of the fair are still in the works, Glynn said, but she hopes to make it a fun event for kids and also offer a lot of child safety information for parents. Some activities that Glynn hopes to have at the fair include fingerprinting, face painting and clowns--and ice cream for the kids. Lawrence added that the fair will be the first time KidAlert is offered for sale. He said he plans to donate 25 percent of the sales to the local school district. KidAlert retails for $24.95 and includes the two batteries needed to operate the device. Lawrence said he hopes to eventually have the product available at most retail stores. Fidelity National representatives said they are excited about helping Lawrence promote his product. "If we can prevent one more mother from having a heart attack at the store," Glynn, herself a mother, said, "then it is worth it." [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, September 23, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.