Case Study - Julie Yates, Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire - Click Here to view the original article in the Huddersfield Examiner

My experience in setting up and using ChildLocate

As someone who is only just computer literate, I was slightly wary when I agreed to trial ChildLocate. I was OK with the mobile phone side of things, but using the computer that lurks in the corner of our study did concern me a little.

Thankfully, my fears were unfounded. I found the ChildLocate registration process very user friendly, requiring only a minimum of data entry and requesting input in a clear, unambiguous manner. Full marks for that side of things.

I received my password almost instantly and was then able to enter the phone numbers of the children and family members I chose to use in the trial. One of my children was by my side as I entered his details, and I was impressed when his phone received a text message less than two minutes after entering his details on the system.

Full marks again here to ChildLocate for the nature of the message they send out at this stage. Children are invited to become part of the process, and have to text back agreeing to be involved. It gave me the chance to explain to my near seven year old what we were trying to achieve, which I think made him feel rather important.

I did experience one slight issue in trying to sign up one family member. It took several hours for her to register, but I later discovered that she was located in a notorious mobile coverage dead-zone. Once she left the area everything proceeded smoothly.

This did give me the opportunity to try out the ChildLocate’s helpful Internet chatroom. I typed in my query about the delay in registration, and was delighted to get an immediate reply, which certainly put me at ease.

With everything set up, locating the children proved to be a cinch. You receive a text message stating where they are to within several hundred metres and are also provided with a map showing their location. It was pointed out to me that I could zoom in and locate by street name and even where on the street the children were. Brilliant!

As my brood were seldom more than a few hundred metres away from our house I decided to cheat and include other more distant family members in the trial. Big sister in Surrey was easily ‘captured’ both at the office some 200 miles distant and also making her way into town to go shopping. Parents could also be traced to ensure they were not out wantonly spending the inheritance money!

My overall conclusion is that I’m absolutely sold on the concept. As any parent will confirm, not knowing where children are can, in certain circumstances, be extremely stressful. Child Locate eliminates this problem at a stroke. To paraphrase former Metropolitan Police Chief Constable Sir Robert Mark, I believe it’s a major advance in ensuring the safety of your children.

Julie Yates
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire