Never lose your phone again with latest Bluetooth alarm

Published on Saturday 12 September 2009 11:26

IT IS the latest must-have gadget for the absent-minded technology geek – an alarm which tells you when you have left your mobile phone or laptop behind.

The device has been designed by an Edinburgh firm after years of research and is soon to hit the shops.

Called 'Nio', it is a keyring sized box of tricks which emits an alarm whenever your device is more than a certain distance away.

It uses Bluetooth technology – commonly used to send data between mobiles or laptops – to create an invisible wire. Whenever the wire is broken – for example when you leave your phone behind – both it and the keyring emit a shrill alarm sound.

Nio is the brainchild of 34-year-old gadget whizz Ben Hounsell, director of Tenbu Technologies based in Giles Street.

The alarm also has the added bonus of making it easy to spot a potential theft, though Mr Hounsell does not advise anyone to challenge the thieves if their pockets start screaming.

He said: "My advice would be don't be a hero. Most thieves are opportunistic and the chances are if the mobile is attracting attention they'll just drop it and run."

Mr Hounsell studied electrical and software engineering at Edinburgh University, where he developed an early interest in the emerging Bluetooth technology.

He set up his first company, Critical Blue, upon graduation in 2001 through the Royal Society of Edinburgh enterprise fellowship and began working on his early prototypes for Nio.

The device can be set to go off anywhere between two and 25 metres, and emits either a police siren, a whoop or a Catchphrase buzzer sound.

Mr Hounsell added: "We see this device as a 'gadget guardian' – it's there to protect your device if it gets mislaid or stolen.

"The name Nio comes from Japan and is named after the fearsome looking statues outside Japanese Bhuddist temples that are there to protect the temple. Tenbu are the guardians of Bhuddist law in Japan. The names will also appeal to Japanese customers, who are well known for their love of gadgets, especially computers and smart phones."

However, Tenbu is initially looking to appeal to markets closer to home.

The device – which was officially launched last Tuesday priced at 43 – is currently available on their website www.bluenio.com, but they are in negotiations to sell the Nio through Amazon within the next few months, and a number of High Street hardware stores by next year.

He has also approached government and health authorities who are no stranger to losing personal data and devices.

Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm has recommended the device to Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney for use on government equipment.

He said: "John Swinney said he will ask the Scottish Government security officers to take a look at the product.

"I also advised Mr Hounsell to take his product to the NHS, where the protection of data is a very important area."