Skechers have introduced sneakers equipped with AirTag technology, enabling users to monitor the steps taken by their children.
In a novel approach to child safety, Skechers has released the Skechers GO RUN Elevate 2.0 - Find My Skechers, a new kids' shoe model that features a hidden compartment for an Apple AirTag. This innovative design allows parents to track the location of their child's shoes – and by extension, their child – using Apple's Find My network.
The AirTag slot is concealed and secured with a screw-fastened plastic case, ensuring the AirTag stays securely in place and does not accidentally fall out or allow a child to remove it easily. Parents are required to purchase the AirTag separately, as the shoes themselves do not include the device.
Once the AirTag is inserted, it communicates anonymously with nearby Apple devices, which relay location information through the Find My network, providing the shoe's approximate location to the parent's Find My app. However, it's important to note that the AirTag lacks built-in GPS, so real-time location depends on proximity to other Apple devices, making the system useful primarily in populated areas with many Apple users.
Skechers developed this integration independently without an official partnership with Apple. The shoes are available in sizes for boys and girls, and even without an AirTag, they work perfectly as everyday sneakers.
While this feature offers reassurance for parents about their children's whereabouts, it has raised privacy and ethical discussions regarding tracking children. The overall idea is to combine trusted Apple privacy protections with discreet, child-friendly shoe design for peace of mind in monitoring young children's location.
It's essential to remember that the shoe-tracking feature is a backup and not a replacement for supervision. The AirTag becomes invisible and unnoticeable to the child wearing the shoes once it is inserted into the hidden compartment. However, it is possible for someone to remove the AirTag battery and disable it in seconds.
The Skechers GO RUN Elevate 2.0 - Find My Skechers shoes are priced between $52 and $58. They are machine washable, saving parents time and effort. The shoes feature an adaptive closure system with stretch laces and an adjustable instep strap, making it easy for kids to slip them on and off without help. The design includes a breathable mesh and synthetic upper, durable rubber outsole, and a 1 1/4-inch heel height, delivering both style and function.
In summary, the Skechers "Find My Skechers" sneakers turn regular children's shoes into a trackable item by housing an Apple AirTag in a specially designed, secure hidden compartment. This allows parents to use Apple's existing Find My app ecosystem to monitor their kids' location. However, it's crucial to remember that this feature is an additional tool for tracking your child's shoes, not a complete solution for child safety.
The seamless integration of the Apple AirTag into the Skechers GO RUN Elevate 2.0 - Find My Skechers shoes highlights the use of technology in child safety, as parents can now track the location of their child's sneakers, along with their children, using Apple's Find My network. Despite being hidden discreetly within a specially designed secure compartment, smartphones and other Apple devices can still communicate with the AirTag, thanks to advanced gadgets like this innovative design.
