New GPS Device Means Never Getting Lost

Never get lost with new key chain device

By YVONNE BELTZER

Updated 12:15 PM PDT, Mon, Oct 5, 2009

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Albert Rodriguez knew he had to speed up an invention he was working on in his garage when he lost his granddaughter at Disneyland.

This was just one of the inspirations for the Tustin resident who says he likes to invent things.

Rodriguez who was formerly an executive vice president at the Scantron testing service, has developed a personal GPS that fits in the palm of

the hand and easily clips onto a key chain. The object of the device is not to direct you to an address, but to help you find out where you have been.

His company, INTELLIGENT DIGITAL COMPASS DESIGN CORPORATION (IDC) was founded in 2004. It specializes in personal location systems.

Rodriguez says another inspiration for his device was that he kept losing his car at airport parking, He would come back from a trip and

wonder where he had parked a few days before.

He called his device "ecco". It uses GPS satellite technology to fix a location within ten feet to nearly 10,000 miles.

He said it would be especially useful to travelers who are staying in a strange city. If they wander away from their hotel, the "ecco" would

show them to way back. All the traveler has to do it lock in the location which they are staying, then when they want to return to their hotel, the

"ecco" shows them the way.

It could also help hikers who wander off the trail. Unlike a cellphone which depends on being within range of a cell-tower, the ecco

uses satellite technology so it can direct the hiker back to any fixed point he has marked with the device.

Even more practically, it can help a harried shopper relocate their car in a busy mall parking lot. All she has to do is mark the car's

location when arriving to shop. The ecco would fix that location and direct the shopper back to the parking space hours later.

The ecco stores up to three locations at any one time. It displays arrows that point the user in the direction he wants to go to return to a

fixed point. It also displays the distance and the direction to take.

Here is how it works.

The device tracks up to 32 satellites within 60 seconds. It has a tracking distance of up to 9,999 miles.

It has a rechargeable battery with a USB connection that can be used at home, with any computer or in the car. Its built-in compass provides bearing

information while the user is standing still, pointing him in a general direction. Then, the directional display arrow, the direction and distance counts down

as the user heads toward the saved location.

And it fits on a keychain or in one's pocket.

It is currenly available at Amazon.com and BestBuy.com and sells for about $89-$99.

For more information go to Rodriguez' website www.idcgps.com