Some of us misplace the car keys.  Others are unlucky with TV remotes.  And what about the dog’s leash?  What if we could relieve that feeling of “I wish I could just call my keys” as easily as we page our cars in the parking lot?  Now we can.  Here’s some tracking gadgets that will let you actually call up those objects that tend to lose their way.

Linquet Mini

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The Internet of Things company, Linquet, launched a crowdsourcing project for the Linquet Mini –  a small device that would help people keep track of their valuables in the hopes of preventing loss or theft.

Linquet Mini is a small, battery-operated device that you connect or place into other items suchs keys, wallets, tablets, and even pets.  It can be tracked by your mobile device or via the web, since it’s cloud-based.  Both the linked item and the smartphone will light up and set off an alarm if separated for a certain distance, thus informing you of a theft in progress or forgetfulness.

For $25, you can reserve your Linquet Mini, set to ship in June 2013.  Its battery lasts up to one year with 24/7 usage.  It is compatible with iOS devices and will soon be compatible with Android devices.  Linquet Mini can support up to 10 linked devices.

“Face it, we’re all losers,” says Pooya Kazerouni, founder of Linquet. “We all have busy lives and are constantly forgetting or losing our phone, keys, bag, wallet, pet, purse, laptop–the list goes on and on. This is exactly why we invented Linquet. With our crowdfunding campaign kicking off today we are giving people the opportunity to back the company and get early bird pricing on a unique cloud-based product every single one of us can benefit from.”

Protag

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Protag is anti-loss or anti-theft device made by Innova Technology.  It is a credit card-sized object that users can put inside their wallet, bag or purse to alert them if they accidentally left their wallet or got stolen.  Users can track the whereabouts of their lost item via GPS, and its battery lasts up to 150 hours and can be easily charged via its built-in USB cable.

It launched as a crowdfunding project on Indiegogo under the name anti-Loss.  Compatible with Android and BlackBerry devices, Protag and can support up to seven paired devices.

Embrace+

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Though this device’s main purpose is not to prevent loss, Embrace+ does have an anti-theft perk.  We’ll get to that in a moment.  Embrace+ is also a cool way of telling users if they received a text, getting a call, or are being notified.  The bracelet lights up in various colors depending on what you’re getting.  Users get to set the color for each alert.

Because of the mobile app, if your phone is out of range, Embrace+ will flash a color to alert you that you might be on the verge of losing your phone.  It’s still available on Kickstarter with only a few days left to complete its $220,000 goal.

Stick-N-Find

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These quarter-sized stickers help you locate items and pets.  It can be placed on keys, luggage, remote, pet’s collar, or just about anything you own that you usually misplace or lose.  You can set a distance for each item you put a sticker on but just remember that the stickers aren’t waterproof and its battery lasts about a year.

It’s compatible with iOS and Android devices, available in various colors.  Its light blinks or the sticker buzzes when you try and locate an object, and the mobile app helps you locate it.  It doesn’t actually tell you the exact location of the lost item, but it helps you track via Bluetooth.

3 things to consider

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Anti-loss devices are getting more popular since more and more people get distracted with the ownership of multiple mobile devices.  Let’s admit it, it’s hard to keep track of our personal belongings when we’ve got so many of them.  But these aren’t foolproof.  Here’s three things to consider.

Expendable

Even if you get alerted of a missing wallet, these security tools can easily be discarded by the thief.  The Linquet Mini sets off an alarm, so the thief could easily identify and discard it.  It’s something to consider when selecting which objects to attach tracking devices, noting the distinction between those you’d track in the house versus those you’re tracking if stolen.

Battery low

If you can’t remember where you put your belongings, how are you expected to remember when to change the battery of the device or charge it?  The mobile app will alert you of impending batter changes, but you can’t ignore those notifications!

Limited range

These tracking devices have limited range.  If your lost item is out of range, you’d best accept the fact that you’re never going to see it again.  Though some offer GPS tracking, as I’ve mentioned earlier, these tracking devices can easily be disposed.

Conclusion

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So is it advisable to purchase one of these anti-loss devices?  Maybe.  It could help you keep your sanity in a busy house, and save you the trouble of one less thing to remember every day.  Choose your use cases wisely!   It’s something to consider when selecting which objects to attach tracking devices, noting the distinction between those you’d track in the house versus those you’re tracking if stolen.