Solar-powered sunglasses notify owners if they’ve left them behind

Australia's Tzukuri has developed a range of sunglasses that sync with owners iPhones to let them know where they left them.

Apple has included the Find my iPhone feature with its smartphones since 2010, while devices such as the USB-sized Bikn have also made any attached item trackable. Now Australia’s Tzukuri has developed a range of sunglasses that sync with owners iPhones to let them know where they left them.

Available in six different designs and three sizes, Tzukuri frames each feature a tiny chip and solar charger that connects to owners’ iPhone using Bluetooth Low Energy. If wearers put their sunglasses down and forget to pick them up before walking away, the Tzukuri app sends a notification every 5m — up to 15m — to let them know that they’ve left them behind. If they don’t notice the alerts, the app will show them the location they last had them on a map. The system also detects when owners are at home and automatically disables notifications, although the app can still be used to locate the sunglasses in any building by tracking their distance to the nearest foot.

On top of all this, the stylish sunglasses are handmade in Japan, using fine acetate and polarized, 100 percent UV-protective lenses. Tzukuri glasses will soon be made available to pre-order for early adopters at USD 249, with the full retail price set to be USD 349. Are there other commonly misplaced products that could use similar technology to help owners keep track of them?