Business ideas

Wi-Spi, Intruder, Radio-Controlled Toy Vehicles: Start-up Idea

Wi-Spi spies smartphone opportunity

By Michelle Hammond
Monday, 06 February 2012

start-up-idea-wi-spi Two new radio-controlled toy vehicles are about to hit the market, with names that leave little doubt over their purpose – the “Wi-Spi” and the “Intruder”.

Both are controlled via smartphone applications and deliver a live stream of video back to the user’s screen.

The maker, Interactive Toy Concepts, which is based in Canada, said the Intruder was “perfect if you want to spy on your colleague in the next cubical”.

The smartphone app can also record videos to upload on Twitter and Facebook.

Previous generations of so-called “spy” helicopters have included digital cameras but haven’t offered “live” video. Instead, users have to pick them up and transfer video after the flight.

Wi-Spi can take videos and stills, while Intruder can record video with sounds.

Although devices that deliver video streams to smartphones are already available, none have been this small and discreet, or this cheap, so is there an opportunity to take this concept further?

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Apart from the dubious and unethical use of this product to spy on people, I can't see much use for this 'toy' apart from having a bit of fun or visually checking out restricted and cramped spaces.
Wow... did the Canadian makers actually say it was “perfect if you want to spy on your colleague in the next cubical”. The word "colleague" assumes a work situation. Someones going to get sued here if they're not careful. There are all sorts of legal issues at play here. In Australia at least, workers have the right to be notified if their voice and/or activities are to be recorded. Also, the spy may face dismissal or at least reprimand for invasion of privacy, unauthorised recording of company information (corporate espionage) or even harassment.
... And was that an office cubicle or a washroom cubicle?

There are many apps and services smartphone users can use to keep track of people whether they be family members or employees. As far as I know pretty much all of these require the consent of each individual.

nwsmith01 , February 07, 2012