School uniform alerts parents when students skip class

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The technology gods may have delivered the ultimate tool for strict teachers and parents in the form of track-able school uniforms.

The outfits, which consists of a radio frequency sensor (RFID), became part of the mandatory dress code this week for some 20,000 grade school students in the Brazilian city of Vitoria da Conquista. While there had been earlier reports that Trutex, a UK startup, planned to market this technology, the city's education secretary Coriolano Moraes told the Associated Press that the city may be the first to actually use it to cut down on truancy. In a couple years, he expects the chip-embedded t-shirts to be worn by all of the city's 43,000 public elementary and middle school students.

The t-shirts work similarly to the tracking devices sometimes used to locate lost pets. A chip that's built into the clothing provides data to a central computer programmed to send updates to parents about their child's whereabouts via text messaging. So whenever the child enters the school, it instantly sends confirmation of the arrival. And if the kid doesn't show up within 20 minutes after classes start, parents will receive an alert that says: "Your child has still not arrived at school."

According to school rules, three absences and the child's parents will be summoned for an explanation. Failure to do so means the authorities may get involved.

But whenever kids feel the urge to cut class, they tend to figure out really clever ways around things. That's why the city went to great lengths to ensure that the chips are designed with an anti-tampering security system. Additionally, the shirts can be washed, ironed and re-worn without being damaged. Children are also required to wear the uniforms while school is in session.

In total, city officials spent $670,000 to design, test and manufacture the high-tech T-shirts, according to the AP.

Yes, all as to assure that kids take their education seriously. But are they taking it a bit too far? And more importantly, would an idea like this fly in the U.S.? Feel free to sound off.

Contributor's note: The article has been amended to reflect the fact that the uniforms use RFID technology, not GPS.

(via AP)

More on 'Big brother' tech:

• CIA: We'll spy on you through your refrigerator
• Surveillance video camera catches speeding drivers, issues tickets [video]
• Police use military drones to arrest U.S. citizens

Tracking technology in the News:

• Whoops! Driver follows GPS directions right into the ocean
• GPS military weapon gives soldiers an edge
• GPS guided missile blasts through Navy ship

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com