Is the use of ‘mobile computer technology’ appropriate for locating people with dementia?

This paper discusses ethical and viability issues relating to safer walking technology using a mobile phone. This technology is used to locate people with dementia when they get lost (or wander). In particular, the paper highlights problems of accuracy and availability when using GPS based techniques to locate a person, especially when that person is in a built up area or indoors. Experimental results are presented that suggest Wi-Fi based positioning offers a possible solution in such situations. The paper is presented in the context of a larger project that is considering a widerrange of ethical and viability concerns.