Local Tech Invention Wins Award

An invention first envisioned by UCSB students at the Carrillo Dining Commons won a coveted innovation award last week in Palm Springs when Phone Halo—a device that alerts you when you’ve left your phone, keys, wallet, child, or other important item behind, and then uses GPS to track the item’s whereabouts—was one of only six companies to be named a DEMOgod, which awards potentially impactful products that are best presented in a six-minute-max pitch. Phone Halo is now on sale for $60 for use on Blackberry and Android phones, with iPhone versions and a bracelet for children coming soon.