Los Angeles Times - Innovation doesn't always carry a big brand name

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, some of the small companies offer a big dose of fun or functionality.

Tiwi:Responsible parents talk to their teenagers about safe driving, but why bother when a gadget can do it for them?

Tiwi is a windshield-mounted device that issues vocal messages when drivers speed, accelerate like a drag racer, slam on the brakes or engage in other forms of aggressive driving. Aimed at teens, the GPS-equipped device, which receives not only location data but also the speed limit for the road the car is on, also sends parents updates -- by phone, text message or e-mail -- about the user's location and driving behavior. 

The price of constant surveillance isn't cheap: $299, plus a $40 monthly service charge.

david.colker@latimes.com

dawn.chmielewski @latimes.com

Times staff writer Michelle Maltais contributed to this report.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ces-oddgadgets9-2010jan09,0,2536466.story?page=2