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Smartphones come with a number of technologies that enable them to detect the presence of objects that have gone missing, from GPS and Bluetooth, to RFID — which has been used in innovations such as the Bikn locator tag. Other items that currently aren’t enabled with such technology are still prone to evade discovery however, especially when it comes to kids’ stuff at school. From Australia, StrayHat is using QR code name tags to make the return of lost objects easier for parents.

Kids’ school uniforms are already often labeled with name tags so that if they go astray, teachers or fellow pupils can return them. StrayHat aims to make this process a lot smoother. Parents first order tags from the StrayHat site at a cost of AUD 20 for 60 tags, with each label featuring a QR code. When items get lost at school, smartphone owners can simply scan the code using the app, available for free from the App Store. The app instantly sends a private message to parents or owners that details the item that’s been found and a map pinpoint of the location of its discovery. An arrangement to return the item can then be made.

Although StrayHat doesn’t guarantee that all lost items will be found, it ensures that discovered items have a greater chance of being returned. The labels are also small enough to be attached to almost any object — from clothes to lunchboxes and even jewelry. Are there other ways to track personal items with minimal investment?