Personal Safety System

In this post, a personal safety system is discussed as one that is intended for use in case of severe danger or life threat to anyone and especially, children and women. The system will usually consist of a connected device in contact with the person who needs to be protected. When triggered, such a system can either alert people who can help the victim or the law enforcement authorities. Such safety systems if effective, can enhance the safety of children or women against violence and crime. These systems can also be used to monitor the sick and elderly.

Some of the existing such systems that are available in various markets are discussed below. The common disadvantages of such safety system are also enlisted.

Here are a few such personal systems available:

1. Sonata Act Safety Watch
1. Website : http://www.titan.co.in/shop-online/watches/sonata-act_safety_watch
2. Watch form factor
3. Allows wearer to notify up to 10 preconfigured contacts in case of emergency.
4. Triggered by press of the emergency button at the 8th hour marker position
5. Connects to phone via bluetooth and has a companion App.
6. App needs GPS connectivity on phone and has up to 10 contacts saved
7. When triggered, sends the location info to these contacts
8. Phone vibrates to indicate message has been sent
9. If safe again, a notification can be sent again to those contacts with the information
10. Retails at around Rs. 3000 at http://www.titan.co.in/

2. SafeMate – MapmyIndia
   
1. Website : http://safemate.mapmyindia.com
2. Small GPS device that can provide location updates to the smartphones of the user’s registered contacts.
3. Can be carried in the user’s purse or bag.
4. It is not wearable.
5. Connects directly to the network, does not need a paired phone. The user’s location data is shown on a map.
6. It has an SOS button. When in need, the user can press the SOS button on the SafeMate device
7. An emergency alert message is sent to designated people.
8. This information gets updated every 2 minutes for the next 2 hours
9. Retails at Rs. 6990 inclusive of 1 year SIM charges/Unlimited email alerts/Web and Mobile App access. Second year onwards requires a monthly charge of Rs. 300 and an additional SMS pack (Rs 250/500 for 1250/2500 SMSs)

3. AVA – Save My Soul
   
1. Website : http://savemysoul.in/ava.html
2. A wearable device that pairs with the Save My Soul app on the phone.
3. It connects to the phone via Bluetooth.
4. The user has to carry the wearable device.
5. When in danger the user presses a single button on the device.
6. On button press, the Save My Soul app can do the following:
1. Track location of the user
2. SMS emergency contacts
3. Dial law enforcement number
4. Sound an alarm via a “Scream” feature
7. Retails for Rs 3000

4. VithU Phone App
   
1. Website : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.startv.gumrah
2. An emergency app
3. At the click of the power button of a smartphone 2 times begins sending alert messages every 2 minutes to the contacts that the user has feed into the app as the designated receivers or guardians.
4. The contacts receive a link to the user’s location every 2 minutes giving them the updated location.

5. First Sign
   
1. Website : http://www.firstsign.us
2. Consists of a circular device (3.2cm diameter, 1cm thick, 8gms)
3. Can be paired with an app on the phone via Bluetooth
4. The device can automatically detect the following situations and trigger an alarm:
1. Head injury: when worn in a headband
2. Hand movements: when blocking or returning a hand strike when worn as a wristband
3. Fall: when worn as a pendant, wristband or clip
5. It can also be manually activated with a push of a button.
6. The company additionally provides 24x7 support with agents who can call direct "911" for the user's location or screen false alarms and evidence and storage in the cloud for data gathered from the phone app. It charges $5 per month for this facility.
   
   
6. Amulyte
1. Website : http://www.amulyte.com
2. A device with a pendant form factor.
3. It houses a cellular radio, Wi-Fi, GPS modules, an accelerometer and a micro-controller (http://producthealth.com/keeping-elderly-safe-amulyte ).
4. Amulyte also has a built-in speaker that allows 2 way voice communication.
5. It is triggered on pressing a button on the device.  
6. The device comes with a charging pad for wireless charging.
7. It is claimed to have an average battery life of 1 week.
8. As mentioned in their website, Amulyte is mainly targeted towards the elderly.
9. Amulyte in pilot phase was accepting pre-orders for $99 plus a monthly subscription of $29 for connectivity. Investors include Y Combinator.
10. Amulyte closed down in 2014. The founders were Jaclyn Konzelmann and Perry Haldenby.

7. Devices with a jewelry form factor
1. Cuff (https://cuff.io) is a device that can be fitted with a variety of jewelry.  Investors in Cuff include NEA, Tandem Capital and Tugboat Ventures.
2. Artemis (http://www.artemisfashion.com ), Safelet (http://www.safelet.com) are devices have the form factor of a pendant or bracelet.
3. These devices can be activated by button press (or taps) and use a paired phone to alert a security call center and emergency contacts. As a secondary functionality these devices can also be made to notify the wearer (say by vibration) if there are important messages on the phone. Cuff is also expanding its usage to become a fitness tracker.

However, these devices suffer from the following collective disadvantages:

1. Need explicit button press
2. Likely to draw attention of the perpetrator in case of crime
3. Likely to be prevented from activation by the perpetrator.
4. Need cellular coverage either on the device or on the paired phone
5. Reliance on assistance only from preconfigured contacts
   
   

Overcoming these disadvantages will significantly improve the reach and efficacy of such safety systems.