Crime against women in Indian cities is on an all-time high. Trashing all stereotypes about women and technology not to be spoken in the same sentence are a few products that are built to keep women safe, at most times. A caveat: While technology can help safeguard her physical existence and give her a certain amount of confidence, her heart and spirit (despite being invincible) need extra care.
SPOTNSAVE: A WRISTBAND FOR SAFETY
Spotnsave’s Bluetooth wristband lets you alert friends and family when you are in trouble. A big advantage of the wristband is that it doesn’t look like a safety device and isn’t even something anyone would consider stealing. Priced at Rs 2,300, the band ensures that one does not need to reach her phone, unlock it and then press the assigned button to alert users. It lets you activate Spotnsave’s emergency alert system without touching your phone.
SpotnSave band is allergy and waterproof, and has a Bluetooth device embedded in it, which connects it to your smartphone. All you need to do is install the Spotnsave app on your Android phone, choose up to four guardians and pair it with the wristband via Bluetooth. To activate the emergency alert, you will have to press a button on the wristband twice. The app will then send an SMS every two minutes to your guardians. Along with the alert, it also sends the user’s current coordinates on Google Maps, every two minutes. The Spotnsave app is available for Android, while the startup is currently working on apps for iOS and Windows Phone platforms. Users can download the Spotnsave for Android from the Google Play store. The wristband lasts around 16-18 hours on a single charge.
SAFE FOOTBALL
Safe football is best suited for women who may not be so familiar with technology. It is also an ideal device for the elderly. While it may not be suited to seek help from dear ones, it does alert those who are near. When in a situation where you feel unsafe — have an intruder or attacker in proximity — simply pull the key chain to activate the alarm. The high 120 db continuous beep from the alarm confuses the intruder and also alerts people around you. To stop the alarm, simply insert the keychain back into the slot. The battery included in the pack lasts for one year.
FOOLZY LIPSTICK STUN GUN
At Rs 600, this is a powerpacked value-for-money device for women who dare to give it back. The stun gun with flashlight is portable and discreet and looks like a lipstick — well a slightly bigger-sized lipstick. Under the cap of the Lipstick Stun Gun are two buttons, one for flashlight and one for the stun gun. Don’t let the glam casing fool you — it packs three million volts of charge and is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery. Measuring only five inches tall and one inch around, this unit can fit into most any purse, pocket, backpack or briefcase.
APPS TO APPLY PRONTO
Nirbhaya - Be fearless Free to download on Android smartphones, this app can be used in any type of emergency to send a single-click distress signal through call or SMS to a prespecified group or individual contact. This app can also be used to help others identify unsafe areas in your city by simply stamping them.
BSAFE You - This app allows you to set a network of family and friends with whom you can share your location. The guardian alert button in the app sends an alarm message in times of need to friends and family while GPS tracks your location and whereabouts.
Safety pin - This app is handy for women who are on the road often. This app allows you to study the “safety level” of the place you are in, or plan to visit, especially if it is a new or unknown locality. Comments, pictures and reviews collate a “safety score” for the area or locality. It becomes easier to take precautions while moving within a city or shifting to another one.