Fear-sensing device to aid distressed women

Rise in crimes against women made 37-year-old south Delhi-based Yash Bhatia realise that protests alone don’t work. Putting himself in the shoes of the victims, the National Institute of Fashion Technology graduate has devised a sensor that records bodily changes that occur when a person is in a crisis.

Called ‘Fearless,’ the plastic device has to be concealed beneath the layers of clothing. It uses Bluetooth technology to good use. Weighing seven grams, the detachable square-shaped mechanism measures 42m-m x 42mm and runs on rechargeable batteries. To be fitted in at the centre of the chest, it monitors heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure.

“The device is to be fitted in women’s lingerie. It works on the physiological changes that occur before a person slips into fight-or-flight mode when confronted with a life-threatening situation,” said Bhatia. “If the wearer is in that situation, there will be a sudden rush of adrenaline which will bring about multiple bodily changes. This effect is captured by electronic microchips in the sensor, which will then relay a  ‘Help Me’ distress message along with the wearer’s location to cellphones of her family, friends and guardians,” Bhatia told dna.

The message is sent between sensor device and wearer’s mobile phone. Adequate checks have been put in place to ensure false alarms, such as intense physical activity, aren’t raised. “Here, change in bodily parameters are gradual and not sudden,” he said.Bhatia has applied for a patent for the device which can be bought online from November and would cost between Rs7,000-Rs10,000 with a lifetime of two to four years.