MASSACHUSETTS (US): An Indian scientist in MIT has developed a sticker-like wearable sensor that can detect sexual assault in real time and quickly alert the victim's friends and family, and people nearby. Manisha Mohan, research assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, said the sensor, which can be attached to any piece of clothing like a sticker, could be trained to learn the difference between when a person is undressing themselves and when they are being forcefully disrobed.
The sensor learns to detect signs of assault even when the victim is unconscious or not in the position to fight against the assaulter, such as in case of minors, bed-ridden patients or intoxicated people. An integrated bluetooth connected to a smartphone app can trigger a loud noise to alert people nearby and send out distress signals to pre-defined family members or emergency services. The sensor works in two modes- in passive mode, the wearer is assumed to be conscious and can set off loud alarms or distress calls on their own by touching a button when they encounter an approaching threat. In active mode, the sensor tries to detect signals from the external environment.
It was Mohan's experience as an engineering student in Chennai that inspired her to create the device. “Female students on campus were not allowed to work beyond certain hours. You were expected to be back in your dorm by 6.30 pm. Instead of asking them to remain indoors I think we should provide more safety to them,” she said. “The proposed solutions aim to combat child sexual abuse, college campus assault and abuse of elderly and disabled. We don't need body guards, I think we should have the ability to protect ourselves.”
