Pouch, scooter-gadget, lifesaver: 65-year-old Chennai man's offerings for women's safety
Let's face it: women's safety is in murky waters nowadays, with most places registering frequent crimes. While some complain, others like this Chennai-based engineer are doing their bit to ensure that women can walk on the roads freely. This 65-year-old has dedicated a full year towards developing three gadgets, aimed to guarantee safety of women and senior citizens.
His daughter's ordeal with eve-teasers was the trigger
KG Radhakrishnan, an electrical engineer, stays in Nolambur, a fast growing neighborhood in the Tamil Nadu capital. He has been running an establishment named Volt Amps Consultancy since 2012 that deals with security alarm systems. But one day, his daughter shared with him her ordeal of being eve-teased. That's when he decided to take a two-year hiatus to dedicate himself to making women-safety gadgets.
Device is so tiny it can be placed underneath horn
The girl told him she was eve-teased when she was alighting from her scooter, so Radhakrishnan came out with 'Usha RAVVs Armour on Wheel', a device only for two-wheelers. It comprises a circuit connected with an alarm-bell, speaker and a switch. The whole system was made tiny so that it could be placed underneath the horn, with the switch connected to the vehicle's remote-key.
His 'savior' pouch is armed with mini-speaker and an amplifier
His second device, Usha RAVVs Saviour Pouch, is fitted to a pouch or worn as a belt. The pouch is armed with a mini-speaker and an amplifier. This was made considering chain-snatchers, where the victim often remains flummoxed after a theft. The sound produced on pressing the alarm button can reach 60m away, thus alerting passersby. The 'pouch' can also accommodate mobiles and valuables.
Usha-Lifesaver, a chic wrist-watch, is for those who stay alone
Usha Lifesaver, on the other hand, is a wrist-watch, intended especially for women and senior citizens staying alone. The main advantage of this device, he says, is that it runs on battery, so even if a burglar cuts off the main power system, the neighbors can still be alerted. The alarm that sends out a screeching sound covers a distance of 500-600m.
Main features: Wearable watch, will function even if damaged
This device is wearable, so chances of misplacing it are low. It can also help during medical emergencies. During night hours, when one sleeps, the alarm is sufficient to break the slumber, but the person can remain disoriented. To orient them, the device will emit a blinding red-light the minute the call-for-help button is pushed. The device will function even if damaged, he assured.
Efforts: One year, 20 trial-and-error devices, finally these three
The 1976 graduate's efforts have paid off: in the last year, he has made 20 such devices, before finalizing on these three. Now he wants to mass-produce the devices and continue upgrading his previously-made devices. Right now, he is working on making the speakers portable.
