Indian Scientist Creates Wearable Sensor To Stop Rape

Manisha Mohan, an Indian scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has developed a sticker-like wearable sensor that can detect sexual assault in real time.

Rape is the fourth most common crime against women in India. In average, over two rape cases occur in every two hours. Rape is a crime not only against the body of an individual but also against one’s mind, psyche and reputation.

Having concern over this issue, an Indian origin scientist, Manisha Mohan has developed a wearable sensor to stop rape. The sensor that she has developed a sticker-like wearable sensor that can detect sexual assault in real time and quickly alert nearby people as well as the victim’s friends and family to seek help.

This wearable sensor to stop rape can be attached to any piece of clothing like a sticker. It also can identify the difference between when a person is undressing and when they are being forcefully disrobed.

Manisha Mohan, a research assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US said, “The sensor detects signs of an assault even when the victim is unconscious or not in the position to fight against the assaulter, such as in the case of minors, bed-ridden patients or intoxicated people.”

There is a Bluetooth wireless system integrated inside the wearable that is connected to a smartphone app. When anyone tries to assault a wearer, it generates a loud noise and alert people nearby and sends out a distress signal to pre-defined family members or emergency services.

Mohan explained, “The sensor works in two modes: the passive mode and the active mode. 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 the active mode, the sensor tries to detect signals from the external environment.”

If somebody tries to pull off the wearer’s cloth, a message is sent to the smartphone to confirm if the act was done with consent. It asks wearer to respond within 30 seconds. If the wearer does not respond, the phone generates a loud noise to alert the user and nearby people.

The user needs to stop he generating noise via a predefined password. If the victim does not stop this alarm within the next 20 seconds, the smartphone app automatically sends distress signals to family or friends, along with the location of the victim.

Mohan said, “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 for them.”

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