A lot of women have heard the same safety warnings from a young age: Don't go anywhere alone. Never leave a drink unattended. Check your car's back seats and lock your doors immediately after getting in. This focus on personal responsibility, of course, tends to overlook the responsibility of those who do the harm, and it assumes that others nearby might not be able (or willing) to help—which is also an important part of the conversation about personal safety. But many of us still feel the need to put up our guard or have come up with hacks to protect ourselves in potentially threatening situations.
I asked WIRED staffers and friends what they do to protect themselves in dicey situations, and I got a wide range of responses—everything from walking with keys held between their fingers in case they need to fight someone off, to carrying pocket knives and pepper spray, to simply talking on the phone with a friend until they’re safe. But as technology writers, the Gear team wondered if there was something better, a way for all this tech we already carry with us—our phones, our smartwatches—to provide an assist.
Over the past month we’ve tested built-in smartphone functions, third-party apps, internet-connected jewelry, and other wearables designed to get you in contact with help when you need it. None of these products provides a comprehensive solution for every scenario, but they each offer some form of protection. In some localities, it's illegal to carry a concealed weapon like a knife or pepper spray, and using those things can put you in further danger. So the methods we highlight here are an alternative to brandishing a weapon. And most of the products are capable of signaling your need for help without requiring you to speak to anyone, so you don't have to dial a number or voice your concern aloud when it would be unsafe for you to do so.
Please select this link to read the complete article from WIRED.