Ali
Safety Device
Spring 2023
A non-violent and portable safety device that is easy to use and gives the user a sense of comfort.
These numbers should be zero
Ali aims to reimagine the power of a safety device.
Existing Solutions
The majority and most popular options inflict violence, with the exception of sound based devices like Birdie.
Meet Riley
A persona based on real interviews
“Staying safe shouldn’t mean sacrificing my freedom to enjoy life’s moments to the fullest.”
Pain Points
Feels vulnerable without a safety device
Likes pepper spray as a visual deterrent, but does not want to cause harm
Goals:
Confidence in protecting self
Wants to keep friends and family safe
Project Goals
Build Confidence
Promote device practice so users feel prepared in sticky situations.
Community Engagement
Power comes in numbers and sharing suspicious behavior can empower users.
Accessibility
Easy to use in high stress situations and implement safeguards to prevent accidental activation.
Interview Insights
From women, minorities, and self-defense experts.
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If not practiced under stress, there is a delay in cognitive processing to use a device when in danger.
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Car alarms are commonly heard noises that people dismiss. This is a fault of alarm based devices like Birdie.
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Many share their location with friends and family.
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Unsettling to think pepper spray or taser could be used again the victim. People don’t like the idea of inflicting violence.
Exploring Analog Interactions
What could activate the device?
Phone, Keys, Wallet
How could this seamlessly lives with items you carry everyday?
“Holding hands with a trusted relational partner, like a friend, a romantic partner, a parent, a sibling, a child, is literally good for your health.”
How might we incorporate this feeling?
Prototypes
Ergonomic Testing
Finding intuitive comfort so the user can focus on whats most important.
Guard Mode
Imagine a stranger is following you, an uncomfortable and scary feeling. Squeezing the sides of Ali enters guard mode. The motion mimics holding someones hand to provide comfort and haptic vibrations confirm the mode is engaged.
Now imagine the situation has escalated and you are now in danger. In addition to squeezing for guard mode, pressing the end button will trigger danger mode. This blares a unique alarm sound as a call for help and acts as a tactic to scare or disorient the perpetrator.
Danger Mode
Ali App
When guard or danger mode is activated, it will plot the day, time and location of that event on a community map. This can help determine what streets are safest to travel on.
If traveling alone, use Ali’s Find a Buddy feature to find a nearby volunteer to walk with you for security.
Use Ali’s practice mode to get comfortable using the device in simulated scenarios.
If guard or danger mode is accidentally triggered, it can be canceled within the app.
A Trusted Sidekick
Project Takeaways
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The project quickly focused on how to easily trigger the device and provide sensory feedback to know it’s engaged. Equally, it was important to prevent accidental triggers.
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Safety devices are useless if the user does not have quick access to it. Implementing the idea of leaving the house saying “phone, wallet, keys” to make sure you have the essentials ensures Ali is always with you.
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One of the apps main features includes a practice mode. This immerses the user in simulated scenarios to use Ali under stress. This will better prepare and boost confidence in users.
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Unfortunately, assault and harassment is a common shared experience. However, this became an opportunity in building the app to provide more safety through the map and buddy system.