Understanding the Role of Technology in Self-Protection Tools

| Updated on July 17, 2024

The world can be a pretty unpredictable place to live. There’s no telling what can happen to you whenever you step outside your door. 

This is why many people carry self-defense items like tasers and pepper sprays around with them. But modern needs need more modern solutions. We all live in an era where practicality matters but looks can also matter. This is especially true for Gen-Z.

People don’t just carry a baseball bat in their trunks anymore. Why, you might ask? Things have changed in the world a lot and most of it is not for the better. Drugs, guns, gangs, and random acts of violence have become the norm.

That sounds scary, right? 

But you don’t need to be scared anymore. Modern tech has changed how we can protect ourselves from threats. In this guide, we will take a look at some of the self-defense tools and see how technology plays into what we have today.

The Wearables

Smart Self-Defense Wearables- Camera Purse 

Safety is not just about carrying weapons with you. It’s about how soon is help able to get to you. Wearable safety devices have become very popular these days. These tools let you share your immediate location with your loved ones and the authorities if something does happen.

Here are some examples of wearable devices with great safety features.

Smart Watches and Wristbands

These tiny gadgets have come a long way from being simple fitness trackers to the comprehensive safety devices that we see today. These tools are especially popular with working women. 

It gives them a sense of safety and lets them get in touch with friends, family, and authorities in case something does happen.

Smart Jewelry

As you might have guessed from its name, smart jewelry has small devices built into jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, and rings and can basically act as panic buttons for emergencies. These devices will let your loved one know your exact location and also send an SOS to the authorities discreetly.

Wearable Cameras

There is a lot happening in the world and it is not uncommon to see people walking around wearing a GoPro or cops running around with a bodycam attached to their chests. Wearable cameras give you the option to record things as they happen in real-time. 

Smart Clothing Options

We all wear clothes to protect modesty, flaunt our style, and protect ourselves from the elements. Smart clothing pretty much takes wearable technology further to another level. These clothes are made with the help of special techniques to embed circuits and tiny sensors into the clothing itself.

This hardware gives these clothes superpowers. They can monitor your vitals, tell you when you’re dehydrated, etc and that’s just scratching the surface of what they’re capable of.

Physical Self-Protection Devices

While monitoring your vitals and surroundings can be a good way to protect yourself from threats, it’s not always the best option. There may be a time when you need a tangible way to protect yourself too.

1. Smart Pepper Sprays

Smart Pepper Sprays

We all know just how effective traditional pepper sprays are at preventing physical violence. Smart pepper sprays work in the same way but they come with a bit more extras. By blending modern tech with old-school spray mechanisms, smart pepper sprays give people an awesome and powerful means of self-protection.

Here are some of the features that make smart pepper sprays so much better than the old-school ones:

  • Connectivity: Smart pepper sprays from Plegium come with the option to connect with smartphones via Bluetooth. So, when you press the spray button, you can not only shower your attacker with pepper spray, but the device will also sound an alarm and send your location to your most trusted contacts.
  • Gel-Based Pepper Sprays: You might have heard of Sabre Red Pepper Gel Sprays, this spray is made up of a special gel formula that lowers the risk of blowback of the spray in windy conditions. Some of these gel sprays also have a UV dye mixed in so you can also mark the attacker for later identification.
  • Rechargeable and Refillable: Pepper sprays mostly come in a one-use can, but smart sprays are different. These have a built-in USB or a battery port along with a refill slot so you can use just one as long as you can recharge and refill it.

Stun Guns and Tasers

Stun guns and tasers are small, handy devices for protecting yourself from active threats. These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and some even come in inconspicuous designs so you can hide them with your everyday items in your purse.

And anyone can easily pick up and use these devices, just point it toward your attacker and push a button. It will shock the attacker, knock them out, and give you time to run away or call for help.

Modern Self-Defense Gears and Accessories

Self-Defense Gears and Accessories

You know, modern self-defense gear is not just all about connectivity. Thugs don’t come at you with foldable knives anymore. Guns are becoming a huge issue in today’s society. This is especially the case in America.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution states that citizens have the right to bear arms. But that’s not always a good thing. This means criminals also have the right to have a gun with them.

 Here are some of today’s best self-defense gear and accessories:

1. Bulletproof Gear

Bulletproof Gear

Guns are a huge issue in America. It’s not that uncommon to hear that someone around the neighborhood got robbed at gunpoint.

DID YOU KNOW?
As of July 2, 2024, the Gun Violence Archive (GVA) recorded 261 shootings, 296 deaths, and 1,150 injuries from gun violence in the United States, not including suspect deaths and injuries. This is a slight decrease from the first half of 2023 when 9,683 people were killed and 18,630 were wounded in shootings.

Gun violence is at an all-time high in the US and just carrying around another gun is not that good an idea. You also need a way to protect yourself from them. In such cases, wearing bulletproof gear under your regular clothes can give you an extra layer of security.

In the 90s, bulletproof vests were made up of bulky shock absorption materials or just plain cast iron sheets. And more often than not, they would fail to stop bullets.

This made them too huge or heavy for everyday use. Now, thanks to the latest innovations and technology, companies like BulletSafe can use materials like Kevlar, Dyneema, or Twaron to make vests that are as thin as any piece of clothing and still bulletproof.  

2. Smart Home Security Systems

It’s 2024, and it is just not enough to only think about protecting yourself. Theft is more common today than you might think, from porch pirates running away with your precious deliveries to squatters breaking into your home. 

You need a way to protect your home and property as well.

Thanks to technology, you can use gadgets like security cameras, smart doorbells, and locks. This can help you in adding authentication processes to improve your home’s overall security.

3. Mobile Phones

 Emergency SOS Feature in Smartphones and Watches

Why are mobile phones even on this list? Well, these smart gadgets are not just for making calls and entertainment. They are capable of much more than you might imagine. Phones these days come with some pretty awesome security features that are baked right into them.

The latest Android and iOS devices come with an emergency SOS feature that will automatically contact emergency services as well as share your location with them by pressing a specific button on your phone multiple times.

And that’s not all. There are also a lot of apps that users can download specifically to elevate their safety

Why Do You Need Self-Protection Tools?

Use Self-Protection Tools 

With so many things happening in the world around us, protecting yourself from active threats is becoming a major concern these days. But thanks to technology, there are many tools available that can help you with that.

Having a self-protection tool gives you much more than a sense of security and peace. Here are some reasons why you really need self-protection tools.

1. It gives you the confidence to tread anywhere.

2. You can protect yourself from active threats without using any deadly force.

3. These tools also allow you to prevent ongoing crimes or deter crimes from happening.

4. You get a sense of control over any situation and it also promotes community safety.

Conclusion

The world we live in is full of threats and unknowns and there is no telling what will happen in the coming future. This is why so many people nowadays carry self-protection around with them.

Over the years, the types of threats have changed, as has the way we can protect ourselves.

Thanks to the latest technology and innovations, self-defense tools have become more advanced as well. From wearable gadgets to our very own smartphones, these defensive tools are available in many shapes and sizes.

These protection tools give you a sense of security and the confidence that you’ll be safe when you venture out of your house.





Adam Green

With more than 3 years of experience as a software and tech writer on GetAssist.net Adam has been writing articles, blogs, and featured stories centered around the software and tech niche since he graduated from Virginia Tech University. He writes savvy articles, tutorials, and reviews that explain difficult concepts to readers of all levels. His expertise includes software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Through simple and engaging writing, Adam constantly delivers useful insights that enable readers to feel at ease in the ever-changing technological scene.

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