The world has witnessed massive progress in women's involvement in almost every thinkable area of work. Women today are participating and excelling in every job role. Though the boundaries are diminishing, we still have an inherent fear when it comes to women's safety. However, it is a harsh reality that the scenario is scary not just in India but worldwide.

People worldwide are trying to create a better environment for women to work freely without any fear or inhibitions. Technology seems to be the tool that could change the game, though not overnight but gradually. 

IoT specifically has a substantial potential in the direction. Many IoT devices are being devised that can protect women and children in emergencies. Devices and software are being developed to the changing lifestyles and their challenges. There are wearables that can be worn by kids and women, along with software that could send alerts to the preset numbers.

These devices can share the details of location and send emergency alerts or ring an alarm simply by the press of a button. There were requirements for a device that wouldn't even need the pressing of a button. This was due to the likelihood that the woman at that moment is not in a position to even be pressing a button. 

We now have devices that can be activated to resolve this issue through changes in various parameters such as temperature, heartbeat, pulse, vibration, specific unusual movements through sensors. Once activated the system tracks the location of the women using GPS and triggers emergency alerts.

Various state authorities, government initiatives, and other firms are focusing on using IoT-enabled software to assist police in child and female safety. In a recent update in Vishakhapatnam, about 1,000 autos were equipped with Internet of Things-enabled GPS devices as part of the newly launched Abhayam App for women's safety.

Another Gurgaon-based company, Lizmotors Mobility, is working on the development of a unified cloud-based software platform to address women and child safety. The software lets its users connect their IoT devices such as wearables, phones, vehicles, and security cameras and notify users or any third party instantaneously via alerts on their phones or computer if any anomaly is detected. The developed device that uses AI and ML software is connected to the cloud via the cellular network and can be integrated with any vehicle. The sensors integrated into the device monitor the driver as well as passengers and send out notifications if anything unusual is detected.

Most of these software employ scalable video platforms, big-data-driven insights, computer vision & facial recognition, IoT integration & data correlation, machine learning, geo-spatial analytics, and cybersecurity.

MY SAFETIPIN APP is another personal safety app that helps make safer decisions about your mobility based on the safety score of an area. There are 9 parameters based on which the ratings are given, and a safety score is created. The parameters which are lighting, openness (Ability to see and move in all directions), visibility (Vendors, shops, building entrances, windows and balconies from where you can be seen), people around you, security (Presence of police or guards), public transport, gender usage (Presence of women and children near you), walk path (a pavement or road with space to walk), and feeling which is about how safe you feel in your current location or situation.

Women sitting at home or getting confined mentally or physically is not an option in this progressive world anymore. Though these IoT-enabled software are all set to provide some sense of security to women and kids, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to change the criminal mindset and curb these issues from the root.