A survey from Barcelona City Hall, presented on Monday, revealed that 25.6% of residents of Barcelona have been the victim of one or more crimes in the past year – a level not seen since 1986 (26.2%) during the heroin epidemic.

“The most frequent crime reports were of stolen bags and cell phone, threats and fraud”
El Pais

“Spain is generally a safe destination for tourists, students, business travelers, and others. Violent crime is uncommon. Foreigners are the targets of choice for pickpockets and thieves, who operate in hotel lobbies, restaurants, public transit systems, airports, and other areas frequented by tourists. Upon arrival at the airport, train station, bus station, or hotel, keep a close eye on your personal belongings”  www.osac.gov

“As per the reports & figures there is a increase in Crime by 19% with petty thefts making the bulk” Mossos d’Esquadra

A study made by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that the proportion of men and women who say they feel safe walking alone at night in the area where they live while ordered by the greatest difference between men and women. This study reveals that women are in every case less confident and more frighten to walk home alone and in a few countries man are as well. How can we help them?
Does the fear of crime matches the real crime index?
According with the Gallup’s latest Global Law and Order report which surveyed residents in 142 countries on two measures:
– Their perception of safety
– Their first-hand experience with crime
In the US around 30% of the citizens feel unsafe while walking home alone at night, however only 17% of the citizens experienced theft or violence.
In countries such as Brazil and Moldova the citizens have a much higher sense of insecurity than the actual crime rate shows.
As in Brazil 68% of the citizens feel unsafe to walk home alone at night, while the crime rate only shows 23% of the population experiencing crime in the last 12 months.
References
Nimb ring is a device designed by Kathy Roma that can be worn like regular jewelry, but is secretly a connected device in emergency situations.
Nimb Ring comes with a panic button that sends an emergency alert to first responders and your emergency contacts. A notification will be sent out to those within your “safety circles” who are within 300 yards of your location.
How it works: Just press and hold the button to send an alert to your safety circles.
The Caress of the Gaze designed by Behnaz Farahi, recognizes and responds with life-like behavior to the gaze of the others through an interactive 3D-printed wearable .
This artificial skin changes its shape and operates as an interface with the world, defining social issues such as intimacy, gender and personal identities.
How it works:Demonstrates how the advanced 3D printing technologies might contribute to the realm of fashion as the outfit exhibits different behaviors in various parts of the body ranging from stiff to soft.
Explores the potential of an actuation system, which is assembled as a form of muscle system using Shape Memory Alloy actuators (SMA) that informs the motion of the skin.
Investigates how our clothing could interact with other people as a primary interface using computer vision technologies.
SCENARIO
In light of the research shown it can be stated that in multiple situations a citizen might even be safe while walking alone, however due to certain insecurities feel otherwise.
People that have been attacked in the past are usually in need for higher sense of security that they are safe in the present.
So, how about designing something for our sense of security?
A new design can respond to this in both passive and active ways while being a reassurance that we are in control of our situation and surroundings and once in need a reminder that we can react quickly.
The Kindeye is a hat made of polyester and incorporated with coin vibration motors, micro cameras, 3 led lights, GSR sensors and a motorized massage membrane.
Passive Output
The passive output of the Kindeye consists of virtual and silent interaction between the person wearing the artifact and the possible offender.
The approach of an individual within 10 meters radius from the Kindeye can be detected with the use of micro cameras incorporated in the design. The output of this recognition is felt on the forehead of the user through incorporated coin vibration motors on both sides.
At the same time the 3 led lights on the back of the hat inform the offender that the user is aware of his presence.
Active Output

The Kindeye performs its active output once required and it can work automatically and manually in two scenarios.

Even though the user is at a moment aware of the proximity of an individual, emotions such as agitation and anxiety can still remain. Therefore Kindeye provides a neck massaging membrane on the back of the design which activates movement through GSR sensors incorporated in the interior of the hat.
This GSR sensors transmit the emotions from the user to the membrane and with this soothing technique aims to tranquilize the user.

In real case of danger the user can also choose to react while pressing the back of the hat for 3 seconds, which will send the location to the nearest police station and send help.
 
 
USER MANUAL
1. Place the Kindye hat
2. Feel the presence of an individual within 10 meters through a vibration sensation on both side of your forehead
3. If feeling anxious or worried the equipment will reduce this emotions by relaxing the back of your head with a soothing massage
4. In case of emergency press the back of the hat for 3 seconds
5. Police will be on their way
“Chloe is a 24 year old woman who lives in London where she is doing her masters in Education at London Metropolitan University. She usually goes directly from her university to her part-time job in Barrio Shoreditch where she spends 3 nights of her week in order to make money for her livings. Chloe was never comfortable to walk home alone at night, even when she was still living back home in Cornwall so when she moved to London she knew she would struggle with mild anxiety on her walk from the 67 bus stop to her house close to Haggerston Park.
She would hear drunk people on the street and even though they never really approached her she was always terrified of that 10 min walk after work. She would even tell her boyfriend as soon as she arrived home that she was tired of feeling afraid. One day, Chloe saw an advertisement of the Kindeye on the same bus stop she waited 3 times a week and as soon as she got home she sat down and made an online order!
Her Kindeye device arrived on the 3rd day after her purchased and that night she went to work and made her 10 minutes walk home relaxed, she didn’t rushed home and she even appreciated the trees and landscape of Haggerston Park, while she would feel the alert from the hat on her forehead warning her of people walking nearby. Even though she was now aware of her surroundings her agitation was still there but with the soft and smoothing massage on the back of her neck she relaxed and proceeded knowing that help was only one press away.”
Artifacts from the Future
Students:
Sofia Madeira
Ignacio Pastor
Logesh Mahalingam