For those who enjoy the great outdoors, or who just find peace of mind in emergency preparedness, the Survivor Signal Rescue Panel (SSR) will make a nice addition to their supplies. The 26” x 26” square is high-visibility orange on one side, and water resistant mylar on the other. It can be used to help prevent hypothermia or sun poisoning, and also functions as a signaling panel during the day, as well as at night when a flashlight shines through it to name just a few features. For $40, backers get one product with an expected delivery of August 2014.
Category: Safety
Everyone loves to get outside into the sunshine, but too much sun is harmful. When hanging out outside, the shifting sun means that you constantly have to move around to remain in the shade. The Universal Sun Shade was designed to be flexible, portable and versatile. The shade folds up and the Universal Clamp allows it to move into any funny position it may need to in order to block out the sun. For the clamp, backers can donate $25 or $60 for the clamp and shade for delivery in August 2014. The Universal Clamp and Universal Sun Shade hopes to raise $29,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.
Functionality, storage and bulet stoppage is a tall order for a nightstand. But one product is out to deliver. The Taichiman Bulletproof Bedside Table is a nightstand in ordinary circumstances, but becomes a shield and weapon storage unit during times of trouble. The tabletop design is customizable for visual appeal, but is made of the same type of material as police anti-riot shields, It’s also IIIA bulletproof, and is nearly 6 millimeters thick. If a higher bulletproof level is desired, customization is available. The product appears to be easy to assemble, and is available to early bird backers for $185, or $245 includes a torch light and door / window alarm system. Expected delivery is October 2014.
Personal safety is always a concern, but being able to feel safe while discreetly alerting the authorities is a difficult balance to maintain. The SafeRing appears to be a normal ring accessory but is actually a powerful smartphone tool. With a miniature switch designed to avoid accidental triggering, the SafeRing can trigger the alarms on your phone and send GPS data to an emergency contact via text. It’s a low-key version of the Cuff line of Bluetooth-enabled safety jewelry. The ring can also be put to other non-emergency uses, such as locating a lost phone or activating a camera for a hands-free selfie. Backers can get a SafeRing in September 2014 for $35.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world with over 13 million cases each year. People know how to engage in heart-smart diets and behaviors, but sometimes that isn’t enough to protect oneself from a cardiac episode. The LifeKeeper is more than just a heart rate monitor, sending vitals to a user’s smartphone and assessing the data to determine if there are any health risks at that present time. LifeKeeper collects data through questions, activity tracking, sleep analysis, and creates a profile which can be viewed or that will trigger an alert in a potentially health-hazardous scenario. A LifeKeeper can be had with a pledge of $199, complete with sensors and the app, arriving in December 2014.
Laptop thefts in cars and libraries are on the rise, especially for those in college. When looking for a book or going to the restroom, many people opt to take their laptops with them instead of leaving them unattended. Laptops in cars need to be hidden for extra safety. The Iron Brick Case is a portable laptop safe that will keep your notebook or tablet safe on the go. It’s particularly handy since thiner laptops and tablets don’t have a lock connector on them and may rely on clunky alternatives.. This safe comes with steel cables, several locks and a rock hard exterior to prevent theft. One Iron Brick Safe costs backers $50 with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. The Safe needs to raise $23,500 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign.
Ask a cyclist and they’ll probably all say there’s no such thing as too much bike safety. For every ridiculously shaped helmet and strobe light, there’s still a dozen drivers on the road going too fast and not paying attention. Continuing the trend of shiny apparel accessories, Veglo’s Commuter X4 light is designed to create a brighter, more eye-level light that will keep traffic more aware of cyclists. With a design that fits over shoulders and backpacks alike, the bright fiber-optic light is customizable to blink or beam a constant red like the taillights of any motor vehicle. Urban biking enthusiasts can get a Commuter X4 for £25, complete with charger, in September 2014.
People often travel with valuables in their car, but rarely have peace of mind about the safety of their things unless they use a clunky and heavy safe. Doughnut Safe takes advantage of space you already have in your car by turning your spare tire into a strongbox. The 4” x 12” product is reinforced and made out of steel to ensure that your valuables stay safe. One of these hiding-in-plain-sight products with two keys goes for $180 with an estimated delivery date of November 2014. The Doughnut Safe hopes to raise to raise $9,000 on Kickstarter in its 31-day campaign.
The Premise. Gun safety in the USA has proven to be seriously lacking. Every year there are thousands of gun-related deaths, most of them accidental and preventable. The worst part is, people don’t know that their guns have been accessed without their permission or stolen until it is too late.
The Product. GunBoxLive is a gun safety system that connects to your smartphone. It alerts the user to which specific gun has been accessed, if the case has been moved, if gun has been accessed, removed or put back into the case. The app also provides immediate options to dial 911, report the gun stolen or show the map location of the weapon. GunBoxLive MD3G is a small device that works with any gun case roughly the size of a USB flash drive. The GunBoxLive HGC1 is a smart case with the device already built in.
The Pitch. GunBoxLive really goes for the shock factor in its campaign video with a sad and not-so-subtle dramatization of an accidental shooting involving two small children. The rest of the campaign follows suit with sad photos and even sadder statistics of gun violence. The developer is looking for a relatively ambitious $100,000 goal in its 60-day run on Indiegogo.
The Perks. The GunBoxLive MD3G device goes for an early price of $279. The HGC1 smart case goes for $359 with estimated delivery dates of October 2014. Reward tiers include service member discounts for policemen, firemen and military personnel and go all the way up to $13,500. As expected for any device that uses a cellular connection, there is a subscription charge. The first year of the app is free, but each additional year costs $60 for one year, $100 for two and $120 for three.
The Potential. GunBoxLive offers a smart way for gun owners to keep track of their firearms. Its options to call 911 and show if the gun has been removed or not puts it above existing smart gun cases such as the Gun Box. While the campaign video may be a bit sensationalist, the issue it addresses is serious. The added cost of renewing the subscription for the app, however, may deter backers. Many gun owners may simply opt for a locked box, but particularly those with kids will certainly see the benefits of the GunBoxLive.
The Premise. We all have them. Those certain part of town that you prefer to avoid because of shady characters and their behavior. But what about those occasions when you don’t have an option? If you have to use mass transit to get from point A to point B, or walking from the shopping mall to your car at night makes you nervous, it’s nice to have a bit of extra protection in case something should happen.
The Product. Empowerment Bottle offers an interesting way for a water bottle to multitask when walking or cycling. The 16 ounce container not only holds your water, but also sports reflective tape. A few self defense tools include a hidden chamber that contains mace, and another for a whistle. And while an assailant might be off balance from that mace, you can give them a good wallop via the metal handle on the top of the bottle for some extra time to get to a safe place.
The Pitch. The video for the $17,500 campaign starts out well with music that’s refreshingly different than the typical crowdfunding fare. Once the video cuts to the creator of the product speaking about it, the lighting isn’t the best, but his genuine passion for his product rings through. It’s pretty much a straightforward walkthrough of the features for the no-nonsense product.
The Perks. There are nine tiers from which backers may choose. For $30, a backer gets an Empowerment Bottle with an expected delivery of October 2014.
The Potential. People living in congested urban areas and who rely on mass transit such as subways will likely have a great appreciation for this product. Students who walk or ride their bike to school and those who live on a college campus will also see value in this product. Though it is possible to get mace and a whistle in a size that can be attached to a keychain, a water bottle may make them more convenient and accessible for those who are on foot or cycling.