IH02-LunaDai
From IEOR 170 Spring 2007
Contents |
[edit] Problem Description
Students walking alone at night, on and off campus, are at constant risk for assault. In 2005, twenty-five violent crimes occurred on campus alone. Additionally, the surrounding residential areas where students live are common settings for physical assault and robbery. The lack of an adequate police alert system and safety program allow for criminals to perpetrate these crimes with little regard for arrest. There should be a way for students to walk freely at night without fear of assault.
[edit] Target User Group
The target user is a student who walks by themselves at night. The student may be walking home from a late class, campus event, group meeting, or social gathering and end up without companions to walk with. In particular, the target user includes students with slighter figures who tend to be more vulnerable targets for attack. The students will want a simple solution that will allow them to get to their destination quickly and without a hassle.
[edit] Problem Context and Forces
The problem occurs mainly at night to students walking alone. The student will most likely be less concerned about safety than getting to his destination promptly. The student will typically not be paying attention to surroundings, instead listening to music or talking on a cell phone. This will keep him from recognizing dangerous situations, and prevent the studen from taking precautions. The solution should be something simple and discrete that will not interfere with the students other preoccupations, so that students will want to use it. Preferably, the solution will save students from attacks before they occur by scaring off attackers. However, even if the solution simply gets the police to the location in time to arrest the attacker, this will be able to deter potential crimes in the future. Currently, there is the BearWalk Service which provides students with a radio-equipped escort to accompany them between residences near campus and public transportation hubs. However, this requires the student to call and wait for the escort to arrive which may be too much of a hassle for everyday usage. Also, this does not help students who live farther from campus. Another service offered by the university are night shuttles that can take students between specified areas and by phone request but again, the hassle of these services make them inconvenient to students impatient to get home. Finally, the students themselves may purchase self-defense weapons like mace sprays but these are dangerous and difficult to use in times of panic.
[edit] Solution Sketch
A wristband that monitors for sudden surges in heartbeat or sweating - signs that the body is in a panicked state and set off a high pitched alarm sound to alert nearby police.
