Voice-Controlled Assistance Device for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Abstract

One of the biggest problems that society is currently facing is violence against women. In recent years, tangible progress in protecting and saving the lives of female victims of intimate partner/family-related homicide has not been made, so targeted responses are clearly needed. In this work, an electronic device to help victims of gender-based violence who live with their aggressor has been designed. The system is built on Bluetooth Low Energy technology allowing a wireless communication between device and mobile phone with a low power consumption. The device is controlled by three different commands and is capable of sending messages through a mobile phone to a Control Center. Depending on the nature of the received messages, the Control Center will take the appropriate measures to assist the victim. The design has been made paying special attention to a reduced size so that the device can easily be camouflaged in any accessory of the victim’s jewelry, thus going unperceived to the possible aggressor.