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Kent woman invents panic alarm using domestic appliances
Kent woman invents panic alarm using domestic appliances

BBC News

timea day ago

  • BBC News

Kent woman invents panic alarm using domestic appliances

"Behind closed doors he was a monster," said Katy Longhurst, who claims she suffered years of domestic abuse from an ex-partner and was often prevented from accessing her panic alarm."I needed something that could be readily available in any room in my house, and I didn't need to make a noise, didn't need to reach for my phone," she Ms Longhurst, from Kent, created software which allows victims to call for help secretly, by switching on and off an electrical appliance to send a signal through the mains power supply which then triggers a push notification to a Alexander, from the Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, said the system offered "a great way to alert somebody that you're in danger, and then get the response that you need". 'Call for help from hairdryer' "It's a tool in your tool kit as a victim of domestic abuse that keeps you safer," she Longhurst, an IT engineer, said she wanted the software, called Ask Joan, to be accessible. She said she has tried to control the cost of the app, which is nearly £10 a month, as she is aware of how economic abuse can impact victims."My ex-partner would lock me in my bedroom, so I wanted to be able to call for help from my hairdryer, or if I was in the kitchen I could use my kettle, my air fryer, something that was an everyday household appliance," she added that a smart meter or similar device is used to help detect any unusual surges in energy when an appliance is switched on and off in a certain pattern."We will send a push notification directly to your next-of-kin or your point of contact, in line with your safety plan."Ms Longhurst, who now has a non-molestation order in place, said her attacker sometimes hid in her cellar and put listening devices around her home. "I had 169 crime reports. He broke my ribs, he cracked my cheekbone, he broke my nose," she said her abuser tracked her down after she was moved to Northern Ireland."My family didn't really believe me because he was Jekyll and Hyde. To the outside world he was the most perfect businessman." Ms Longhurst said the Ask Joan technology was first introduced under a pilot scheme with a support group of other domestic abuse survivors in Kent. She said local authorities and charities could refer victims who might benefit from a secret SOS Ask Joan system is also being made available as a smartphone app, said Ms Council in Norfolk is trialling the app. Staff have distributed 19 units and they are now offered as part of every new referral, said a council comes as the Kent-based Oasis Domestic Abuse Service charity is warning of a surge in incidents of domestic abuse during the school holidays, when victims may struggle to pick up the phone for help and advice."It's not so easy to do when there are children around and there's a perpetrator at home," said Ms Alexander."If you're isolated from friends and family you may not have anyone that can help you during that period of time."If you are affected by any of the issues raised, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.

Australia to miss out on lifesaving vehicle escape tech
Australia to miss out on lifesaving vehicle escape tech

News.com.au

time01-07-2025

  • Automotive
  • News.com.au

Australia to miss out on lifesaving vehicle escape tech

Australia will miss out on life-saving technology designed to prevent drivers from drowning. Zeekr, a new electric vehicle brand, has developed a safety device that allows occupants to escape from a submerged vehicle. But the technology will only be offered in left-hand-drive markets, such as China, for now. . Zeekr's decision to deny Australian drivers new safety tech comes as a rising number of motorists fall victim to floodwater. Dr Francois Flocard, director of industry research at UNSW's Water Research Laboratory, said 'the number of fatalities in vehicles has increased in the last 15 years'. 'The feature you mentioned is interesting and definitely can help people', Dr Francois said. 'By the time water crosses the window, it's already very dangerous and almost too late.' Zeekr's tech a world first. It works with a lever tucked away near the driver's knees. A quick tug of a cable activates a window-breaking hammer within the driver's door that strikes the bottom of the window glass. Once triggered, the hammer can displace up to 3,000 newtons of force to shatter the window. This is approximately 33 times the impact strength of a typical safety hammer, equivalent to the force of five adults simultaneously smashing into the window. More than 100,000 vehicles across Australia are equipped with electric door handles which may fail to operate when submerged in water. Earlier this year, it was revealed that not all vehicles have a manual door release mechanism as a backup in the event of a power failure. Power-operated doors use a car's 12-volt battery – not the high-voltage battery used to power electric cars – to enable occupants to exit the vehicle with the press of a button. If the car's 12V battery dies or gets disconnected after an impact, occupants must use a manual door release function to exit the vehicle quickly. Vehicle safety body ANCAP recently added vehicle submergence to its safety assessment criteria, a move aimed at helping first responders access trapped occupants and ensuring safe egress during flooding events. Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP's chief executive, said, 'in recent years, we've seen a number of significant flooding events across Australia'. 'The number of new vehicle models fitted with electric door opening is also increasing,' she said. 'Combined, these aspects highlight the strong need for this emergency access capability to help prevent unnecessary loss of lives.' When a car is submerged, water pressure makes it nearly impossible to open the doors. Additionally, electric door and window switches may also fail. ANCAP awards points in the Adult Occupant Protection assessment for vehicles equipped with effective submergence countermeasures. Manufacturers may offer alternative methods to open windows if standard measures are not demonstrated. Emergency glass hammers are an alternative means of egress that car manufacturers can opt to implement during ANCAP testing. Professor Giesbrecht, a world-renowned expert in vehicle submersions based in Canada, said the biggest danger isn't water – it's time. 'You get people who are awake and functional who drown because they don't know how to escape,' he said. Many people make the mistake of believing their car will protect them or that waiting for help is the safest option. But in a flood event, even emergency services can't respond in time. So Zeekr's groundbreaking solution offers a potential lifeline in these situations. Unfortunately, the brand can't justify a compelling business case to introduce this safety technology in Australia. And it is a decision that highlights a concerning trend in the current automotive market. Car makers are engaged in an intense EV price war in Australia due to excessive production levels. Unfortunately, this means every dollar counts, and manufacturers can't always justify including features that push up prices for consumers.

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