Sometimes, violent people rein in their aggressive behavior if they know they're being recorded on video. Whipping out your phone and holding it up to film them, however, may make things even worse. That's where the PhoneCam comes in, as it's intended to serve as a sort of middle ground.
Manufactured by Dutch design agency Slimdesign, the PhoneCam is smaller than a cigarette lighter, and can be worn in a prominent location on the user's jacket or shirt. It incorporates a 1080p/30fps wide-angle video camera, a microphone, plus 4G/5G and Wi-Fi modules.
If the user finds themselves in what could turn out to be a dangerous situation, they press the PhoneCam's single button. Doing so puts it into standby mode, as is indicated by an LED ring on the device which illuminates white. The general idea is that this will draw the potential assailant's attention to the fact that a camera is indeed present.
If things continue to escalate, the user presses the button a second time. This makes the ring turn red, and it causes the PhoneCam to start transmitting footage to a cloud-based server, where it's recorded for possible use in court or by the police.
Additionally, a predetermined emergency contact is automatically notified via an app on their smartphone. That app displays a live audio/video feed from the PhoneCam, it shows the user's location on a map, plus it allows the contact person and user to have a two-way conversation.
The PhoneCam is available now for preorder, priced at US$69 – the jacket clip is an additional $39. A subscription is required, which is free if users just wish to utilize the basic features, and plan on sending no more than 20 minutes of alarm time per month. Other features can be accessed starting at a monthly fee of $3.99.
Source: PhoneCam
a) Firstly keep the b******s at bay.
b) Make them accountable should they proceed to bump you.
That said, it will probably be prudent to wear another unit on your back as that is where they'll then come in at.
Quite how you'll be forewarned they're on the attack is another thing!
All said, a definite step in the right direction for personal isolation.
PS.
A lanyard type attachment might deter them from snatching at the unit.
With the legal system being 100% corrupted and screwed up, you can have the best evidence in the world on your side, but if it's disallowed, of what good is it to you? Once the camera is in live transmit mode, someone trying to grab the camera will be recorded for future review, so a lanyard on it wouldn't be needed.
Now, the criminals are using jamming devices when they break into homes so the security cameras can't transmit their feed to the base station and record what they see. The same thing could be done here,
Having the device light up guarantees one will not have the important footage needed for court.
Am I really going to have to use the black electrician's tape to keep it from lighting up? Surely there's a stealth option.
EXTRA COST just to affix it to clothing?? Phooey.
If the attacker knows how it works then when you've pressed it once they have an opportunity to attack before you've recorded anything. Distracting yourself by pressing a button two times is also an apportunity for them to attack while your guard is down.
If they don't know that images are sent to the cloud then they have an incentive to attack to retrieve the camera.
How about a discrete device triggered by a movement such as a fall or the adoption of a defensive arm movement?