How Everyday Tech Is Redefining Safety, From Cars to Wrists

Every time technology leaps forward, innovations in safety are bound to follow. Whether it’s  early cylindrical door locks or the first-ever seatbelts to grace our cars, every era has brought with it technological advancements that keep us safe. 

What makes today different is how convenient safety and security systems have become, but how they’ve become embedded in every piece of technology that we use every day. Devices that existed with just one feature in mind are now packed with safety features that can both help detect health issues and trigger a response from emergency services. 

This paradigm shift hasn’t been dramatic; in fact, it’s hardly been noticeable. These aren’t necessarily the most futuristic of inventions, like cutting-edge smart home devices or robots. They are small enhancements that turn ordinary gadgets or tools into quiet, watchful guardians. Continue reading for some examples of how everyday tech is redefining safety. 

Cars: Full Throttle Safety Features

One of the best examples we can point to of how tech has totally transformed safety is in cars and how we move ourselves around. When I was younger, cars had airbags, seatbelts, and locks. Yes, there were some murmurs of ‘crumple zones’, but other than the standard boxes that needed ticking, little attention was paid to safety. 

In comparison, the modern vehicles we see today seem like something right out of a science fiction movie. Dashcams have become standard for many, whereas just a few years ago, they were only ever bought by professional drivers and enthusiasts. Now, they’re key witnesses to accidents and have helped improve behaviour on roads.

Beyond cameras, modern cars are also miniature data collection centres that can analyse the details of every crash and collision. They report their geolocation to emergency services, and can tell us the speed, impact direction, and even indicate driver attentiveness. Before this tech was around, people would be heavily impacted following a crash, with both physical and psychological injuries as a result. But now, drivers involved in accidents who weren’t at fault can move on with the knowledge that they didn’t do anything wrong. 

Smart Watches: Wearable Protection

Smart watches and fitness trackers have become must-have gadgets for tech lovers and fitness fanatics, but their safety features often fly under the radar. Smart watches now have fall-detection features, which are triggered when the device detects a sudden, impactful fall; if the owner doesn’t respond, it will automatically contact emergency services and share the location of the wearer. For young people, this would hopefully be a rare occurrence, but might happen if the owner has underlying medical conditions or enjoys extreme sports. But for older adults – especially those who live on their own, it could be life-saving. 

In recent years, we’ve also seen huge advancements in heart monitoring technology, built into smart watches and fitness trackers. The ability to track irregularities in heart rates is now a standard feature on most models, and can alert users to issues like irregular heartbeats or atrial fibrillation. There are even a small number of watches that can perform electrocardiograms. Let’s not get carried away, though; these devices won’t be replacing medical equipment or, indeed, medical professionals anytime soon. Still, these features have helped lots of people with early warnings and given them the motivation to visit their local doctor and get it checked.

High IQ Smart Phones

I’m honestly surprised that MENSA hasn’t yet inducted the iPhone and other smartphones, with the sheer amount of advancement they’ve spurred over the past 20 years. Not only are they essentially advanced, pocket-sized computers, they’re also arguably the most influential safety devices of our time. Almost everyone carries one on their person at all times, so its formidable combination of GPS, internet access, cameras, microphones, and sensors makes it an all-in-one safety hub. 

Friends and family regularly track each other over long journeys, nights out on the town, or if someone is just late home from work. Not only this, but the most popular map apps alert users who might be driving into dangerous weather conditions or dangerous roads. 

On top of that, smartphones are also used by governments to issue emergency warnings for natural disasters and national security risks. These notifications come instantly and are prioritised above all else, as they cut through the noise of other apps to send over the information when it matters the most. 

Final Thoughts

Safety is no longer just the realm of seasoned professionals. It’s now everywhere: in our cars, in our homes, and in our pockets. It means that more of us than ever before are holding ourselves accountable for our safety. We’re more aware of our environments and our bodies, and therefore are braced to drive carefully in dangerous conditions and get a suspected heart condition checked by a medical professional. 

Technology has increased our collective awareness, and is therefore reducing risks – making sure that if something goes wrong, help is closer than it ever has been. 

 

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