Kathy Roma experienced a traumatic physical attack in 2000. The experience led her to co-found Nimb, a ring with a panic button that can be pressed with one finger. It was created as a way to send an alert to authorities and friends, notifying them of your location.
“What saved me was the call for help,” Roma says speaking about her physical attack. Roma survived a brutal knife attack. She says that since the attack, she has worked toward finding a way to help other vulnerable people.
Nimb is a wearable device that acts as a panic button to alerts to friends and family, police-private security services, and people nearby. The notifications are all adjustable, meaning that the user decides who will receive the alert. The company says that it acts as a “real life saviour” when making a phone call is not possible. When something or someone holds the user’s hands, sending an alert is still possible. It takes only three seconds and can be done in complete discretion.
The alert includes the user’s GPS location and a profile on the Nimb application that includes the user’s name, photo, age, gender and other useful information. The Nimb acts as a voice recorder once activated to collect evidence that authorities can use.
Nick Marshanky, a member of the Nimb team, says they believe society is ready to protect itself. The application aims to become an online community where members can create groups. Nimb users in the vicinity of a distress call can also be notified to respond.
Nimb is fully waterproof and available in black and white. Production on the ring will start once its Kickstarter, which has already reached its goal of $50 000, ends in roughly 30 days. The ring’s battery life lasts for 2 weeks on one charge and is compatible with IOS, Android and Windows phones.
