Description
Paradox: Cyclists as sustainable mobility users are the most vulnerable. Smartguard, a wearable made of smart textiles, increases their overall road safety. Two vibrating actuators navigate tactilely and increase continuous attention. Music is stopped when danger is detected. Textile pressure sensors distributed on the head determine hardness and localization of force in a crash scenario. An emergency signal is sent autonomously to rescue services and nearby road users. The Smartguard app also provides users with information about their vital parameters. This optimizes both preventive safety and accident rescue and makes cycling more attractive, especially in urban areas. Smartguard makes a technologically innovative contribution to the necessary mobility turnaround. However, the implementation of the concept requires a social debate about unconditional data protection and openness to technology. The goal is to reduce skepticism about smart textiles and exploit their huge potential.
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