A mobile-like gadget to protect women

If you are working in late night shifts, a woman and in distress, use Lone Worker, a hand-held mobile-like gadget to protect you.

Since attacks on women employees are on the increase, especially on those working in BPOs and ITEs, Chip maker SiRF Technologies has introduced Lone Worker, which sends distress messages to police, offices and any other number along with their location instantaneously.

It is a communication device - a cell phone - that has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). It is pre-programmed to dial four numbers which can be selected by the employer or the individual.

Giving details of the product in an exclusive interview, the Managing Director of SiRF, Ashutosh Pande, said that the product saves women in distress through the pressing of an SOS button.

There is also one SOS button that when pressed will call an emergency response number. This could be to a government agency or the organization's security / emergency contact number.

Once pressed, the device will start sending co-ordinates across the cellular network to the pre-designated emergency number. What's interesting is that the SOS call will go through even if there is no SIM Card.

Along with Lone Worker, SiRF has developed chips for other products like Nuvi Navigator which helps in locating destinations anywhere in the world, Child Locator to help children and their location and an unique product to aid senior citizens with an SOS button.

According to Ashutosh Pande, the company believes in convergence to future needs.

SiRF has also developed another GPS product to help navigate the transport sector, and Ashutosh says it can also help defence and security agencies.

SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. develops and markets semiconductor and software products that are designed to enable location-awareness utilizing GPS and other location technologies, enhanced by wireless connectivity capabilities such as bluetooth, for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications.