Presenting the Lifeboat: The World’s First Emergency Mobile Battery Charger with GPS Panic Button

Friends, Rodinhooders and Countrymen (and women :)),

I would like to share with you the story of the Lifeboat.

Scene I

After the December 2013 tragedy in New Delhi, there were a lot of announcements by various Govt. agencies about the measures they were proposing for the safety of women and children. Though all the announced measures such as “panic button” apps, better policing, etc. are more reactive in nature than proactive or preemptive, these are still required.

And that is why, it was frustrating to see the media reports of “panic button” apps being launched by different police departments including the “Himmat” app by the Delhi Police.

Picture yourself using the app in times of emergency and you will understand why I was frustrated.

Scene II

Around the same time, my wife was travelling by the last metro (in Delhi) home while I was supposed to pick her up at the station (on a foggy winter night). Her phone battery died while on the train and she became out of touch. Picture the needless hair-pulling that arose from the situation.

Hence, I thought of making a real “panic button”. Not necessarily for use in times of panic, but at least to let your family and friends know where you are.

Simultaneously, I wanted to address the main issue of low power which we face with the smartphone battery. Unfortunately, the higher the capacity of the power-bank you use or even the smartphone battery itself does not mean a thing in the end. It only means delaying the inevitable moment of when you need your phone to just make one call or send an sms and you have zero charge.

Scene III

Then, I had a “Eureka” moment! Why not combine a real hardware panic button and an emergency battery booster for the mobile phone?

I first thought of making it a phone case, albeit a flexible phone case to fit any phone (and not just a particular model).

However, this would mean that I would have to come up with different designs and looks for the phone case to appeal to every individual which is a different ball-game altogether.

Hence, the objective became to create a product with universal appeal and with minimum disruption to the user’s present preferences. This is when I came up with the Lifeboat –

Scene IV

So I did the prototyping and was planning for production in the conventional manner.

Scene V

But then I thought of going in for crowdfunding for the following reasons – 

1. To answer my query – Is it possible to bring out a new technology product without massive funding ? The way projects abroad are supported.

2. I’d rather get pre-orders from strangers who are booking the product for the product’s sake. This way, I get genuine feedback before I start mass-producing the product.

Original Soundtrack

There are two models which I have put up on the Indian crowdfunding site – https://ketto.org/lifeboat

1. The Lifeboat EZ (with only an emergency mobile phone battery booster)

2. The Lifeboat XT (with the GPS panic button option)

So, looking forward to your comments, Rodinhooders! And if you could guide me with specific ways to get media coverage, I would be really glad! Thank you for reading my story!

Publicity Agent

@MyLifeboatNow

Facebook.com/MyLifeboatNow

Autographed Posters

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