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New Wearable Technology May Help Prevent Attacks

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A physical attack can happen at any moment and anywhere, but some wearable technology might prove useful in such a situation.

It's something Kat Alexander knows about first hand.

"I was taking a shortcut and a man crossed my path and began to deliberately walk towards me," Alexander said,

She was able to get away, but used her experience to create the Siren Ring. It's a wearable piece of jewelry that when twisted, activates a 110-decibel alarm.

John Sakoian who owns Command Excellence, a local crisis safety consulting business, says the shock factor of noise could put an attacker into a sensory overload, which could be helpful.

He says wearable technology in concept is a good idea because it's readily available and accessible when you need it in an emergency situation.

While 911 is always the number to call if you need help in an emergency, your cell phone now has the ability to contact police for you the moment you're in danger.

It works through a smartphone app that has a special alert button. It can be triggered by your thumb.

There's also panic buttons that have alarm and help features.

It's a special pod that can be placed on your body and can automatically detect an injury during a violent crime.

He said while products like these can be helpful in a violent situation, the best tool is your brain.

"I think the motivation of the marketing is to provide peace of mind for the wearer. Unfortunately, if it doesn't work, it's a false sense of security," he said.

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