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This attack alarm is baked into a ring

A hidden button will send an SOS via your phone to trusted friends.

Daniel Cooper

The obvious issue with a personal attack alarm is that if you don't have one in your hand, it's pointless. We've seen a few devices that incorporate technology inside jewelry, which is the method adopted by Nimb's smart ring. After a successful crowdfunding campaign last year, the company is preparing to ship the first version of the hardware in May.

The idea behind Nimb is simple: The device is a ring with a tiny button tucked discreetly on the underside. Should you feel that you're in danger, a three-second press will trigger an alert on your phone via Bluetooth. You'll be told the message was successfully sent with a gentle vibration, too quiet for anyone else to hear.

The alert will be sent to three nominated contacts, giving up your location and a canned message indicating that you are in trouble. If you subscribe to Nimb's $10-per-month service, your alert will also be sent to a 24/7 contact center that will dispatch help and record the audio coming out of your smartphone. Details about how the contact center will work are still being hammered out, but you can pay for a year's worth of service when you buy the ring itself.

Nimb is available to pre-order now for $130 in either black or white, with shipments expected to begin in May.