Redpill Linpro is taking part in a project to improve safety in public spaces using IoT technology

"We are delighted to be part of this initiative to help create a safer digital society," says Johan Lundin, regional manager for Redpill Linpro in Karlstad.

The main objective of the Smart & Safe project is to increase the sense of safety among children and young people in public spaces. By developing, testing and evaluating various solutions and methods, the project aims to lay the foundations for future collaboration between different stakeholders. The central focus is on using Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to harness modern technology and create smart, effective solutions in public spaces. 

The project also aims to improve the process from identifying needs to implementing finished solutions. By utilising the data collected, the aim is also to foster new behaviours and facilitate collaboration between organisations, with a particular focus on knowledge sharing and data sharing.

One of the innovations developed as part of the project is an interactive park bench. This park bench, the technology for which was developed by Redpill Linpro in collaboration with, amongst others, Karlstad Energi, aims to create a safe and attractive meeting place in an urban environment. The bench, known as ‘Hej Bänk’, allows people to charge their mobile phones, connect to free Wi-Fi and is intended to be a place where people can socialise with friends. 

“Although it is only a trial at the moment, the bench responds to an average of more than 100 questions per month,” explains Johan Lundin.

Another part of the project involves the development of a portable alarm that integrates with the city’s street lighting. This personal alarm, originally developed by the youth-run company Safestyle, is activated via a button on a discreet hair tie. When the button is pressed, a text message containing the user’s GPS location is sent to pre-selected recipients, such as family members, friends or SOS Alarm. 

As an additional safety measure, the alarm has been integrated with the city’s street lighting – when the alarm is activated, the lights in the area come on, serving both as a signal for help and as a deterrent to potential perpetrators.

The project also includes a third component: creating a sense of safety through sound technology. In certain locations, such as rooftops, which can often pose a risk to young people, a sound technology utilising high-frequency sounds has been trialled. The sound, which can only be heard by people under the age of 25, is activated when someone approaches the area. 

In addition to the sound signal, a warning is also sent to the project’s IoT platform, enabling a rapid response to potentially dangerous situations.

The Smart & Safe project is funded by Vinnova and run by the Compare Foundation in collaboration with Karlstad Municipality, Karlstad Energi, Karlstad University and the police, together with a number of companies, including Redpill Linpro. A key aim of the project is to promote collaboration between organisations that do not usually work together, in order to tackle societal challenges in an innovative way.&

For more information about the project, visit Compare.se.