'Aphrodite' shoes for sex workers - an interesting 'art' project/ initiative by artist Norene Leddy

that I stumbled upon in surfing for content related to Violence Against women. I found this to be a sort of .. charming idea for a serious issue - the safety of women in the streets.

The shoe is armed:

• with a piercing audio alarm to draw attention and scare off rapists and muggers. Unlike mace or knives, it can’t be used against you.
• Hidden Safety Compartmentsfor storing cash, house keys, and condoms.
• Problem Client Blogwhere you can post information online about ‘problem clients’ that is searchable by date, city and street address. Check it before you head off to work, or use it to warn your fellow workers of possible trouble.
• A customized version of Rave Wireless's Rave Guardian and a GPS system.
- With the press of a button, you can send an emergency signal to sex workers rights groups and/or the police with your location.- This helps to eliminate the “consensual” argument - if it was consensual, you wouldn’t have pressed the emergency button.- Sending the signal to sex workers rights groups allows them to monitor the police.- If the police don’t show up, both you and the sex workers rights group have a record of your call, and police negligence.- You choose who gets to see the signal and who doesn’t, and you can turn the tracking off at any time.- It’s not just for help -- you can also use the GPS system to locate your friends and co-workers.- This technology is gaining widespread acceptance on college campuses across the country. Rave Wireless's Rave Guardian, allows students that feel unsafe to use their mobile phone as a personal alarm device. Students initiate a timer on their mobile phone. If the timer expires before the student turns it off, Rave Guardian uses the e911 infrastructure to locate the phone and let local authorities know to check on the student. Learn more about Rave Wireless at www.ravewireless.com or email info@ravewireless.com.

• Audible Alarm Systemwith a piercing audio alarm to draw attention and scare off rapists and muggers. Unlike mace or knives, it can’t be used against you.
• Hidden Safety Compartmentsfor storing cash, house keys, and condoms.<
• Problem Client Blogwhere you can post information online about ‘problem clients’ that is searchable by date, city and street address. Check it before you head off to work, or use it to warn your fellow workers of possible trouble.
• A customized version of Rave Wireless's Rave Guardian and a GPS system.

- With the press of a button, you can send an emergency signal to sex workers rights groups and/or the police with your location.- This helps to eliminate the “consensual” argument - if it was consensual, you wouldn’t have pressed the emergency button.- Sending the signal to sex workers rights groups allows them to monitor the police.- If the police don’t show up, both you and the sex workers rights group have a record of your call, and police negligence.- You choose who gets to see the signal and who doesn’t, and you can turn the tracking off at any time.- It’s not just for help -- you can also use the GPS system to locate your friends and co-workers.- This technology is gaining widespread acceptance on college campuses across the country. Rave Wireless's Rave Guardian, allows students that feel unsafe to use their mobile phone as a personal alarm device. Students initiate a timer on their mobile phone. If the timer expires before the student turns it off, Rave Guardian uses the e911 infrastructure to locate the phone and let local authorities know to check on the student. Learn more about Rave Wireless at or email info@ravewireless.com.

link: The Aphrodite Project

technorati tags: takebackthetech