The Whistl Sexual Assault Alarm Phone Case

The Whistl Phone Case

Personal Security System

  A Kickstarter campaign has recently been launched for a new cell phone case called Whistl. The case works in tandem with a smartphone app and is designed to protect users from potential security threats and sexual assaults. The design is simple: if a user feels like they are in danger, they can click two buttons on the case to alert their friends and local authorities. The case also emits a loud noise and displays a flashing L.E.D. light.

  The cases will be available for a July 2015 launch for the iPhone (5C, 5S and 6 models) and Android support may follow in the future. As of press deadline, Whistl had earned $36,775 of their $70,000 funding goal.

Jayon Wang is CEO of Lifeshel, the company behind the case.

  When asked about the implications of perpetuating rape culture through a product that some critics may argue places the onus on women to prevent sexual assault, Wang noted that he sees this product more as an opportunity.

  “It’s not just women who are responsible for protecting themselves when they go out. That’s certainly not what we intend to convey with our product,” said Wang. “What we do want to make sure that if someone is going out and they actively want something to protect them, we need to make sure the market is able to provide them with those solutions. It’s not just a women’s issue, it’s everyone’s issue.”

  Wang noted that although Lifeshel has received outside funding from other investors in Pittsburgh, Kickstarter is a valuable tool to raise awareness for the product. The Kickstarter campaign also ensures that the phone case will be in wide use among early adopters by the time it launches next year.

  A successful trial run for the product has already been conducted at the Wang’s alma matter, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Plans are also in the works to try out the phone cases at other universities. Wang sees the phone case as an opportunity to further the discussion surrounding sexual assault and to hopefully make college campuses and cities safer places.

Look for the Whistl case in stores in the United States in July 2015 with international expansion to follow.