Abstract:
Child safety and well-being remain paramount concerns in today's world. To address
the pressing issues of child abuse and missing child cases, we introduce a wearable
Internet of Things (IoT) device designed to provide parents and guardians with realtime
tracking and comprehensive monitoring capabilities while addressing privacy
concerns. Several of such monitoring devices have been commercialised internationally
utilising location beacons. The drawback is that the devices in use are predominantly
location-based. GPS locators do not have a mechanism to provide context whether the
device is still worn by the child and other significant aspects of monitoring like distress
levels. Further, there are no such devices available and fabricated locally in spite of the
looming challenges. The proposed wearable IoT device is equipped with sensors to
monitor essential physiological parameters, including heart rate, audio and location.
The overall goal in this approach is to provide a general state of the child's well-being
without transmitting sensitive information unless the system so deems. The wearable
IoT device incorporates sensors to monitor key physiological factors such as heart rate,
audio, and location, allowing for an assessment of the child's well-being and
surroundings. Heart rate monitoring serves to detect distress, ensuring the device's
constant connectivity for emergency response. Audio analysis provides insights into the
child's activities and overall condition, while geofencing using location data enables the
establishment of safe zones. If the child strays from these predetermined safe areas, the
device promptly notifies the caregiver, enhancing child safety and providing peace of
mind. The work involves designing and fabricating the wearable device. Similarly,
Machine learning algorithms will be trained for different levels of distress detection
from the sensors. Development of applications (App) will also ensue to convey the
information to guardians/parents. All data, including general state information and
distress context, is securely transmitted to a cloud server for easy access and historical
analysis while maintaining privacy through edge processing. In conclusion, this wearable
IoT device offers a holistic solution to child safety concerns, enabling parents and
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guardians to track their child's real-time location, monitor vital signs, and receive
selective contextual alerts when distress is verified, all while safeguarding privacy. Its
use of SMS and app communication, geofencing, and advanced privacy measures make
it a valuable tool for enhancing child safety in today's world.
