PeraDot

The name PeraDot comes from the Latin word Pera, meaning bag, purse, or wallet and Dot, referencing Morse Code. The original concept for PeraDot was an innovative, incognito messaging device built into a lady's (or man's) bag for any threatening or uncomfortable situation, and was first prototyped as a part of HackCMU in September of 2019. The prototype was a wristlet fitted with two built-in touch sensors that act as "dot" and "dash" in Morse Code. The bag also featured vibrational feedback to indicate that a message has been sent. Using a wi-fi chip, the device could message a list of pre-defined contacts and alert them to your situation.

For our efforts on PeraDot, my teammate Ananya Rao and I were awarded Bloomberg's Social Impact Sponsor Prize.

For more information on the project, including its inspiration, construction, and challenges, please see this page.