App-connected life jacket tracks wearer’s location

Ahti X1 Life jacket sends a time-stamped location alert to an app as soon as the jacket is inflated.

We’ve seen a life jacket shirt that auto-inflates when wearers hit the water. Now, the Ahti X1 Lifejacket sends location data, time overboard and direction of travel to a companion app, so both swimmers and rescuers can be safer. A time-stamped location alert is sent as soon as the life jacket inflates, and LED lights in the jacket help increase the wearer’s visibility at night or in bad weather.

Immediately after inflation, a set of grip points help lift the wearer higher out of the water. For rescuers, the app provides detailed maps with information on water temperature, wind speed and time the life jacket wearer has been in the water. The app also tracks battery life in the jacket and alerts users to any malfunctions or required hardware updates. The Ahti X1 is a concept by industrial designer Mats Lönngren.

Are there other stalwarts of personal safety that could use a tech update?