Recently, an influx of technology geared towards safety has hit the market, targeting high school and college students as well as young adults. Many preventative safety measures are cautionary, instructing people to not go or do certain things at night. However, this new technology hopes to arm people with awareness and information. The technology, which includes a variety of apps and drug testers, can help prevent the pertinent problems of rape and sexual assault.

Some of the most developed advances come in the form of apps. bSafe is an app that allows you to press an alarm feature which can alert preset contacts, campus police and even 911 if a dangerous situation arises. It can also allow you to share your location as a precaution. Watch Over Me is another app that includes many of the same features as bSafe, but also includes a camera feature that can be turned on in case of emergency. These apps and others, including Kitestring and MyForce are available for both iOS and Android.

Another creative product currently being tested is a nail polish line called Undercover Colors. This nail polish, which was developed by four male engineering students at the North Carolina State University, helps to identify the presence of common date rape drugs, such as Rohypnol, Xanax and gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB), in a variety of beverages. Another drug identifier is called the Personal Drug Identifier (pd.id), a small device that takes into account the light, current, and temperature of the drink to determine the exact drug used. Additionally, drug enforcement agencies, such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have used this device in testing. Pd.id. even sends a text to your phone to alert you if your drink has been tampered with. Currently, both the nail polish and pd.id are still in the testing stages; however, both products are set to release to the general public sometime in late 2017.

A new wave of safety products has been developed for the 21st century, utilizing drug detecting and location technology to not only shed light on the important issues of harassment and assault, but also to help prevent them from happening. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), one in six women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. While this new technology is not a permanent solution, it helps prevent these devastating attacks before they begin.