The Safe Back - assignment PDF

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The SafeBack By Anon

Background The backpack is the most commonly used bag to carry items essential for work and study. Over the years, various improvements have been made to its design. However, a persisting problem is the incidence of theft or pickpocketing from the backpack. An estimated 400,000 pickpocket incidents from bags happen every single day worldwide [1]. Just how safe are these backpacks nowadays? They are usually designed with a zipper or a clip and worn on the user’s back, it is relatively easy to procure items from the backpack without the owner realising and this continues to increase at an alarming rate. Many people own backpacks and usually feel very safe owning something that is made with effective material to prevent these issues. This problem is made worse these days by users being inattentive of their surroundings when they are using their mobile devices and/or headphones.

Problem There are anti-theft backpacks on the market with a variety of safety features but are these features really safe? Bags with locking zippers make use of combination locks in which the correct code has to be entered to be unlocked, while slash-proof fabric prevents the bypassing of locks on the zippers. Bags with combination locks provide more security, however, it is tiresome to have to enter the code every time the owner opens the bag, and some may neglect randomising the codes when they close the bag. There are also bags with fingerprint locks on the zippers. These tend to have a few problems and are cumbersome. One issue is it is a hassle to reattach the lock, and some may remove the lock altogether, as it may not suit their style and they don’t need it anymore. Nevertheless, despite the existence of such bags and reminders by authorities to be more aware of one’s personal belongings, pickpockets still happen. Solution The solution would be the SafeBack, an anti-theft backpack that primarily uses the person’s fingerprint to open. The fingerprint lock is able to store up to 10 fingerprints and can unlock the bag in 0.5 seconds which is much faster than most brands. It is sewn into the top

of the bag, hence making it equally convenient for both left and righthanded people to use. The bag only requires USB charging. It measures 49x30x14cm, weighs about 900 grams when empty and is made of a mixture of polyester and cotton which is most popular for consumers. The zipper would be the standard 0.8 cm coiled zipper that provides both flexibility and sturdiness [2]. Built into the SafeBack is a NearField Communication (NFC) reader. NFC is a technology that enables short-range communication between compatible devices [3]. This allows the SafeBack to connect to the user’s smartphone through NFC. One can then unlock the bag through an application. This would be very useful for the consumer and most people have apps anyway. This will act as a secondary unlock method for users with skin conditions that make fingerprint recognition impossible. Benefits The SafeBack fingerprint lock is convenient as compared to normal combination locks as it reduces the need to key in the correct passcode and randomise the combination. Moreover, in cases of medical emergency, the owner’s fingerprint can be used to open the bag to retrieve the required medication. A phone application has different features which can be used to access the bag when the fingerprint pad malfunctions and helps the user to access the bag. One very important aspect is the placement of the lock is in the middle, so it is not biased towards the majority (i.e. people with a dominant right hand). A built-in fingerprint sensor deters potential thieves more than an external sensor; hence it is more secure. Implementation The team will work with the following companies: ● BAGS Backpack Pte. Ltd. to design, procure and build SafeBack. ● SPPA Pte. Ltd., to help with coding the application that comes along with SafeBack. Costs/Budget The estimated cost would be broken down as follows: Fingerprint lock: $100.00 Bag: $25.00 NFC reader: $0.25 Programming the application for people with undetectable fingerprints and in cases of malfunction: $30,000 An individual unit of the product without the application is estimated to be $125.25.

Conclusion Backpacks are common and have changed over the years to become handier for most people. Current solutions such as backpacks with combination and external fingerprint locks help to solve only half the problem some have. Hence, we designed the SafeBack to assure convenience while safeguarding the belongings of its user. With many key features it will fully solve the problem of pickpocketing. It is vital that this product be made and distributed so people living in areas where the rate of pickpocketing is high can have a backpack that will help to alleviate their worries. Your backpack and belongings will always be safe, so make sure your think about getting this new product. Reference List [1] E. Soh, "Best anti-theft bags and why you should buy one," AsiaOne Online Pte. Ltd., 12 August 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/best-anti-theft-bags-andwhy-you-should-buy-one. [Accessed 24 September 2019]. [2] "AnyBag:Backpack with Anti-Theft Fingerprint Lock," Kickstarter, [Online]. Available: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/anysafelock/anybag-backpackwith-anti-theft-fingerprintlock. [Accessed 24 September 2019].

[3] R. Triggs, "What is NFC and how does it work," 30 June 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.androidauthority.com/what-is-nfc-270730/. [Accessed 5 October 2019]....