Domestic violence happens behind closed doors. Behind thick walls. Beyond the public. Most victims are women who are trapped in their own homes. Nobody can hear them and call for help. But Amazon could – with its ever-listening voice assistant Echo.

Yet, Echo only reacts to certain wake words and is not able to make an emergency call on command. Not mentioning a silent one to avoid further violence.

The Idea: Echo of Help – the first voice assistant that reacts to domestic violence. The device responds invisibly to a custom code word and sends an individual silent alert to predefined contacts.

However, Echo of Help is just a prototype. A proof of how useful its extension is. And above all, an appeal to Amazon to implement the features into its own products to fight against domestic violence.

Echo of Help by UN Women Germany is the first voice assistant that reacts to domestic violence. The prototype is a fully featured Alexa device extended with an additional software stack to implement a silent alarm activated by a custom code word.

It was built using hardware and software from the Amazon Alexa Voice Service Development Kit boxed up by a self-designed 3D printed body. Among other processes responsible for handling Alexa-related services, a Python based custom code word engine is running on a Raspberry Pi microcomputer inside the device.

The production took over four months:

December 2017: First talks with UN Women Germany

January-February 2018: Development of the prototype including:

• Software

• Measurement/Dimensioning

• Drafting

• Construction of the first cardboard prototype

• Construction of the model in 3D

March 5, 2018: Presentation of the prototype at UN Women Germany

March 2018: Further development of the prototype including:

• In-house 3D-printing of the engineered parts

• Adaptation of the electronics to the conditions of the prototype

• Assembly

• Testing

April 6, 2018 Approval of the prototype by UN Women Germany

But Echo of Help is more than just a prototype. It’s a proof of how useful its features are. And it’s an appeal to Amazon to implement these features into its own products to fight domestic violence.

Therefore, an introduction film featuring an open message to Amazon was spread via PR, social media and influencers. All measures led to a microsite, where people got further information on domestic violence and were asked to share our claim to Amazon with the hashtag #EchoOfHelp

The media picked up immediately. And Echo of Help set off a resounding echo: With every click, view and share people got more aware of domestic violence. And increased the pressure on Amazon.

In April 2018, the idea of Echo of Help was spread as an open message to Amazon via PR, social media and influencers. All measures led to a microsite, where people got further information on domestic violence and could share our issue with the hashtag #EchoOfHelp.

The media picked up immediately. And Echo of Help set off a resounding echo:

At the time of this entry, the idea and the prototype were featured in the most relevant German tech-magazines with a reach of about 15 million people. Around 1.8 million saw our message via social media. And thousands on stage at the re:publica – Europe’s biggest conference about digitalization and society. Even members of the German parliament talked about the idea.

With every article, view and share people get more aware of domestic violence. And increase the pressure on Amazon to react.

So, we are waiting for your call, Amazon.