Hi, Neighbor Smarter Security

Liz Kohler has leveraged technology to help protect those vulnerable to violence

BY JENNIFER ANDERSON

PHOTO BY PATRICK MANNING

Sometimes tragedy can pave the way to inspiration. It happened that way for Shorewood resident Liz Kohler, whose tragic loss inspired her to combine her professional passion with a deeply personal mission.

Last year, Kohler launched a technology startup and conceived of its flagship product, called NightWatch. The smart, personal-security wearable device is designed to protect domestic violence survivors and high-risk witnesses in the criminal justice system. As innocuous as any smartwatch, NightWatch enables the wearer to contact a trained responder if they feel they are under threat.

It is an ingenious solution to an ugly problem — a problem all-too-familiar to Kohler, who lost her sister to domestic violence 16 years ago.

“Looking at the public health crisis of domestic violence can leave you feeling immensely helpless,” Kohler says, “but that pushed me to think about possible solutions and how we could take existing technology to create a stop-gap in cyclical and ongoing violence.”

Kohler’s background in technology product marketing, development and communications helped her “rattle the right cages,” she says, to locate corporate partners. She ultimately linked up with Samsung to provide the solution platform for NightWatch. The wrist-worn device offers several features that can provide powerful protection.

Much like the vehicle safety and security system OnStar, NightWatch has a dedicated button that calls an emergency operator, who then stays connected through the device to listen in and support the wearer.

NightWatch has a built-in cancel feature, in case the wearer alerts the operator accidentally. The device also provides dependable, two-way communication between the wearer and the operator by running on an AT&T network that is exclusively for first responders and prioritizes emergency calls.

Kohler kicked off a multi-state pilot program providing NightWatch devices to survivors of abuse and high-risk witnesses. With extensive research wrapped around the pilot to determine its efficacy, NightWatch wearers will be regularly interviewed throughout the trial period, as will those in their circle, from police officers to attorneys to victims’ advocates.

“We need a better way to protect domestic violence survivors and high-risk witnesses,” Kohler says. “Launching this company has been terrifying, overwhelming and exciting — and I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing right now.” n