Forsman & Bodenfors recently shared their new invention with us; a GPS that switches to a child’s voice around schools in a powerful reminder to slow down and take extra care around school zones. The company has used inegenuity and creativity to address the road safety crisis facing children.
Forsman & Bodenfors has found a clever way to insert a safety feature into GPS satellite navigation: Have the app switch to a child’s voice near schools, day-care centers and other areas where children are likely to be present.
The video below explains the “Slow Down GPS” app, which F&B—the Swedish agency best known for its “Epic Split” ad with Jean-Claude Van Damme—created for If Insurance. “We think of it as a subtle audio sign that says, ‘Children at play,’ ” the agency explains.
Nearly a year in the making, the child-voice navigation feature is available in Sweden, Finland and Norway so far. The first version of the app comes loaded with the GPS locations for all schools and day-care centers in the Nordic region. A crowdsourcing section on the If website asks the public to add more locations.
This is an fantastic example of using the gentle reminder keeping children safe on the road through caring for their wellbeing. The app is available now for free download in the App Store and on Google Play.