HiNZ 2025: Travis Heaven - Founder & CEO, Duress.com

Why It Matters

By integrating AI‑based emotion detection into discreet wearables, health systems can protect staff and improve patient outcomes, addressing a critical workforce safety crisis. The broader cross‑sector rollout signals a new standard for proactive safety management.

Key Takeaways

• Visual deterrents cut aggression by over 50%
• AI‑enabled wearables provide real‑time emotion detection
• Devices aim to de‑escalate conflicts in hospitals
• Adoption rising amid increasing attacks on health workers
• Solutions target healthcare, retail, government, non‑profits

Pulse Analysis

The rise in workplace violence against health professionals has forced hospitals to look beyond traditional security measures. Wearable safety devices, like those from Duress.com, embed visual deterrents that signal monitoring, which research shows can slash aggression rates by more than half. This psychological cue, combined with discreet sensors, creates a protective layer that does not impede clinical workflow, making it especially suitable for fast‑paced environments such as emergency departments and intensive care units.

Artificial intelligence is the engine that transforms these wearables from passive alarms into active safety partners. By continuously analyzing physiological signals and vocal tones, the AI can infer rising stress or hostility, prompting real‑time alerts to nearby staff or triggering automated de‑escalation protocols. This proactive approach not only safeguards staff but also diffuses potentially volatile situations before they affect patients, thereby preserving the therapeutic environment and reducing liability risks for health institutions.

Beyond hospitals, the technology’s applicability to retail, government facilities, and non‑profit organizations reflects a broader market shift toward integrated safety ecosystems. As incidents of aggression rise across sectors, organizations are prioritizing solutions that blend unobtrusive design with actionable intelligence. Duress.com’s expansion into these markets underscores a growing demand for AI‑enhanced wearables that deliver measurable safety outcomes while maintaining user comfort, positioning the company at the forefront of the next wave of digital health safety innovation.

Original Description

“Visual deterrents can change behaviour—and even drop aggression by over 50%.” 👀

During Digital Health Week in Christchurch, hosted by Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ), Peter Birch speaks with Travis Heaven, founder at Duress.com, about innovative wearable safety devices designed for healthcare, retail, government, and not-for-profit sectors. Travis explains how these discreet technologies are evolving with AI to improve safety outcomes, especially in healthcare environments where quick response is crucial.

What’s the true impact of emotion and aggression detection in hospital settings? Can devices that nurses and doctors wear not only protect them but actively de-escalate conflict? How are needs and use-cases changing as incidents against health workers rise, especially in regional areas? The full conversation challenges conventional thinking about safety tools and their role in healthcare teams.

Catch this conversation and many others recorded during Digital Health Week in Christchurch, hosted by Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) in a special playlist available here on YouTube under our channel. as well as the Talking HealthTech Podcast on your favourite platform.

#healthtech #safety #digitalhealth #wearables