Italian firm IK Multimedia has launched Safe Spacer, a lightweight, wearable device that helps factories, offices, museums, hotels, and other workplaces and public spaces operate safely by ensuring workers and visitors maintain social distancing.

Now available, it uses proprietary accessories to provide convenient ways to wear, charge and sync. It also offers integration options for large-scale enterprises using their own proprietary data systems.

Safe Spacer can be worn on a lanyard, wristband or belt loop, and accurately detects when other Safe Spacer units come within 2m; distances are customisable. It alerts wearers with a choice of visual, vibrating or audio alarm, and uses ultra-wideband technology for accuracy up to ten times better than Bluetooth. Optional collision data can also be stored to monitor compliance or perform fast contact tracing.

To help organisations manage multiple devices, the optional S-Charger docking and charging station allows up to 25 Safe Spacers to charge simultaneously. It can be connected to a computer running Safe Spacer’s free software to retrieve compliance and collision data, customise settings, and more.

For organisations wanting more real-time compliance data, Safe Spacer can also sync wirelessly via the optional S-Bridge UWB access units. They can be positioned in strategic locations such as entry or exit points to read the data from Safe Spacer devices as users approach, eliminating the need for long employee queues to download their device data.

Both the S-Bridge and S-Charger can connect to any computer via USB, and the software will extract data for review, analysis and, if needed, contact tracing. To maintain privacy, no data except the device’s ID and proximity are stored on the device; associating IDs with wearers’ names is optional.

Safe Spacer and accessories are available directly from IK Multimedia. An online guide helps users select the best options for their organisation’s requirements and lets them request a consultation with the Safe Spacer team.

IK Multimedia is based in Modena, Italy. It has operating units in Italy, USA, UK, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Hong Kong.