Contagious Insight /
Super simple / Life-Fi uses the appeal of free Wi-Fi to encourage people to stay safe on Australia’s beaches. Though the promise of free Wi-Fi might not sound like the most compelling way to change people’s behaviour, a 2013 survey of 10,000 business travellers found that poor internet connections were the most stressful thing about being away from home. According to the survey, 40% of travellers named lack of internet access as their biggest annoyance, more than those who named bad transport links (26%) and loud locations (24%).
Bearing these attitudes in mind, it’s plausible that offering free Wi-Fi could be enough to encourage beach goers to base themselves between the lifeguards' safety flags, making it less likely that they will stray into dangerous spots when they venture into the water.
What’s more, Life-Fi has generated a lot of PR outside of Australia. According to the SLS, the story has been picked up across China and Korea by multiple online national news services. This could help travellers learn about Life-Fi before their trip, having them seek it out before even making their trip to Queensland.
The technology is also easy to replicate. The units are battery powered and can last for up to 48 hours without needing to recharge. If Life-Fi is successful, it could be rolled out across multiple beaches, quickly and easily.
