Sales of “talking fire extinguishers” designed by a pair of Gyeonggi Province firefighters have exceeded 27,000 units just seven months after they were first released. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – Sales of “talking fire extinguishers” designed by a pair of Gyeonggi Province firefighters have exceeded 27,000 units just seven months after they were first released.
Besides Gyeonggi Province, which purchased 16,000 units in bulk, the rest of the buyers have been more diverse, including schools, lodging establishments, fire departments and retailers.
“Talking fire hydrants” have also been popular, with 1,160 units sold thus far.
“Talking fire hydrants” have also been popular, with 1,160 units sold thus far. (Image: Yonhap)
The idea for the two devices was thought up by firefighters Hong Eui-sun and Baek Jeong-yeol after brainstorming ways to make handling the firefighting tools easier.
The two eventually decided to place numbers on the main features of the fire hydrant and fire extinguisher, with a set of speakers attached that would describe the steps to properly utilize the respective device.
For example, pressing the “play” button on the fire extinguisher would issue the following recording, “Remove number one, the safety pin and aim number two, the nozzle, in the direction of the fire and apply pressure on number three, the handle.”
Applications for domestic and global patents were filed last December and in March, respectively.
Hong explained that a survey conducted two years prior that found only 8.5 percent of women and 40.2 percent of men self-reported knowing how to use a fire extinguisher was the motivation behind the eventual creation of the “talking” mechanisms.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
