Retrieve

Lifesaving technologies first began in the early 19^th century with the idea of a ‘human chain’. Lifeguards would link arms in order reach struggling swimmers in deep water. Needless to say, this idea was not very successful and soon it was replaced with the life buoy and rope technique. When a swimmer was in distress, a lifeguard would toss a life buoy, connected to a rope, into the surf for the swimmer to hold onto and would tow them in to shore by pulling on the rope. This idea was partially successful but was soon outdated when the line and surf-reel technique was introduced. This machine consisted of a reel mounted on the beach which had a line connected to floatation device. The lifeguards would toss the device to the swimmer and then was able to use the machine to reel in the line, towing the swimmer to safety.

Following the formation of the Royal Surf Life Saving Society in England in the late 19^th century, many new rescue and resuscitation methods were created to make lifesaving more efficient.  Rescue tubes were introduced in place of line and surf-reels in the 1960s, along with rescue boards. Small motor powered boats followed in their stride.

As technology progressed lifesaving became increasingly more efficient and required less manpower. The introduction of Jet Ski’s in the late 20^th century truly made lifesaving technologically advanced. In a modern day situation, a beach would have lifeguards manning a central tower with men also patrolling the beach and on Jet-skis in the water. Larger beaches sometimes have helicopters patrolling from above in the summer months.

E.M.I.L.Y. uses several different aspects from past lifesaving technologies. It draws on the simple idea of throwing a floatation device to a struggling swimmer in order for them to be towed ashore but combines it with the concept of being operated by an impellor (a device that pulls in and pushes out water to make itself move), like a jet ski. E.M.I.L.Y. adds its own technology to the mix, such as its sonar, microphone, camera and screen making it yet another lifesaving technology, created on the simple foundations its predecessors.