Ella Flanagan’s wristband invention shortlisted for Dyson Award

Wristband lets mental health nurses discreetly call for help

Ella Flanagan, a product design student at TU Dublin, created Noli to address safety concerns among staff working in mental health care. 

Noli is designed to replace the limitations of traditional alarm systems, which often require nurses to reach a fixed button on a wall to request assistance. 

(Image credit: Dyson)

In a tense situation, doing so may not be possible, while visibly triggering an alarm could risk making an already difficult encounter worse.

Instead, the wristband allows a nurse to summon nearby colleagues with a simple pull. The alert can be sent without immediately drawing attention to the situation, giving other staff the chance to intervene. 

If no one responds, the system automatically sends the warning to a wider group of colleagues.

Student’s invention highlights growing debate over technology’s impact

Flanagan’s interest in the issue reportedly stems from her own family’s experience of working in mental health care. 

Speaking about her success, she told the Irish Mirror that winning the national award was a “pinch me moment”.

She also said the recognition had given her a boost as she prepares to begin her career, adding: “Ireland is full of such talented emerging designers so having my work recognised at this level gives me tremendous confidence as I enter the industry.”

Her invention has already earned her €5,800 after winning the Irish national award, and she could now secure a further €35,000 if selected as an international winner.

The global finalists will be judged by Sir James Dyson, with the winners set to be announced on 4 November. The competition celebrates student inventions that tackle practical problems through design.

The project arrives at a time when the potential risks of technology are also under scrutiny.

Irish MEPs have separately raised concerns about AI chatbots directing women in crisis to anti-abortion websites, prompting questions about the consequences of digital tools that fail to meet users’ needs.