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y, if someone has a knife or gun I would just give them what they want and worry about a distress call after you're safe instead of getting fancy trying to activate an 'I'm being mugged' feature.

I think that could be a nice feature but would add stress to the situation when you should just be focussed on staying alive trying to remember how to do that special thing or enter an alternate code.

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I'm thinking of a situation when the phone, for example, is not enough for them. What if the don't leave you alone after that? What if you're a girl and they are going to try to rape you? What I'm thinking of is not about a "fancy" help-me-I'm-being-mugged "duck-face" pose, but actually a face pattern which, simple enough, could offer assistance in a difficult situation. What if they take away the phone and I'm left with no change of calling for an ambulance?

You are right, though, that this requires some "friction" and probably some self control.

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