Mobile Apps And Their Application In Personal Safety

Posted by Melissa Crooks
4
Jul 7, 2017
139 Views
The advent of mobile phones has transformed the way humans communicate. Other than transform communication, mobile technology has revolutionized life. They have found their use into all areas of human life. Today, there is hardly anyone across the globe without a mobile phone. With constant innovation, smartphones are now part of our everyday life. There is no doubt that our lives revolve around mobile technology. From healthcare, education, business and others; the use of mobile phones are necessary. The reality is; we now carry mobile computers in the palm of our hands. Thanks to mobile technology.

Personal safety is one area affected by mobile technology. With innovations in mobile technology, personal safety has evolved. Now, personal safety surpasses the use of GPS. It surpasses the ability to dial emergency numbers on our phones. Mobile app developers have keyed into the popularity of mobile devices. They have developed downloadable mobile safety applications. The truth is; our mobile phones are personal safety devices. When used in responsible manner, they can help us stay safe. App developers and mobile app development companies are key stakeholders in mobile safety. They develop and release mobile safety apps every now and then. In fact, it is fact to say that there are over a million mobile safety applications out there. Here are some of the best mobile safety apps chosen out of the writer’s discretion.

Circle of 6

This app has won lots of awards. It won the 2011 White House “Apps against Abuse” Technology challenge. Circle of 6 is among the most popular personal safety apps. This app is a must have for women using Apple mobile devices. Circle of 6 is also useful for high school students. This app is an easy-to-use app for those in any threatening and dangerous situation. To start using this app, individuals need to pick six friends or family member. This six friends or family members become your circle of 6. There are car, phone, and chat icons on this app. A Click on either of these icons sends an alert to your circle of 6. The app provides a danger button. Clicking on this button activates hotlines for sexual abuse and domestic violence.

This app comes with predetermined text messages. Tapping twice on the app sends out a predetermined message to uses circle of 6. This message comprises of a call to help with address and map of exact location. There are pre-programmed hotlines; national and local numbers. User can customize these hotlines to call 911. This app is unique and excellent for women who want to speak up.

React Mobile

The React Mobile is a powerful personal safety app. This app turns your mobile phone into great safety device. React Mobile app is available for free to Android and iOS devices. To use this app, users must pre-select trustworthy contacts. These trustworthy contacts include friends and family. The app will contact these contacts through emergency alerts in times of danger.

On this app, users send silent SOS emergency alerts to selected contacts. The app provides options for pre-selected contact to provide direction to safety. There is an option for pre-selected contacts to walk users home. The Send SOS page is the main screen of the app. This screen has a Map, Send SMS, and Pre-selected Contacts tab. There is a React Mobile Shield in the center of the Send SOS page. SOS alert is sent via sms, email, Twitter, and Facebook on tapping the Shield button. The app provides users with the option to call 911 on activating the Shield. There is a cancel alert code required to deactivate the Shield. This code is 5555. Users must press, hold the shield button, and type 5555 to deactivate Shield.

There are three buttons along the top of the screen. The first button is for Settings. Users use this button to change settings of app. Here, users can activate postings on social media or change their country code. There is an alert button, which displays all recent and active alerts. The last is the Follow Me button. This allows users set up real time session for pre-selected contacts to follow them.

The Map tab on the app helps to display the location of users. The Contact tab helps store all preselected contacts in the app. The Send SMS tab help sends SMS emergency messages to pre-selected contacts. This is an easy to use and access app. It has and provides essential features that promote personal safety on mobile.

GUARDLY

GUARDLY is an excellent personal safety mobile app. This app has both free and subscription versions. Guardly is available to Android, Blackberry, Windows, and Apple device users. GUARDLY provides users instant connection in emergencies to safety network and authorities. This app is unique; it places phone call to contacts with app users name and exact location. GUARDLY transmits the exact type of emergency to contact during this call.

Users of this app can select specific contacts for each type of emergency. For example, for peanut allergy or stroke, the app will contact a specific contact. GUARDLY allows users identify locations like school, home, and workplace as frequent location.

There is a profile section to save the bio-data of app users. Users provide date of birth, allergies, doctor’s name and phone numbers on the app. Users can provide information on medications, existing conditions, insurance details, and policy number.

This app has a paid version. This version enables live location tracking of app users. The paid version allows for direct and fast connection to 911. It allows responders to connect via conference call with the app user at risk. It allows for exchange of texts, emails between users and emergency response site. On this version, exchange of messages, photos and location tracking are available.

StaySafe

StaySafe is a mobile personal safety app. This app is available to users of Android and Apple mobile devices. Indian app developers developed this app to function with a timer. For example, users who go for a run can set a time to be back. Failure to check in safe once the timer is up triggers an emergency alert. The StaySafe app sends emergency alerts in form of GPS location of its users. The GPS location is sent via SMS and email.

This app provides an auto-inform service. This service sends emergency messages automatically to selected contacts. This message contains the start and finish of a exercise or activity. This ensures that selected contacts have an idea of your movement and whereabouts. There is a two-pin verification system available to users. The first pin is user’s safe pin. The second pin is the duress pin. The User’s safe pin is for cancelling alarms and alerts. The duress safe pin is to raise alarm or alarm whenever in danger. Although StaySafe appears turned off when in danger, alerts are still sent out. The app has a home screen with four buttons. They are Start Countdown, Panic Button, Manage Contacts, and Your Settings.

StaySafe is a free and subscription based app. Most of its relevant features are accessible in the Premium version. Users can enter one emergency contact on the free version. The free version gives users access to the safe pin, duress pin and panic button. The Premium version gives full access to users.

Ridesafe

Ridesafe is a mobile based personal safety app. This is a free app that helps track your safety while travelling in a cab or bus. Users select emergency contact numbers where alerts are sent. On starting a journey, users have to key in their destination in the app. Doing this help the app detect any deviation from selected route of travel. The Ridesafe app monitors user’s journey in real time. This app can detect any suspicious activity by the bus or cab drive. Once Ridesafe detects any deviation, it contacts a selected contact via emergency alerts. This app is unique and has helped million stay out of danger while travelling. Ridesafe is available worldwide and works in any part of globe.

These are but a few of the mobile personal safety app available out there. Feel free to make suggestions using the comment box.
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