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Emergency assistance iPhone application |
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Sunday, 16 November 2008 |
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Another business iphone (smart phone) application I have thought up. This is a rough draft of my idea. How about using the GPS, or triangulation, to locate a phone and submit that information to a service, like local police or rescue?
The way it would work is that the application first gets a location if possible and builds a text message. The user can append more details by simply typing before the count down starts, otherwise a simple "Need Assistance" message is sent and the type of emergency. A toggle will present you with a choice of medical or crime, crime is default. If you do not enter your pin to stop the process the phone in crime mode will silently auto dial 911 and speak the text message to the operator giving your location, details, and any message. In medical mode the user can speak to the operator and cancel the phone's outgoing message.
Example in use:
In a criminal emergency the user starts the application (no pin required to run the application and no need to toggle as crime mode is default). The user then taps a large send button and the phone goes into lock mode after a few seconds. It will appear to be a locked phone with no unusual activity. This application will make no sound during use, including keyboard, phone speakers, or button clicks.
The beacon can be started by tapping the beacon button. If you can type, tapping the console will allow you to type a message which is appended to the default message. After a few seconds of no keyboard activity the call timer will start and the phone will lock or if the send button is pressed the process will start immediately. You will have a very brief time before the phone goes into lock mode to select beacon or console after pressing send.
Once send has been pressed and you do not enter your pin to stop the process after the initial delay the phone will silently auto dial 911. When a connection is made the application will speak the text message to the operator giving your location and message. It will repeat the message twice with a brief pause between.
Once the sent button is pushed the call can only be stopped by entering a four digit pin. If 911 has answered while entering your pin to cancel you can speak directly with them at this point. If send is not pushed the phone will countdown and dial regardless unless the user enters in a pin code to stop or answer the call.
Features:
Crime mode (criminal activity on the demo):
Not only will all communications be silent in crime mode, but the phone will appear to be in a locked state as to not alert any criminal in a dangerous situation. If the call fails the phone will continue until successful call is made or the user cancels the operation. A status message will display errors or success when entering the application and a log will be kept. The log/status cannot be accessed without the pin code. The application will start without the pin code, but once activated must have a pin to stop the process in crime mode.
Set your details:
Put your personal information, including health related, into the application. In the event of an emergency this info will also be provided to the receiver of the call.
Set your locations details and description for accuracy.
Example: Once your phone locates you via GPS/triangulation you can edit the address and notes for that location, like for instance if you are home and the address is off or the responders need more information about that location.
Set your activity:
Example: If you are going hiking or skiing you can set the phone to call the rangers station rather than 911 or even have it call or SMS anyone in your contact list. This feature will add the listing to the emergency type toggle. These user entries can be set as type crime, phone will lock down, or personal assistance, which will act more like medical mode for non-life threatening situations. You cannot change the crime default that dials 911, it will always be the default in the toggle to assure you the safest, fastest, and most reliable operation in a life or death situation. Even if your emergency is medical and you are unable to toggle you will get the prompt attention of 911.
Beacon mode:
If beacon mode is on the phone will blink and beep every few seconds to aid rescuers in finding you. If a message gets to the receiver of an emergency call where beacon mode was activated it will let them know that beacon mode is activated and what to look for. You can set a timer for beacon mode, where the beacon will not start for a period of time after activation - default would be 5 minutes.
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