AWARD YEAR
2017
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
apps, safety, emergency
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
Katie Reiner, Jake Wayne, Danny Freed, Lexie Ernst; Nathan Pilcowitz, Michael Ray (University of Michigan)
WEBSITE
http://www.companionapp.io/
Companion
Reach out to family, friends or your public safety department to have them keep an eye on you
The app enables users to request a friend or family member to keep them company virtually and track their journey home via GPS on an online map. The user can send out several requests to different phone contacts in case people are not available to be a companion or not with their phones at the time. Those contacted then receive a text message with a hyperlink in it that sends them to a web page with an interactive map showing the user walking to their destination. If the user strays off their path, falls, is pushed, starts running, or has their headphones yanked out of their phone, the app detects these changes in movement and asks the user if they're OK. If the user is fine, they press a button on the app to confirm within 15 seconds. If they do not press the button, or a real emergency is occurring, the app transforms the user's phone into a personal alarm system that projects loud noises to scare criminals and gives you the option to instantly call the police.