Smart Phone 'Emergency SOS' Application

I didn't see anything like your posted question either, but found these...

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"Interesting"... but (as you noted), not quite the answer.

At least once in everyone's life, they will be heading for an "emergency" (be it a business meeting / appointment / airport(!) / child-taken-to-hospital or what-have-you ... and either the car breaks down, runs out-of-gas, has a flat tire, or they accidentally lock their keys in (and don't have OnStar) ... (OR, certainly there are "life-&-death" scenarios where Commercial/Professional help is bound to be further away than family/friend/neighbors) ... and they just need SOMEBODY ... ANYBODY who can truly "Be There For Them" instantaneously.

[obviously those are just a FEW of the possibilities that would justify such an app... so you don't FURTHER lose your mind by wasting additional time dialing number after number and leaving panicky voice messages all 'round town...]

Enhanced 911 (E911) operates along this line. Only works in North America today.

well, there is this application in samsung's s3310

...also... "interesting". I was blissfully unaware of this up-and-coming enhancement to 911 service ... though it would seem to be an "expected" feature to be implemented sooner-or-later ('round the globe).

For the purposes targeted by THIS thread-post, tho', I do believe that the '911' system receives ENOUGH such "nut-calls"...

First, your SOS list should only include trained emergency first responders. You would not want your spouse, parents, friends sent such a vague message with your location. Think of the additional danger you are exposing them to as they speed, unfocused, to your location… running traffic lights and stop signs only to walk into a bank, before law enforcement arrives, and become an additional hostage. An extreme example, maybe… but you never know where you may be, what kind of danger you may find yourself. As such… DO NOT EVER create a situation where you would expose additional love ones unknowingly to that situation.

Second… I like the concept but maybe modified as follows:

Since the existing 911 system is not capable of receiving text-messages and is mostly set-up for voice… how about an App that you enter your name, age, basic description (gender, height, weight, race, etc.) in and uses the GPS combined with mapping applications. Then, upon activation, it calls 911 and in a computer generated voice says something like:

"[name]'s automated emergency reporting. [Name] is located at [map position, closest intersection] and has activated their emergency distress system. [Name] is a [age] year old [race] [gender]. [Name] is [height] tall and weighs [weight] pounds.

Repeat message but then adds Latitude and Longitude and elevation, if significantly different than surface elevation, to location information.

Repeats message but then adds point of contact information of spouse, next of kin, etc.

Regardless of what information and what order it is presented in (that could be standardized through the 911 system) an app pulling data from your phone that is calculated (gps position) and entered (your personal data needed by emergency services) that calls 911 and dictates it to them.

Heck… make it even more advanced… make it able to accepts key-tones from the 911 operator that would activate data retrieval.

It's been 20 minutes and your GPS position hasn't changed but the first responders can't find you, the 911 operator presses 3 which makes your phone's volume turn up all the way and then ring. This could put you in additional danger but you have 1st responders scouring the area anyway, it's not like your kidnappers haven't noticed.

Anyway… regardless of functionality, I can see applications along this line being developed and standardized such that every smart phone would almost be required to have it.

JavaHead

You got your post in JUST as I was submitting above...(see #4).

You're thinking "over-the-top" with respect to the genre of "sos" that is being referenced...

[Also, in that "sos-txt", the words "Please respond immediately if you are able to assist" is meant to invoke a call-back while they head for their car ... not to get them to put the proverbial pedal to the metal and cause an accident...]

Thanks for the thoughts, tho' ...

Right, but if I get an automated SOS text from a loved one... I'm going to infer they are in a situation that they were unable to send a normal text, or make a normal call, which means they are under duress and I'm putting the peddle to the metal.

The thing is if you have to use an automated panic button... that is an emergency situation, period... From a previous post, you wrote…

"[obviously those are just a FEW of the possibilities that would justify such an app... so you don't FURTHER lose your mind by wasting additional time dialing number after number and leaving panicky voice messages all 'round town...]"

So, instead you send a panicky automated text messages all around town?

I see where you're going with this but any situation can be categorized into two main groups... emergency and non-emergency. Emergency = 911 and trained first responders... all other situations = standard communication methods.

For example, your daughter's at a party gone bad... if she is in a situation that she can't call or text you due to duress... then she shouldn't be calling you first anyway... she needs to contact law enforcement.

If she has a flat tire and wants to contact as many people as she can, most all phones have a 'select all' button in the address book. I know mine does and it's not even a 'smart phone' but I can send a text to everyone of my contacts with a single click. I also have the ability to create specific sub-address books and can send to all family, our even your SOS list... the only difference is I can write a specific message that would describe the situation and condition… peace of mind so the responders don't freak-out.

I really like your idea, I just think any automated message that could even slightly be perceived as the sender is in trouble can cause issues. Especially if it is sent to multipule people. Let's say I send it to 10 people, 5 of them try to call me back at the same time... only one of them is geting through the rest are stuck with a vague message and your voice mail.

As a trained first-responder, I just see issues with that.

JavaHead

as i said earlier. this is available in s3310, where ur cell sends a message to preset numbers by some hot key...and once u rx it(via any key) it automatically goes on loudspeaker...

OR, am still not getting the topic.,..if so , kindly enlighten

I had to google Samsung s3310 to see what it was... It is refreshing to know (if in fact it does what you say) that at least ONE mfr has leaned towards providing this simple feature. BUT ... having just acquired a new phone (Blackberry Bold 9700, replacing ancient RAZR), I would not think about buying ANOTHER new phone, just to have this ability built-in.

A simple app ought to do it, J-H's "professional issues" aside (no offense intended).

And, I remain convinced that in this sometimes hectic and crazy world in which we live, such an app would ultimately save-the-day for countless poor souls who aren't as (organized / fortunate / lucky) as others ... who will never see any value in such a concept until the day that THEY wish they had it...

"911?..Yeah!...please direct this urgent message to whichever of my countless friends/family/co-workers/lodge buddies who might be very nearby...even possibly coming-up behind me on this freeway that I'm on...who can pick me up and get me the final 6 miles to the airport within 27 minutes, and HURRY!"

"A simple app ought to do it, J-H's "professional issues" aside (no offense intended)."

None taken and I hope none was taken from my comments as well… rather a civil debate, but a debate none the less.

Even using you latest example, stranded on the roadside needing to get to a destination as quickly as possible and desiring to send a call out for assistance to many all at once…

Again, my contention is that if an automated, none specific message is sent it will ultimately cause more delays then if a simple concise and informative on was sent.

To me a quick text sent to all saying:

"Broke down 71S at mm 234 need 2 get 2 airport in 27min anyone in area?"

would garner a much more efficient response then activating an app that sends your exact location with "Please respond immediately if you are able to assist!"

If I got a message like the latter, even though I am 2 hours away, sitting in my office and I don't have my car because my wife dropped me off at work because hers was in the shop and needed mine… I'm still going to call you, distract you, tie up your line so your other friend coming up behind you just got a your voice mail, and take up two of your precious 27 minutes because:

1. Even though I know I'm no where near your location I don't know the nature of your problem and thus don't know what kind of assistance you need.

2. Text messages are different than e-mail… I can't tell that you send this to your entire address book, and may assume that you only sent it to me.

3. Human nature kicks in, help a friend/relative/coworker in need. Presuming that people that are close to you (friends, family, coworkers) will be on your broadcast list, also assume that everyone is going to care enough to respond to see what's up.

I simply can not think of any non-emergency situation where a generic, non-descriptive, call for assistance would provide any more benefit then taking 30 sec and composing a descriptive text that is sent to all.

And besides, if you're cutting it that close to get to the airport this day and age… no app is going to save you, haha.

JavaHead… signing off for the weekend… enjoying an 'off the grid weekend' see you all on Monday.

Reminds me of a scam that happened to a co-worker recently.

Her google mail account was hacked. On a Saturday the perp sent an email to every one in her address book, something like:

"Help!! I'm stranded in Germany. My pocketbook was stolen with all my cash, credit cards, passport and plane tickets home. Please wire $500 to <insert wire service name here> at XX-XXX-XXX-XXXX and I'll repay you when I get home."

Fortunately, I knew about this scam beforehand and replied to all that it was indeed a scam, and to ignore it.

My co-worker didn't have a clue what was going on until she got to work the following Monday and everybody asked her what was going on.

That said, if I got a blanket SOS call, especially if I wasn't told of the possibility in advance, I would likely ignore it, or maybe call the sender to see what the situation is.

If one needs my help, CALL or make a more personalized text. If it's a real emergency, call 911.

Hooker

The issue is not so much the app on the phone but how your wireless provider handles and charges for messages.

All cell phone services in North America (and I imagine the world over) have a bulk messaging service. This is a service that accepts an incoming message and distributes to a number of recipients, like a distribution list. Think of a field service company that needs to get a message out to all of he technicians on duty.

Individual consumers hardly ever want this type of service -- or are not willing to pay for it.

With the method you are describing, you might be charged for each message you send (depending on how your provider charges and bills). If your app sends to a distribution list, you are sending several individual messages from your phone. With a messaging service, you send one message (usually not from a phone), which is distributed to several recipients.

So, it usually is not cost effective for the provider to maintain a gateway for mobile originated (MO) messages because so few people will use it.