Story by Ashlyn Becton
A new app, created by a group of computer science students from the University of Michigan, promises you that you never have to walk home alone. Companion, is a free app for iPhone and Android users. The app was originally intended for college students but it can work for anyone who wants to use it.
This is how it works: Before starting your walk home, pull out your cell phone and start up the app. Type in your destination, the app will then ask you to pick someone from your contacts list to be your “companion”. It then send a text message to that person including a hyperlink to an interactive map of your walk, so even if they don’t have the app they can still be your companion.
If you are unsure whether or not your friend is awake, the app allows you to send out multiple requests to different contacts. The app is built to detect if the user strays off their path, stumbles, or starts running. It can even recognize if your head phones get pulled out.
If it detects any of these movements it will send a notification to the user and asks ‘Are You Okay?’ The user then has 15 seconds to respond. If they fail to respond or an emergency is occurring, the Companion app turns the users phone into an alarm system. It signals off loud noises to scare off any criminals or catch bystanders attention. The interactive map will show that there is an issue and gives your companion the option to call the police.
Additionally, if the user is feeling nervous for any reason, maybe there aren’t any people nearby or you see suspicious activity they can press the ‘I Feel Nervous’ button. If your companion sees you pressed that button they are able call you and check on you or even just talk to you until you feel safer.
The app pairs up with police departments on college campuses by sharing their data, resulting in making the areas around campus safer. Even though the app is less than a year old, it has already started marketing campaigns to introduce the app to college campuses across the country.
KnightNews asked Courtney Gilmartin, Assistant Director and Public Information Officer for UCF Police, what their thoughts were on implementing an app like this to the UCF campus.
“The UCF Police Department is always willing to consider technology that could improve our public safety response. In any case, we would need to evaluate the technology before endorsing it,” Gilmartin said.
