From Random Hacks of Kindness
[edit] I Need Help
Blog Post
Build an app for iPhone, Android and other mobile OSes that enables users to send emergency appeals for help—including actionable data like geolocation and medical information—across multiple mediums. For instance, the app sends out an email, Tweet, Facebook alert, Buzz, etc. and pings a list of contacts every 5 minutes until user shuts the alerting system down. Extra credit for an SAR desktop app that can surface, sort, and annotate the incoming information and has hooks to software used by Fire, Rescue, and SAR to assign to-dos to agencies or field personnel.
[edit] Considerations
- Simple, simple, simple app that is easily accessible and useable when users are under stress and may be seriously injured
- Provide some level of verification, ie. “do you really mean….” And filtering of false signals…or consider the consequences of sending so many messages to friends (require a minimum?) as disincentive enough to discourage abuse
- Hook into 911 system for US and equivalent for other countries?
[edit] Use Case
A large earthquake results in large-scale destruction over a wide area. Some people sustain non-life-threatening injuries but are trapped, some are too injured to help themselves, some require assistance but are in remote areas likely to receive little SAR attention.
[edit] Requirements
- Customizable UI
- Receipt of submission?
- Ability to communicate between contacts to coordinate response
- Date/time of submission
- Last known location (lat long)
- Prepopulate with notes on special circumstances/risk/medical conditions (ie Parkinsons patient, requires medication, etc.)
- Updates possible by someone who is “hands on” the person requiring help
- Verification (by whom? How? According to what standard?); correction/deletion of erroneous information
- Desktop app: plot on a map, (+ filter by status + other data)