Rural Alert App

Fluff123

Hi,

I am currently working on a group based project for the final year of my degree. We have been asked to come up with an innovative business idea or concept.
Our group has an idea to help people living in rural areas combat the sharp rise in burgularies. The idea or concept revolves around an app that local people could use to warn all residents in the locality of suspicious activity in their area. We also feel that the app could be used by Gardai to communicate with people in rural communities by letting concerned residents know if they have a presence in the area, and if not what is their estimated time of arrival.

We would like to know if you guys feel such an app could improve on existing measures that are already in place. Any feedback would be very welcome.

bravestar

Fluff123 wrote: »

Hi,

I am currently working on a group based project for the final year of my degree. We have been asked to come up with an innovative business idea or concept.
Our group has an idea to help people living in rural areas combat the sharp rise in burgularies. The idea or concept revolves around an app that local people could use to warn all residents in the locality of suspicious activity in their area. We also feel that the app could be used by Gardai to communicate with people in rural communities by letting concerned residents know if they have a presence in the area, and if not what is their estimated time of arrival.

We would like to know if you guys feel such an app could improve on existing measures that are already in place. Any feedback would be very welcome.

While I can see some value to it, from an operational standpoint, why would I want to let everyone and their uncle know if there is a Garda presence in an area?

That would also allow criminals to know.

Again, why would I want to let anyone know when I'm going to arrive?

That also let's criminals know and they can plan around this.

Lastly, who, from the Garda side is meant to be giving this information? The lad driving the patrol car? He's got more important things to do, like actually getting there.

I'm not saying its a bad idea for people themselves to be able to let eachother know about susp activity, but from a Garda standpoint... Not gonna happen.

Tyron Jara

Its a good idea to let the residence know whats going on if there is soething. However garda operations should be kept out of it. Maybe the gardai could monitor it somehow and have some sort of panic button on it if you need help.

TheNog

OP you have a very good idea there however the part disclosing Garda location would not be prudent as already said and for those reasons given.

I would suggest an app that is password protected rather than that could be freely downloaded by just anyone. Maybe a password just for those who sign up to a Watch Scheme.

There is one flaw I can see is the elderly who are not techno savvy with smartphones or apps. How to get around that?

Like I said a good idea

tom traubert

What you're describing seems to me to be an app. based version of a Text Alert scheme (see link below in case you're not aware of same).

I'm afraid I also concur with the negatives already highlighted above. Good luck with your studies.


http://www.muintir.ie/CommunityAlertTextAlertScheme/tabid/1179/language/en-US/Default.aspx

kub

One other little issue you may find in rural Ireland is Mobile Phone coverage, neverlone 3G coverage.

pauldry

could you invent this for urban ireland too,

I live in Sligo and have been robbed twice in the last few months.