Personal security apps are becoming popular for smartphone users, as people become more nervous about walking home or to their car at night, especially on college campuses. Recently, five University of Michigan students created a free app called Companion that helps combat the issue of late-night safety. According to the website, “Companion lets you reach out to family, friends, or your public safety department to have them keep an eye on you as you travel late at night.”
Increased Security with Friends
Companion has you enter a destination on a map and then select a person (or multiple people if you like) from your Contacts list to be your virtual companions until you get to your destination. Your companions are sent a text notifying them that you are asking them to join you, and includes a link to a map so they can track your journey. Your companions don’t need to have the app to participate.
If you get nervous, Companion offers two quick options for getting help, without having to type a message. Simply tap “I Feel Nervous” to let your companions know you need 8help. If you feel threatened you can tap “Call Police” to dial 911 immediately. Both these options offer quick access to help without having to stop and type anything. If you don’t get to your destination, an “emergency” button with “Are you OK?” will appear on your screen. You will have 15 seconds to respond “yes”. If you don’t, your companions will immediately be notified, and the app will sound an alert with a siren.
Security across Demographic Groups
While the app was designed for college campuses, men and women from all demographics are using Companion. Parents of teenagers like the added level of security, especially with new drivers, and people with elderly parents like it because it helps make sure they don’t get lost.
Overall Review
Companion is a great tool that can fill a need for a lot of people. It’s straightforward, easy to use, and it’s free. It’s available for both iOs and Android smartphones. While I like it a lot, I see two issues that users need to be aware of. First, it can really drain your phone’s battery. Both the iTunes and Google Play pages have a disclaimer stating, “Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life”, so you’ll want to check you settings when you’re not actually using it. Second, while the ratings on the App Store were very positive, some users on Google Play reported problems getting the app to work properly on some devices. However, Companion has made every effort to fix problems, and responds quickly to provide support to those reviewers who experience issues with the app.
Remember, while the Companion app is a great tool, personal security is a complex issue, and no one tool can provide all the answers. Common sense and being aware of your surroundings are also very important, as is knowing who to contact if you feel unsafe. On campus the UAMS police offer a variety of options to help people stay secure. The Emergency-Police telephones are easily identified by the steady or flashing blue light and provide a direct line to the UAMS Police dispatchers 24 hours per day. In addition, signs posted throughout the campus have a number you can call if you want a police escort to your vehicle. You can learn more about campus safely policies and procedures at https://inside.uams.edu/2015/06/uams-police-remind-campus-of-safety-policies-3/.