My daughter recently left for her first year of college. Like most parents, I struggle with worrying for her safety, particularly when walking alone at night on campus, so I was glad to learn of the Companion app. Companion was created by students at the University of Michigan and provides users the ability to request that a friend or family member virtually keep them company and track their progress walking home. It is easy to use and provides peace of mind, both to the user and their loved ones.
To use Companion, simply download the app on your smart phone and send the request to whomever you want to follow you “home.” This generates a text message with a hyperlink which shows you walking to your destination. The person “walking” with you does not need to have the app in order for it to work.
The basic tracking is already a welcome feature, but here’s where it gets better. The app can detect any changes to the route, including if you are no longer on the path to your destination, if you start running, or if you are pushed or fall down. When this occurs, the app will ask you if you are okay and you have option to press a button within 15 seconds to confirm. If no response is received, the app turns your phone into an alarm, generating loud noises to scare anyone away or call attention to your situation. Simultaneously, the app sends an alert to whomever is “walking” you home, so they may take additional action and contact emergency help.
While this doesn’t take the place of being alert to your surroundings, it is a great step to staying safe when walking alone and makes me feel a little better knowing my child and others have options.
Alisa Michael
With over 17 years of experience in the legal arena as well as client management, Alisa brings her experience to Network 1’s team, clients and partners. She strives to be proactive in managing clients’ needs and expectations with an outcome of client satisfaction and retention.
amichael@network1consulting.com or 404.997.7655
Network 1 Consulting is an 18-year-old, IT Support company in Atlanta, GA. We become – or augment – the IT department for law firms and medical practices. Our IT experts can fix computers, but what our clients value most are the industry-specific best practices we bring to their firms. This is especially important today since technology, along with regulations and cyber threats, are changing so rapidly. We take a proactive approach to helping our clients use technology to gain and keep a competitive advantage.