New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology has launched a free app that is available to staff, students and members of the public.
About the AUT Safe App
- According to a recent press release, AUT Safe has been designed with the university’s campuses in mind but has valuable safety tools for everyone.
- Friend Walk is an innovative service allowing anyone to invite a friend to watch you travel between locations in real-time. It is very useful to anyone wanting to feel a little safer.
- Chief Information Officer Liz Gosling explained that AUT Safe is an example of the university taking advantage of simple, global technology that can benefit the AUT whanau within its three campuses and beyond.
- The app allows alerts to be sent in cases of emergencies. Moreover, it also provides important information about the campuses.
- AUT Safe software was developed by AppArmor Mobile and is used by universities and organisations around the world.
- AUT Safe is free and can be downloaded from app stores, or via the QR code
Mobile Application Initiatives for Communities’ Safety and Convenience
Mobile applications help in making life easier for people. By utilising technology, applications such as the AUT Safety app help make the community safer.
OpenGov Asia had reported several initiatives by Australian states, which utilised mobile applications to help make everyday life safer and more comfortable for the people.
The Government of Western Australia had added another safety initiative to the State’s comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategy by releasing Western Australia’s first-ever official shark warning app.
The SharkSmart WA app is designed to help ocean users make an informed decision about their water use and take personal responsibility for their safety.
The AUT safe app has several features that could help Western Australians. These are:
- Explore shark activity information and beach safety features along the WA coast
- Discover the locations of shark monitoring receivers, beach enclosures, Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) patrols and Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signage
- Users can select their favourite locations to receive personalised notifications for shark activity as it happens
- Information on shark activity, including current alerts and warnings. Information is prioritised into Nearby, Your Favourites and Other Locations providing the most relevant information for the user
- User can use the location detail provided while at the beach to report shark sightings or whale carcasses to Water Police as soon as possible
Meanwhile, the South Australian State Government has funded a potentially life-saving mobile phone app that is now available for use.
The app will be linking at-risk women directly to police and domestic violence services with the touch of a button.
The app increases safety by providing around the clock monitoring and quick access to support services, if a person needs instant help, through the use of the mobile phone application.
The app could quite literally be a lifesaver for the women in the community, who are facing violent situations at home.
Because of this, details regarding how the app works, including its name cannot be disclosed to protect the privacy of those using the app.
Furthermore, its anonymity will guarantee that the perpetrators are not aware of it.
A new smart technology platform was launched in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, which will help residents keep cool this summer by mapping the location of urban hot spots in the city to avoid on hot days.
RMIT University researchers developed a new digital platform, which uses Google Street View images and satellite heat images to show which streets and routes are more likely to be shadier and cooler for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Shadeways platform will enable residents to move in comfort and safety.
It puts information about the cool areas in a city in the hands of people, enabling them to map a cooler route through the City of Greater Bendigo.
