Lebanese woman develops bomb blast survivor app
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 02/13/2014 03:23 AM
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Imagine living in a war torn country with suicide bombers and the like going off all over the place, how is a person to find out if everyone they know is okay and vice versa?
A 26-year-old Lebanese student Sandra Hassan has come up with a way to do just that. The idea was hatched under frustration with how bad security has become within Lebanon. Hassan tells the BBC, "I didn't expect that people would actually start using it," she says, But they have. There have been two bomb attacks since it was launched, and dozens of the 4,000 people who have downloaded the app so far have used it for real.
At the touch of a button, the app sends a tweet saying "I am still alive! #Lebanon #Latestbombing". This has some practical advantages. Right after a bomb blast, the phone lines are often so congested with people trying to find out if their friends and family are OK, that calls can't get through. But, Hassan says, a weak internet signal should be enough for the app to push out its message.
"Every time there is an explosion, we have to spend a lot of time contacting our loved ones and letting them know we're alright, making sure they're okay too."
The I am alive application aims at helping with the problem stated above. Through the application, with only one tap, you can let your friends and loved ones know that you are alright, and you can check up on them too. The app also links to your twitter and Facebook accounts, and can be used in any country.
Sad that we need such an app but the reality is we do. I suppose it could be useful for people taking part in large events that potentially could be targeted - cutting down on search time. I can also see it being useful in high violence inner city neighborhoods.
A Non Government Organization (NGO) has recently contacted Hassan expressing an interest in further developing the app for use in the event of a natural disaster.
A 26-year-old Lebanese student Sandra Hassan has come up with a way to do just that. The idea was hatched under frustration with how bad security has become within Lebanon. Hassan tells the BBC, "I didn't expect that people would actually start using it," she says, But they have. There have been two bomb attacks since it was launched, and dozens of the 4,000 people who have downloaded the app so far have used it for real.At the touch of a button, the app sends a tweet saying "I am still alive! #Lebanon #Latestbombing". This has some practical advantages. Right after a bomb blast, the phone lines are often so congested with people trying to find out if their friends and family are OK, that calls can't get through. But, Hassan says, a weak internet signal should be enough for the app to push out its message.
"Every time there is an explosion, we have to spend a lot of time contacting our loved ones and letting them know we're alright, making sure they're okay too."
The I am alive application aims at helping with the problem stated above. Through the application, with only one tap, you can let your friends and loved ones know that you are alright, and you can check up on them too. The app also links to your twitter and Facebook accounts, and can be used in any country.
Sad that we need such an app but the reality is we do. I suppose it could be useful for people taking part in large events that potentially could be targeted - cutting down on search time. I can also see it being useful in high violence inner city neighborhoods.
A Non Government Organization (NGO) has recently contacted Hassan expressing an interest in further developing the app for use in the event of a natural disaster.
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