A new app that?helps South Africans alert the nearest police using their GPS-enabled smartphones has been launched by Ever Africa ? which is headed by the likes of former Mxit CEO Alan Knott Craig Jr. It?s like Uber for police.
We?ve previously seen a couple of safety apps that?attempt to?tackle South Africa?s issue of crime in their own unique ways, with the main players being neighbourhood social network platforms OurHood andSpottm. However,?an app that works directly with police is something we haven?t seen before.
For now Namola, as it?s called, will be piloted by the Tswane Metro Police who, like Uber?s affiliated drivers, are equipped with dashboard-mounted smartphones.
When in time of need, a Namola user can tap the ?Get Armed Response? button, which will then alert the nearest three response vehicles. The first responder to indicate that they are available to assist is automatically directed to the requesting user using the GPS technology on the smartphone.
The user is also shown a photo and name of the responding vehicle, which they can contact?directly via phone. Whether they can review them, we?re not entirely sure.
?The Namola app doesn?t create new infrastructure. It merely provides a new mechanism for the citizens of the City of Tshwane to alert nearby responders,? says Craig Rivett, partner in Ever Africa.
The pilot project will run in Monument Park, Tshwane until the 15 March 2015. When the user steps outside of the coverage area, the ?Get Armed Response? button becomes a ?Call Police? button, which just dials 10111.
?This pilot is the first step in understanding how this new technology can be used to make all in the City of Tshwane and South Africa safer,? adds the Chief of the Tshwane Metro Police, Steven Ngobeni.
You can download the app on Google Play. We?ve tried to test it out but it just hangs at the ?Registering Device? prompt.
This is how the Namola app can help you get Metro Police assistance once you have registered for the service.
- When you press the ?Get Armed Response? button an alert is sent directly to the dashboard mounted smartphones of the nearest available Tshwane Metro Police responders.
If you are outside of the Monument Park pilot area or if no responders are available, the ?Get Armed Response? button becomes a ?Call Police? button and the message ?Service Not Available? is displayed on the top of the app. When the ?Call Police? button is pressed your phone will automatically dial 10111, connecting you with the South African Police Service. - The first responder to accept the alert is directed to your location with their Huawei smartphones? built-in GPS capability.
- You are shown a photo and the name of the responder that is on the way to you. You can also phone them with the click of a button if required.
- When the responder arrives at your location you are notified and requested to identify yourself to them.
- After the Tshwane Metro Police responder has provided his / her assistance you are requested to rate their service out of 5 stars.
Source: MemeBurn