Tuesday, April 10, 2018

There's an App for That

Getting help will only be one hold away from getting the help you need if you are in danger on a Metro bus or train. [More]
Is anyone smart enough to install and use an app dumb enough to believe a word of this?

[Via bondmen]

4 comments:

DDS said...

The first thing the thug is gonna do is snatch your smart phone. Then he/she's gonna run like hell and exit the train just as the doors close and it exits the station. Think you can open the app and press the button before he/she makes their break?

GaryM said...

One of the TV stations explained that you're supposed to open the app and hold your finger on the button if you feel unsafe. If you remove your finger it will summon police, also know as armed historians. If you slide you finger off rather than lifting it won't call police.

Still rather than carry my pistol.

Henry said...

DDS, I think you misunderstand the app. It’s a dead-man switch. The idea is to open the app well before you approach the subway, and then keep your thumb on the magic button despite crowd jostling, subway bumping and grinding, muscle fatigue, places you desperately need to scratch, nodding off after a hard day, thumb cramps, and incoming phone calls, texts, or calendar alerts,… because as soon as you take it off, it calls the cops (unless you immediately enter a secret code).

I lived through the early era of home security systems, when homeowners would program them to call the cops directly. I predict this app is doomed to repeat history.

Ned said...

Genius. If it works, the police will be hiding just around the corner at the next stop to keep you safe.