Siren

                                          Initial Research To start off I went and looked at the apps that were already available and picked the various types of apps that seemed most popular to find what was missing in them HSE COVID-19 - monitors and keeps track of symptoms and health information and is shared with trained professionals at dedicated monitoring centres. Helps assess if recovering while in isolation or if additional help is needed. - doesn’t provide for emergencies  and can only be used for Covid-19(Free) Weather underground- a weather alert app. Real time weather information. Uses data from 250,000+ Personal weather stations. App is free but has in app purchases that will remove ads and give up to 15 day weather forecast instead of the free 10 day weather. New update has caused the app to crash and app isn’t as reliable anymore. (Free) First aid- IFRC - gives the user information on how to handle first aid emergencies. It helps to give accurate info

Existing Software: From G2.com Rapid Reach: Can send alerts regarding emergencies from user to a group of recipients. Aimed at businesses and limited to 50,000 recipients. Evenbridge: Essentially same as above All software that I found here works via servers that send a message from users to a set list of recipients. From Play Store Alertable: Alerts based on weather emergencies. Limited to weather and only works in Canada. Emergency Alert: Takes info from open news apps. Notifications are triggered by detecting emergencies in other news based applications. Only works with apps that are open at the same time. Logistics: Open-Source Software: Kuzzle Free backend for web and mobile development. Provides geofencing- Useful for location-tailored alerts Tile 38 Geofencing, automated event and notification software. User accounts, UI: Users could have an account and post alerts to a specific geofenced area. T

Location Tracking and Maps -           Android and apple both use location services that use GPS, Cell-ID (your phone bouncing signals off cellular towers to triangulate your position) and Wi-Fi to locate your phone. -           So, when you download an app you can opt into letting that app use your location data to customise what you see on that app. -           This is a tried and true system and has been used for years by people like google and apple. -           I went into popular taxi app Free Now to see what maps system they were using and on my android phone they were using Google maps and on my sisters iPhone they were using Apple maps. I believe that we should follow suit because this seems to be the industry standard for other apps as well like Just Eat and Uber Eats. -           I investigated these apps because they show the exact maps system they use when you open them up. Sources: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-google-and-everyone-else-gets-wi-fi-locat

Initial Individual Research  How Would It Work I decided to start by looking at pre-existing apps on the Google Play Store and on the App Store to see how a service could be effectively used to provide information in warnings and public emergencies. Apps such as the official app for the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention   (CDC) in the United States and ICRISIS which is an emergency alert, health and personal safety app.  Data is usually collected from third parties which usually form profile information that could be utilised in a service such as providing information. Purely location-based data would be needed in terms of this assignment though. More than likely the user would have to grant permission after being made fully aware of the tracking used to ensure that the updates given are specific to their given area. As well as the built-in GPS within the mobile phone itself. While not related I began to research the AMBER alert system set up in the United States.

SIREN (Emergency App) PROPOSAL Media Group Project 2019/20 PROJECT AIMS These are the things you wish to achieve. They are your goal. It is a summary of the brief.  Use Bullet points Creating a public service system website/app that will be a source for information relevant to their location/ given information in emergencies or disasters. The website/app will be utilised in natural disasters and disease outbreaks. We will be using the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak as an example of an event that this app/website could be used for which will aid in creating the solution. Will be extremely accessible to all demographics due to its necessity in a crisis. Help the public prepare for whatever emergency arises, ideally with enough time to react. PROJECT OBJECTIVES These are the things you will do so that you can achieve your goal.  Put these down as a series of bullet points. Try to be precise. The more detail you h