Close X
Saturday, November 2, 2024
ADVT 
Tech

Amnesty International launches app for activists in danger

Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 Jun, 2014 10:44 AM
    Amnesty International has launched a new open source app called 'Panic Button’ to help activists facing imminent danger.
     
    The press of a button sends an immediate SMS distress signal to activists’ own networks.
     
    “The aim of the Panic Button is to increase protection for activists around the world who face the ever present threat of arrest, attack, kidnap and torture,” said Tanya O’Carroll, technology and human rights officer for Amnesty International.
     
    The app can help activists, tech experts and volunteers from around the world transform a user’s smart phone into a secret alarm that can be activated rapidly in the event of an emergency, alerting fellow activists to the danger their colleagues face so that they can get help faster.
     
    The alarm is triggered by rapidly pressing the phone’s power button, after which an SMS message is sent to three pre-entered contacts chosen by the user, alerting them of the distress situation.
     
    Panic Button has been made available for global download in four languages (English, French, Spanish and Arabic) after three months of private beta testing with hundreds of users from Amnesty International’s networks in more than 17 countries.
     
    The mobile app for Android was developed by Amnesty International in collaboration with London-based Information Innovation Lab (iilab). It is now available for public download on Google Playstore.

    MORE Tech ARTICLES

    World's first 3D smartphone from Amazon?

    World's first 3D smartphone from Amazon?
    Move over ordinary smartphones as Amazon is reportedly planning to launch the world's first smartphone with a 3D display.

    World's first 3D smartphone from Amazon?

    Soon, robots to behave as humans?

    Soon, robots to behave as humans?
    Robots are good at computational tasks but fail miserably to walk, talk or recognise everyday objects. What if a robot could behave like a human?

    Soon, robots to behave as humans?

    Emotions lead people buy smartphones with bigger screens!

    Emotions lead people buy smartphones with bigger screens!
    People may find bigger screens more emotionally satisfying because they are using smartphones for entertainment as well as for communication purposes, a new research led by an Indian-origin scientist reveals.  

    Emotions lead people buy smartphones with bigger screens!

    Detector to keep you off Google Glass radar

    Detector to keep you off Google Glass radar
    Amid news that bars in San Francisco and Seattle in the US have already banned wearers of Google Glass, a wearable computer that allows users to take photos and record videos, a Berlin-based artist has come up with a detector that can help you create your own "glasshole-free zone".

    Detector to keep you off Google Glass radar

    Facebook opens door to under-13s, but with parents' nod

    Facebook opens door to under-13s, but with parents' nod
    Anyone under 13 years of age but wanting a Facebook account to connect with friends, would now be able to do so now but with parents' approval first.

    Facebook opens door to under-13s, but with parents' nod

    180 Google satellites to bring entire planet online

    180 Google satellites to bring entire planet online
    When you are busy chatting or surfing the internet, do you know that nearly 4.8 billion people - or two-third of the world's population - are not yet online? This is going to change soon.

    180 Google satellites to bring entire planet online