LiveSafe is not the only app for Syracuse University students to help them stay safe.

With Companion, an app that was recently released, students choose with whom on their contact lists they share their GPS tracking location. Friends and family follow their SU students on the map while they are headed toward their destinations. Over the summer, the university announced a contract with LiveSafe, an app with a similar objective as Companion.

The founders of the app are five seniors at the University of Michigan who seek to spread the app’s use to major campuses across the country, such as SU.

When the app is in use, there are a few options on the screen, including “I Feel Nervous” and “Call The Police.” The app also gives the user 15 seconds to decline a 911 call if the phone engages in sudden movements such as the phone dropping or an earphone being pulled out.

“It’s really for walking late at night. You can set who you want to see (your location), where you’re going and when you want to get there,” said Jillian Jandl, Companion app’s SU campus ambassador. “They’ll get notifications along the way of when you left, where you’re going and once you get there safely.”

Jandl, a sophomore advertising major, first became involved with Companion through networking within her sorority. She has been working with Companion since August and calls the app the “virtual blue light system.”

When choosing friends to virtually walk you home, Companion’s design is similar to that of Snapchat in that users can check off people on their contact list.

As for Companion app’s “smart trigger senses,” users are skeptical about its sensitivity and reliability.

“Because it’s new, (developers) are working out glitches because they just launched it on the majority of campuses this year,” Jandl said. “We haven’t heard any negative feedback about sensitivity not working out.”

Hannah Warren, public information officer for the Department of Public Safety, said she is unsure “how seamless that function is, how quickly it responds or how many times it triggers by accident,” but said the trigger software “could have some benefit as all it takes is one simple jerk.”

The main feature of the app is that it allows users to call 911 — directing them to the Syracuse Police Department — at the push of a button in the case of an emergency. The only problem with that, Warren said, is SPD’s jurisdiction is outside of SU-owned and controlled property.

Companion does not direct student emergencies to the DPS dispatch center, which handles all incidents and reports on campus.

While there is no affiliation between DPS and Companion, DPS contracted with the LiveSafe app in July. LiveSafe gives users the ability to call SPD or DPS, and even message DPS. Within LiveSafe is a “SafeWalk” function that is comparable to the peer tracking of the Companion app.

The “SafetyMap” within LiveSafe maps out public safety offices, police stations, hospitals and areas deemed unsafe or unsavory by other students who use the app. LiveSafe crowdsources this information, and allows users to input “Non-Emergency Tips” such as assault, suspicious activity, theft and vandalism. LiveSafe also acts as a reference app, with the contacts and locations of health and wellness services on the SU campus.

Both Jandl and Warren agree on the concept and functionality of both applications, which support the safety and protection of students through devices.

“Any technology that speeds your access to help when you need it can certainly be a great thing. … I think that safety and security technologies like this one could certainly be helpful,” Warren said.

Even with these new and advanced safety technologies, both Jandl and Warren said, it is important to note that these apps should never interfere with students’ awareness of their surroundings.

“No matter how comfortable you feel here, no matter how many people you know or you’re with, you never know what’s going to happen late at night,” Jandl said. “I think it’s important that everybody becomes comfortable with what our phones really can do.”

Published on September 27, 2015 at 8:30 pm

Contact Anjani: asiman@syr.edu