Apps have become second-nature for smartphone users as mobile devices now provide a platform for flashlights, paperless concert tickets, dinner reservations, pharmaceutical and banking services, travel plans, and more. However, safety is one area that has yet to be infiltrated and adapted. Virginia Tech shooting survivor Kristina Anderson hopes to change that with a new app called LiveSafe.

 The LiveSafe app is aimed at curbing and sharing campus crime incidents through tips, notifications, and direct communication with law enforcement. While the app’s services are only available on specific campuses as of yet, developers hope to spread to larger schools and communities.

As Anderson explains in a Washington Post article, many students are afraid to report offenses and potential problems, so the app provides a way to anonymously report crime and suspicious activity. Similarly, should a student be in a situation where they have their smartphone but can’t call the police to alert them of an issue, they can use the LiveSafe app to notify their local authorities discreetly.

The home screen gives users the option to Report Tips, Contact Police,  Notify Contacts, or view a Safety Map. Within these options, users can send pictures and videos, call or chat with police personnel, view up-to-date safety reports of their area, and update friends and family on the users’ location. The Safety Map option shows users real-time icons on a neighborhood map with icons of altercations, threats, accidents, thefts, fire, weapons, and more.

Though developers hope to make the app a commonly-used community tool, they still urge users who have the ability to make a 9-1-1 voice call to do so. Regardless, should it continue to spread to new communities, the app could become an integrated part of community safety and security.

What do you think? Would you utilize and trust the information on a safety app like LiveSafe?