Mobile Artificial Intelligence App Revolutionises Personal Safety

Enlisting a Skilled Team of Experts that Supports the Mission

For RTC’s Founder and President, Maria Watkins, and Board President/retired police captain, Torrence Williams, the challenge was twofold. They had to find an expert-level software development team to build an interactive mobile application that could collect data, capture and record interactions in real-time, employ facial recognition to identify attackers, and send alerts to authorities and emergency contacts. This all-encompassing project needed an experienced team specialising in AI technologies to engineer a robust and reliable application that would support the integration of wearable devices and comprise the latest AI-powered technologies available. However, Ms. Watkins and Mr. Williams also wanted to partner with a team that understood and supported their mission, which was to prevent police misconduct, acts of assault, as well as domestic violence, kidnappings, and other crimes that plague marginalised communities in an effort to increase safety for all, regardless of a citizen’s race. After interviewing other companies, Ms. Watkins and Mr. Williams felt strongly that Chetu stood out in support of their mission, and their partnership commenced. Mr. Williams explained,

“It was very important for us to be comfortable with the company we chose. This meant that they had to be able to feel what we were doing, to see where we were going, and to be a part of this mission to empower those in this country who didn’t have a voice. When we spoke with other companies, it seemed like this would just be another project for them. But Chetu got it; they understood. Chetu was on board with our mission and saw the importance in it.”

Ms. Watkins also pointed out that Chetu provided RTC with a discount on the initial costs, which was greatly appreciated, as this project was being personally funded, stating:

“Due to the nature of our project, our Chetu account manager gave us a down payment discount, and because we were bootstrapping the entire project, it made it easier for us to get started and realise this mission.”

The Approach

Chetu’s team of developers engineered a Cloud-based web portal application that followed an MVVM design pattern approach, which is a structured pattern used to separate programme logic and user interface controls. A web portal differs from a typical website in that it gathers information from multiple sources into a single user interface to present the most pertinent information to the user.

The team then developed an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), which is a functional model with programmed core functionalities and features that best demonstrate the application. The developers also focused on building a proof of concept, or POC, which refers to proving the technical feasibility of the application through testing its technical components. Next, the team focused on programming the detailed features and building the data access layer in addition to the database.

The team was tasked with creating a user-friendly application with a dashboard comprising various admin panels and options for registration, login, membership, and creating user profiles. The app also needed to have the following functionalities:

• Audio and video recording

• Facial recognition

• Emergency alarm

• Map integration

• Text and push notifications

• Live streaming

• Voice activation

• Alerts to 24/7 call centre and emergency contacts

• Data collection and analysis

• Assistance with filing complaints

• Attorney referral network

Effecting Change Via Technology

As of the project’s completion, the web and mobile device applications are now online and fully functional. Everyone is proud of what was built through this partnership, and RTC is working with a marketing company to officially launch the app in the very near future. Asked about their experience with Chetu, Ms. Watkins had this to say:

“The website and app are great. The development team was amazing. They were very helpful and we had exceptional team leaders. We also had constant weekly meetings, which were also helpful in keeping us updated. The team was great to work with. This industry is not overly saturated, and I feel we have an excellent chance for success with this app.”

Mr. Williams shared his experience as well, stating:

“Our development team was outstanding and they felt like family; we were blessed to wind up with Chetu and our team. They gave us everything they had and did whatever they were asked. They were on board with our mission.”

“They understood that in these current times that we live in, this app isn’t about profit. It’s about empowering people to protect themselves. As a retired police captain, I have seen both sides of this equation, and this will also be helpful to police because, as police, we have to protect and serve all people.”

With the potential for further development that would include wearable device functionality such as wristbands, there is hope for a continued working relationship that would help RTC expand on their mission of empowering people to have more control of their personal safety.

Do you have a mission that technology can help you put into action? Regardless of the type of application, Chetu has skilled software experts ready to take on your project, regardless of the size and scope. With over 2,800 software experts, Chetu specialises in every area of software development. Our programming experts have extensive industry experience and utilise the latest tools and technologies to provide our clients with the most cutting-edge solutions.