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Noonlight
Developer(s)Zach Winkler
Initial release2013
Operating systemAndroid, iOS
Websitewww.noonlight.com

Noonlight,[1] formerly SafeTrek, is a connected safety platform and mobile app that can trigger requests to emergency services. Noonlight users can trigger an alarm by clicking a button. Users can also connect other smart devices to automatically trigger alarms for them.

The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. It has protected over 1 million users since 2013 and handled over 50,000 emergencies across the United States. Noonlight was developed by Zach Winkler, the company's CEO.[2]

Background

The app was created in 2013 at the University of Missouri in response to the high number of crime reports and the slow identification of the location of people making calls by 911 services.[3] Winkler notes that "what most of us don't realize is that 9-1-1 really doesn’t have your location when you call them. It takes them up to six minutes sometimes to get a 300-meter accuracy reading of where you are". Noonlight is able to obtain users' exact GPS location within 5 meters in seconds of triggering the alarm.[4]

In February 2017, SafeTrek was one among the top 25 promising Start Ups, according to CNBC.[1]

Connected safety

Noonlight originally started as a way to get students from one point to another safely, and now it allows users to connect other apps and smart devices through the Noonlight app.[5] This creates a way for users to get help even when they are unable or unaware of the emergency by allowing the connected app or device to trigger the Noonlight alarm for them.[6] This solution also sends first responders vital details to make them more aware of the situation and better prepared. Also, users who already have memberships through some of these connected devices now have access to the safety button or other safety features through Noonlight.[7]

Downtown St. Louis Collaboration

In 2016, Downtown St. Louis partnered with SafeTrek and offered a six-month free subscription to 4,000 downtown residents, available on a first-come, first-served basis.[3][8]

In 2018, the St. Louis MetroLink contracted with Noonlight to offer their riders access to Noonlight's safety app.[9] Similarly, Washington University in St. Louis offers a free subscription to all students, faculty, and staff.[4]

Data collection and analysis

See also: Crime analysis, Predictive policing, and Crime mapping

The data collected in the background is used to better assess the danger potential of specific areas throughout the U.S. and is sold to insurance agencies for individual user’s driving risk assessment [3] For example, data released by the Noonlight app showed an intersection of Southern Methodist University's campus where users of Noonlight feel most unsafe.[10] The Noonlight team has worked alongside local police departments to create a complementary police dashboard which marks and tracks locations of users, as well as passes along vital information to first responders collected through connected apps and devices. The intention is that policy makers, agency leaders, and individuals can make better and more informed decisions, improve resource utilization, and ultimately prevent emergencies from happening in the first place.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b staff, CNBC.com (2017-02-28). "3. SafeTrek: Personal safety app". CNBC. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  2. ^ "SafeTrek Works to Improve Public Safety in St. Louis and Across U.S." Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Radu, Sintia (July 2016). "Downtown STL partners with SafeTrek to increase safety in downtown St. Louis". stltoday.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Reminder: SafeTrek safety app available for free to university community". 29 August 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Hands-On With the SafeTrek Safety App". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  6. ^ "The smart home of tomorrow will call 911 for you". 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Canary's New App Feature: A Virtual Panic Button". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Downtown STL Inc. Offers Free Download of No. 1 Safety App". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  9. ^ "MetroLink partners with SafeTrek startup to offer commuters safety app". 9 April 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. ^ Paul, Jeff (17 August 2016). "SafeTrek App Data Deems SMU Intersection Most "Unsafe"". CBS News. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Student-run SafeTrek app gains popularity". themaneater.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
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