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'Life-saving' emergency app launches in SA

Cape Town – A new application designed to record vital information if you’re caught in an emergency has launched in South Africa.

Similar to a “black box” flight recorder, the MiBlackBox app records vital information and contacts emergency services in the event of a crisis.

Data from the department of transport showed that road deaths in SA increased 14% - from 1 535 to 1 755 – in the December holiday period.

A high G-force spike, such as in the event of a collision, will trigger the application to make calls to friends and family and send your location.

National crimes stats show that contact crimes such murder, attempted murder, common robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances increased over the last reporting period.

Panic button

Murder increased 4.6% to 17 805 cases and aggravated robbery increased 8.5% to 129 045 reported incidents.

If you’re in an emergency, you can use the button on the app to automatically record audio, images and video.

The app will send the information to a remote server where the data will be encrypted for access by law enforcement officials.

You can also trigger the app by dropping or shaking your handset.

“The idea behind MiBlackBox is to provide its users with a secure repository of evidence of events that might empower them to defend or support themselves in unexpected circumstances, and may even deter criminals if they believe they’re being recorded, with such recordings not being on the handset itself,” said the developers.

MiBlackBox can also set the application to call your armed response company and it directs users to the nearest police station or emergency responder with map and directions.


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