Although Angry Birds and apps that turn your smartphone into a light sabre are fun, the Stop Bullies application has a more benevolent purpose.
Designed by Tim Porter, the program is designed to allow victims of schoolyard assaults, or bystanders watching the attack happen, the ability to anonymously contact their school's administration in real-time and hopefully stop the violence from progressing.
Since the majority of students are now carrying phones and use those phones as their predominant method of communication, having an app would make it quick and easy to report acts of bullying.
The hope is that sending a message, which automatically comes attached with a GPS tag, to a trusted adult could help stop bullying from going too far.
Schoolyard Violence-Haulting Apps
Stop Bullies Uses GPS to Alert Authorities of an Assault
Trend Themes
1. Anonymous Reporting - The trend of anonymous reporting apps is providing a disruptive innovation opportunity for addressing schoolyard violence and bullying, allowing victims and bystanders to alert authorities in real-time.
2. Mobile Communication - The trend of utilizing smartphones as the primary method of communication is creating a disruptive innovation opportunity for developing apps that can facilitate reporting and prevention of schoolyard violence.
3. GPS Technology - The trend of integrating GPS technology into mobile apps is enabling a disruptive innovation opportunity for enhancing the effectiveness of reporting incidents and quickly alerting authorities.
Industry Implications
1. Education - The education industry can benefit from leveraging anonymous reporting apps to address and prevent schoolyard violence.
2. Mobile App Development - The mobile app development industry has the opportunity to create innovative solutions for addressing and preventing schoolyard violence through technology-driven initiatives.
3. Safety and Security - The safety and security industry can explore the potential of GPS-integrated apps to improve the effectiveness of incident reporting and response in addressing schoolyard violence.