Shelbie Harris
Staff Writer
A new mobile safety application has been added to the repertoire of Idaho State University as part of an ongoing effort to maintain safe and secure campus environments.
Rave Mobile Security is the trusted software partner for campus and public safety across the nation, and the free Rave Guardian app is now available on all four of the university’s campuses: Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Meridian and Twin Falls.
“The previous [Public Safety] director had started the ball rolling about this time last year,” said Rod Jackson, emergency notifications and security systems manager for ISU Public Safety.
“We were scheduled to launch this app the very beginning of February, but due to scheduling difficulties we weren’t able to do so. This app has been in the process since December of last year.”
The patented technology implements Rave’s proclaimed high safety-grade infrastructure and the Rave Guardian app to convert mobile smartphones into safety devices.
Additionally, this application can engage an entire community in safety and policing efforts, both the community of ISU as well as the general public.
“The app is functional no matter whether you’re attached to ISU or not,” Jackson said.
“The only difference is [users] won’t have the option to call Public Safety or to send a tip without being affiliated with ISU.”
The application allows users to engage in multiple proactive safety measures including safety timers to notify designated guardians they are alone or in an unfamiliar location, an emergency call button that instantly sends a notification to Public Safety and the ability to send tips to university officials if they witness something suspicious.
Users can send in tips under various categories such as accidents, abuse, assault, bullying or vandalism in either message or picture form. Public Safety can also respond to the user in a chat format if additional information is needed.
“The safety timer is basically a virtual escort,” said Jamie Lloyd, a university control and access systems manager for ISU Public Safety. “The user picks guardians which can be friends, family members or even Public Safety and then they set a timer. If the timer expires their guardian will get an alert and they can make contact with the individual.”
The timer is setup with a PIN number that in order to deactivate the timer must be inputted correctly.
In the event an attacker understands the system the app features what Lloyd describes as a duress mode.
“Users can add one to the last digit of their PIN number such as entering “1-2-3-5” rather than “1-2-3-4” and the system will appear to have been deactivated successfully, however, Public Safety is still notified,” Lloyd said.
If Public Safety is not selected as a guardian, they will not be notified when the timer expires, however, as long as the device has a network or data connection the emergency call button will notify Public Safety of the individual and their location.
Once the application is downloaded users will create their own safety profiles that can include as little or as much information as desired including contact information, residence details and medical conditions.
“If you have safety risks or health concerns you think Public Safety needs to know, for instance being diabetic or epileptic, once the alert button is pressed Public Safety will know that information based on the profile,” Lloyd said
Rave uses the latest in security technologies and processes to ensure all information is kept secure and private. The addition of regular security audits ensures the security of provided information.
Although the application relies on GPS tracking and proximity to cell phone towers in order to function, Public Safety will not be able to obtain information from users whenever deemed necessary.
Rave Guardian is only activated when users choose to activate it themselves.
“We do not track and cannot track. There is no tracking at all with this app until [users] send out an alert,” Jackson said.
“If you send out an alert for help then we are able to see where the phone was located when the alert was sent out.”
Rave Mobile Safety is the market leader in campus safety technology, a position punctuated by a 99 percent customer retention rate and more than 1,000 campuses protected.
Lloyd said as of April 13 over 164 downloads have already been made and the number is rising.
The application is not yet available on Blackberry or Windows phones, however it is available for both iOS and Android devices and can be found by searching “Rave Guardian” in the app store.
“We looked at and tested a lot of different applications,” said Jackson. “Because we are a Rave Notification University we finally decided not only will it serve us well, but it coincides with what we already have. This is a great enhancement to our general emergency notification system.”
