The waves of crime at York has some students taking matters into their own hands.
Third-year Lassonde student Simranjit Kamboj describes Safe Tap, an app he coded, as bringing unique functionality to users.
Safe Tap includes an option to send a text message to a designated emergency contact when users press the volume rocker three times.
“A lot of the other apps don’t actually offer that,” says Kamboj. This function distinguishes Safe Tap from York’s official safety app.
Kamboj says he has seen many posts online with people clamouring for such a functionality, which inspired him to code an app allowing users to leave their phones in their pockets.
“When people are in an uncomfortable position, I’m sure they cannot pull their phone out of their pocket and actually call someone,” he says.
“The app gives you an approximate location, as good as Google Maps can get it.”
Kamboj says he was surprised to catch himself using the app, even though he thought he wouldn’t need it.
“I didn’t think that I would personally need it, but now that I have later classes, I just pull the app out and leave it on. It’s not just for walking around on campus, you can use it anywhere you go,” he says.
“I honestly believe that this app is not just for York students.”
Part of what inspired Kamboj includes students’ discomfort walking alone on campus late at night.
“I know they can call goSAFE, but a lot of them don’t call all the time,” he says.
For now, Safe Tap is intended primarily to benefit students, but Kamboj is hoping his app gains greater traction.
“I was thinking of putting up some posters around York,” he says.
York’s official safety app has received criticisms.
Alex Kvaskov, Assistant News Editor
Featured image courtesy of Simranjit Kamboj
