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SOS Link
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What is SOS LINK™?
How does SOS LINK™ work?
Who are Registered Helpers?
What are the benefits of SOS LINK™?
What are the current crime statistics and why is SOS LINK™ needed?
What is a smartphone?
Does SOS LINK™ always work?
How many photos are being taken?
How fast are photos sent from the time the SOS LINK™ icon is pressed?
How much memory is used?
Does SOS LINK™ work at night?
Which smartphones does SOS LINK™ work on?
Are there privacy issues with the pictures taken?
Can the user of SOS LINK™ misuse it?
What type of security are we referring to in our description?

The Technical Answers

SOS LINK™ allows your smartphone to become a personal security tool. It combines a proprietary smartphone application and secure web-based service that work together - helping to keep you safe in the event of a situation, threat or emergency.

Your smartphone becomes a personal, portable alerting system
and adds a new layer of security to your personal space.

SOS LINK™ uses US patents 7,161,479 & 7,535,352 and patent pending technologies in its applications and services.

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How does SOS LINK™ work?

Press the SOS LINK™ icon on your smart phone and then point the camera at the threat or emergency. Immediately and automatically, SOS LINK™:
        Plays an optional audible siren
        Plays an optional audible message stating "SOS"
        Takes up to 60 photos in 60 seconds
        Sends the photos in small batches to pre-registered "Helpers"
        The GPS location of the smartphone is emailed along with the photos sent to pre-registered "Helpers"
        Helpers receive the email alerts, along with a text message and/or automated telephone call notifying them that you have run the app and want help
All of this happens fast, with photo images typically received by
helpers and SOSLINK.com in as little as 15 seconds

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Who are Registered Helpers?

To use SOS LINK™ the user must first complete the registration process. The user enters their email contact information, and the email address(es) for at least one person (their "Helper") who will receive the photos taken each time SOS LINK™ is used.

The user can register up to two helpers if they have downloaded Free SOS LINK™, and up to four helpers if they are using Access SOS LINK™ or Campus SOS LINK™. Users of Agent SOS LINK™ and Team SOS LINK™ can designate an unlimited number of helpers, and designate which helpers are 'on-call,' and when.

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What are the benefits of SOS LINK™?
  • Once the SOS LINK™ icon is pressed, photos are automatically taken and sent to helpers. The user does not need to manually take the photos, or send any emails. The app does it automatically.
  • SOS LINK™ works on smartphones, so it goes wherever your smartphone goes. Most people with smartphones take them everywhere and have them readily available at a moment's notice. This makes a smartphone an ideal device for an automated personal alerting and notification security system like SOS LINK™.
  • The photos taken are encrypted and sent to registered helpers through a remote secure website, and are received in as little as 15 seconds. (This means that the images cannot be altered or deleted by an aggressor as they are not stored on the user's phone. This is an added layer of security for the user.)
  • The GPS location of the smartphone accompanies the emailed photos (provided that the GPS is able to be detected.)
  • If the threat is another person, he/she cannot access or retrieve the photos
  • If the threat is another person, he/she may be identified through the photos
  • If the threat is a situation or emergency, a visual description of it can be viewed by helpers and they can respond accordingly (eg. a car accident, assault, robbery, etc.)
  • Registered helpers immediately receive photos of the aggressor or event, and can respond immediately. These photos can also be sent or given to authorities
  • The perpetrator will understand that SOS LINK™ is a layer of security that can potentially identify them as being caught in the act, and deter them from continuing their actions.
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What are the current crime statistics and why is SOS LINK™ needed?
Around the world there are some who threaten and/or cause harm to others, and there are situations that put individuals at risk or peril. As our society becomes more mobile, we believe there is a need to add a new layer of security around our personal space wherever we are.

Recent reports and studies indicate significant threat situations exist in our society today, especially to women, adolescents and children. For instance...

Children and Teens:
  • 800,000 children younger than 18 are reported missing each year. This is an average of 2,000 children reported missing each day.
  • 1 in 5 high school girls reported being abused by a boyfriend

    School Safety:
  • School is the most common place for violent victimizations against teens to occur; 40% of American adolescents have witnessed violence
  • In 2005, only 55% of high school students felt safe at school
  • Teenage victims of violent crime have the lowest rate of reporting to the police of any age group (36%)

    Dating Violence:
  • 18 to 24 year olds comprised only 11.7% of the population in 1998 and 2002, but were the majority of victims of violence committed by a boyfriend or girlfriend at 42%
  • A survey of university graduates revealed that 20% had been stalked or harassed by a former dating partner

    Stalking:
  • 1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime
  • The average duration of stalking is 1.8 years
  • 13% of college women were stalked during one six to nine month period
  • An estimated 3.4 million persons identified themselves as victims of stalking during a 12-month period in 2005 and 2006

    Workplace Violence:
  • For each year between 1993 and 1999, an average of 1.7 million people were victims of violent crime while working on on duty; an estimated 75% of these incidents were simple assaults, while an additional 19% were aggravated assaults
  • Nearly 80% of workplace homicides are committed by criminals otherwise unconnected to the workplace

    Sources:
    American Bar Association - Survey of Recent Statistics:
    http://www.abanet.org/domviol/statistics.html

    U.S. Department of Justice - Stalking Victimization in the United States
    http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/svus.htm
    National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - How many missing children are there?
    http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2816#1

    Office for Victims of Crime & The National Center for Victims of Crime - 2007 NCVRW Resource Guide
    http://ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw/2007/pdf/statistical_overviews.pdf

    These are incredible statistics. We believe SOS LINK™ will deter some potential perpetrators. When the SOS LINK™ button is pushed, an optional siren and message plays, stating "SOS." Aggressors will understand that they may be identified, and we believe that this will act as a deterrent in some situations. SOS LINK™ has made special use of technology that is becoming a common item to carry around - the cell phone - and specifically the smartphone.

    As well as acting as an immediate deterrent to the perpetrator, the user of SOS LINK™ will be able to send a notification to their helpers automatically and immediately. These Helpers are then be better prepared and ready to respond with help.

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    • What is a smartphone?

    "A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.[1][2] For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.[3][4] For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail, Internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external USB keyboard and VGA connector. In other words, it is a miniature computer that has phone capability.[5][6]"

    Wikipedia contributors, "Smartphone," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smartphone&oldid=291807734 (accessed May 23, 2009).

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    Does SOS LINK™ always work?

    We believe SOS LINK™ will work most of the time, along with the performance of the smartphone. SOS LINK™ will not work if the smartphone is not working.

    It is common knowledge that there are times and locations where cellular coverage is not available, service from the cellular carrier is disrupted, that a smartphone may be malfunctioning, onboard memory may be fully utilized, the smartphone battery power may be weak, or other issues may be occurring that can affect their performance.

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    How many photos are being taken?

    SOS LINK™ is programmed to take up to 30 photos with Free SOS LINK™, and and up to 60 photos with the Access, Campus, Agent, and Team applications. If more photos are needed, SOS LINK™ can run again.

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    How fast are photos sent from the time the SOS LINK™ icon is pressed?

    The first photos taken by way of SOS LINK™ can begin wireless transmission in as little as a few seconds (up to 30 seconds or more in some cases). [Please note that the variable time is dependent on the access into the wireless network where the user is physically present.] Users should keep SOS LINK™ open once it is run for as long as possible.

    How much memory is used?

    We have preset the photos with a resolution of 160pixels x 240pixels, and re-scaled to 107pixels x 160pixels, resulting in a single photo file size of approx. 50kb. Assuming 1 frame per second for 60 seconds results in a memory usage of 3Mb.

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    Does SOS LINK™ work at night?

    Our testing in low-light locations shows that there is usually enough available light to adequately describe the person, object or place in the photo. However, at present, cameras on smartphones do not use infrared, automated flash or low light technologies. As these enhancements to the smartphones are made, improvement to nighttime lighting will improve.

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    Which smartphones does SOS LINK™ work on?

    Apple iPhone™ 3G, 3GS, and 4G
    BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000, Bold™ 9700, Storm 2™ 9550
    Android® models will be available shortly

    Currently under development are other BlackBerry® smartphone models Palm, HTC, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola and others in the near future. Check back with us for updates!

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    Are there privacy issues with the pictures taken?

    Each time SOS LINK™ is used, it will be by the smartphone owner (or authorized user), who retains ownership of the photos and determines whom else may see them - just as is the practice for ordinary cameras.

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    Can the user of SOS LINK™ misuse it?

    Any automated process, technology or device can be misused, especially for malicious purposes. We are fortunate that in our society, laws protect us from such malicious behavior.

    SOS LINK™ will always cooperate with the authorities in their enforcement of the law.

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    What type of security are we referring to in our description?

    Many types of security are offered from companies and individuals ranging from armed guards, attack dogs, fences, alarm systems, surveillance and more.

    SOS LINK™’s security system: a) warns the perpetrator that his or her photo(s) has been taken and sent wirelessly to Helpers, b) puts the photos out of reach of the perpetrator, and c) notifies your registered Helpers (via email and also possibly by text message and/or automated telephone call, depending on the product that is downloaded) that you need help.

    These actions provide a deterrent to the perpetrator. However, they are not a guarantee or warranty against further actions by the perpetrator. Just like going up against armed guards, attack dogs, fences, alarm systems, surveillance, and other security systems, some perpetrators may persist.

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