Allison Lawton: Proud to support new security app Please Help

Paramdip Singh at the launch of his new personal security app Please Help. Photo/Stephen Parker

We are privileged to support the launch of the new "Please Help" app developed by Paramdip Singh, a very proud migrant from India.

This story is about how a business idea, technology and community values can come together to help solve a problem. In this case, the idea came about against a backdrop of increasing crime in our retail stores, and the vulnerability many of these business owners feel as they go about building their businesses diligently and honestly.

As a reminder, these business owners are important to our economy because they generate economic returns which help to grow our city, they help build vibrancy within our communities as they interact with us on a personal level every day, and they provide a valuable service through selling goods and services.

So back to Paramdip, the developer of the "Please Help" app. What a fantastic vision, commitment, and dogged determination to develop this app. I want to congratulate Paramdip for deciding not to be a spectator with this type of crime - but instead to do something about it.

His resolve was further spurred on as he experienced first-hand the trauma of a robbery when his friend's liquor store was broken into. Rather than look to agencies to solve the issue, he took it upon himself to do something about it. And he did - through using technology to prevent crime and the "Please Help" app was born.

The app is simple to use and at this stage it is designed to operate on any android phone - future developments will allow for IOS use. Once the app is downloaded from the Google apps store, an icon loads onto the phone's home screen which allows for easy access during an emergency.

When the icon is pressed, and activated it sends an emergency text or SMS message to all nominated contacts and begins recording the surroundings. The message is pre-embedded with "PLEASE HELP" and it also sends the GPS co-ordinates within the text message. Additionally, the app alert can be a specific ringtone to alert the receiver of the text that this is an emergency.

How much would you expect to pay for this app? In this case, there is no cost. This is a free app for anyone to use. It has been designed for business owners, parents, elderly folk, children - in fact anyone who thinks this technology will help to keep them safe. Thank you, Paramdip.

This story started and ends with a powerful message which is that by caring for one another (community values), by combining technology and business to solve a problem (economic values) businesses and communities thrive.

Allison Lawton is the chief executive for the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce.