"The most important and urgent problems of the technology of today are no longer the satisfactions of primary needs or of archetypal wishes, but the reparation of the evils and damages by technology of yesterday."

- Dennis Gabor


 

"If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner."

- Omar Bradley
 

 

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."

- Albert Einstein
 

 

"The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human"

- John Naisbitt


 

"Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time."

- Bill Gates


 

"Don't confuse the art of the possible with the art of the profitable."

- David Tansley


 

"Whereas knights of old wore armor of plate, the modern knights of the air wear the invisible but magic armor of confidence in technology."

- Mike Spick


 

"Many people see technology as the problem behind the so-called digital divide. Others see it as the solution. Technology is neither. It must operate in conjunction with business, economic, political and social system."

- Carly Fiorina


 

"We've arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology."

- Dr. Carl Sagan


 

"Technology without hatred can be a blessing. Technology with hatred is always a disaster."

- Simon Wiesenthal


 

"Once a new technology rolls over you, if you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road."

- Stewart Brand

 
The iCitizen App Initiative

We are working on two pieces of software that we have dubbed iCitizen.  Two are being developed for mobile devices, and one will reside on a network server.  The software will 1) secure vital evidence and 2) activate a community network to help ensure law enforcement interaction with an individual is lawful, and to help provide accountability if it is not, and 3) collect and present analytical data on the nature of law enforcement interaction.  The two mobile device apps (iPhone and Droid) are 1) iCitizen Mobile and 2) iCitizen Press Extender.  Both apps and the service will be free to all users.


Both the iCitizen Mobile and iCitizen Press Extender apps, will feed information to the individual's iCitizen Personal Network, and to the public website www.iCitizenHQ.com
 

iCitizen Mobile



The application will work hand in hand with the software on the network server.  Users will configure the application on the network server, adding a list of individuals to their personal iCitizen network.  Information will include email address and SMS text numbers.  Individuals placed in the personal network will have to "opt in" to the user's personal network before getting communications to prevent spamming.

iCitizen Personal Network

Individuals who are notified via email and/or SMS text message by the software upon an Alert Action initiated by a user of the iCitizen Mobile app.  The personal network will be invited to join a dynamically created chat room, where status updates from the individual and software will be posted to quickly pass information from the individual to his or her personal network.  Remote server software will run the chat room, will facilitate transmission of evidence to the personal network, will provide contact information for law enforcement and other agencies near the individual, and also produce a list of media contact information nationally and locally based on the individual's location.  The individual's location in address form will also be provided.
 

The user will also setup options for iCitizen Mobile, to include mode of use "pedestrian" or "automobile."  Automobile mode will allow other settings for tying in other installed network capable recording devices, such as Protect All recording systems.
 

Automobile Mode

Upon application launch, the user will simply see three icon graphics that can be pressed.  A checkmark, a cancel button, and a settings button.  Pressing the settings button will require the user to input a pin code to go into the settings menu.  Cancelling will close the application.  Pressing the checkmark will launch the Alert Action.
 

Alert Action

The software will send the current date/time, location, and GPS speed information for the previous ten minutes (time can be changed in settings) to the network server over the device internet connection.  The network server will send emails and text messages to all individuals in the user's iCitizen personal network, with a text message specified in settings, and a link to a dynamically created chat room.  All individuals who click on the link will meet up in the internet chat room with an onboard introductory message specified in settings, and previously detailed information will be provided in the chat (location, agency and media contact info, etc).  In addition, a link to a popup Google map that shows previous driving location, speed, speed limits, and a summary message indicating if the individual was shown to be speeding or not will be provided.
 

The iCitizen Mobile application, upon initiating the Alert Action, will then display several icons on the screen and text, which will allow the user to quickly communicate with his or her iCitizen personal network by pushing chat messages, email and text messages, and audio files:
 

  1. A four color spectrum bar on the far right side of the screen, to allow the user to quickly change the situation status and communicate with his or her iCitizen personal network.  Messages will be set in settings, and can include instructions to the personal network to include "let's wait and see, do nothing at this time" or "please initiate contact with agencies, or press," etc.  An increased situation spectrum will generate a list of local media and accountability options to the iCitizen personal network.
     
  2. A touch list of options to include "Uknown" and a list of LEO options pulled from the local area from the GPS location.  User selection of an agency will pass the information to the iCitizen personal network, along with contact information for those agencies.
     
  3. A "safe" icon, verified by pin code, that allows the user to type text directly to their iCitizen personal network, or record and send an audio file (for use when there is time).
     
  4. An "all clear" icon that ceases the Alert Action (verified by pin code), and informs the personal network.
     
  5. A status screen for Evidence Slinger (if enabled in the Settings) and supported by hardware
     

Evidence Slinger


This option will allow users with network capable surveillance devices in their vehicles, to initiate the transfer of local audio/video/event files from their vehicle to the iCitizen network server.  This will include the smart device audio/video/GPS data, as well as stand alone systems such as the Eye 3 Witness Pro and other DVR systems.  The iCitizen Mobile Alert Action will cause the network server to FTP into the automobile surveillance network, and download the evidence files to the remote server.  It will do so based on user settings (downloading files 10 minutes prior to the Alert Action first, then downloading more recent files, etc).  The last successfully downloaded file, and the currently being downloaded files, will be displayed on the iCitizen Mobile screen.  The network server will then make links available in the iCitizen Personal Network chat, so that members of the personal network can download the video/audio files from the network server (so as not to waste bandwidth in recovering evidence from the vehicle system), so they can use that evidence in real time as directed by the user through the iCitizen Mobile application (to upload to YouTube, to provide to media, etc).

Pedestrian Mode

 

This mode will work in conjunction with a smart device audio/video/GPS.  While recording audio or video, a checkmark icon, a cancel icon, and a settings icon will be displayed.  They will have the same functionality as detailed in Automobile Mode.  The device will stream audio/video/GPS data to the remote network server.

 

Alert Action

 

When the checkmark icon is pressed, the device will initiate an Alert Action.  This will perform the same functions as the Alert Action in automobile mode, with the exception of providing a speed analysis.  The iCitizen Mobile application, upon initiating the Alert Action, will then display several icons on the screen and text, which will allow the user to quickly communicate with his or her iCitizen personal network.  A list of possible law enforcement agencies, based on GPS location, with contact information will be provided to the personal network, but will not be displayed on the iCitizen Mobile device.

 

  1. A three color spectrum system, similar to Automobile Mode.
     
  2. An All Clear icon that ends the Alert Action and notifies the personal network
     
  3. A Proximity Alert icon, if configured in settings, when an individual is within a number of feet in settings


Proximity Alert

If a user has allowed Proximity Alerts in Settings, the iCitizen Mobile device will display an icon when a different user also running iCitizen Mobile, is within a number of feet from the user.  Distance will be specified within settings.  If the user clicks on the Proximity Alert, they will see the name of the other individual and will see an icon for Join or Deny.  If the user clicks the Join icon, the individual iCitizen pesonal network chat rooms will be combined, a message will be given to all users, and evidence from both user devices will be made available to members of both personal networks.

iCitizen Press Extender



The application will work hand in hand with the software on the network server, and essentially multiplies the audio/video device used by the individual who initiates an Alert.  Individuals in the iCitizen Personal Network chatroom, as well as anonymous individuals from the world wide web, will be able to plug three digit codes into the Press Extender application, which will then tie their device to the incident.  Those who are members of the iCitizen Personal network, using the Extender app, will be able to participate in the chat from their device.  Anonymous users from the world wide web will not be able to view the network chat, but will still be able to provide their audio/video to the network.