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Show HN: Offline SOS signaling+recovery app for disasters/wars

(github.com)
158 points nizarmah | 2 comments | 01 Apr 25 21:58 UTC | HN request time: 0.427s | source

A couple of months ago, I built this app to help identify people stuck under rubble.

First responders have awesome tools. But in tough situations, even common folks need to help.

After what happened in Myanmar, we need something like this that works properly.

It has only been tested in controlled environments. It can also be improved; I know BLE is not _that_ effective under rubble.

If you have any feedback or can contribute, don't hold back.

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dimal ◴[02 Apr 25 00:07 UTC] No.43552544[source]▶
This is great. That said, I think that unless Apple and Google install something like this by default, it won’t get much traction, because you can’t download the app when you really need it, and most people won’t think to download it before then.

I just went through Helene in Asheville last year and it was painfully obvious that our cloud overlords have overlooked the offline disaster use case. Basically, when you’re in a situation where you desperately need technology to help, you’re on your own. I was imagining that tools like this would be great, but without the cloud, I was helpless.

Maybe instead of trying to get users to install this, it could be a proof of concept to show what’s possible, and to say to Apple and Google: install this basic lifesaving tool on every phone by default?

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nizarmah ◴[02 Apr 25 00:14 UTC] No.43552581[source]▶
This is something I needed to hear for months. Thank you.

I'll work towards that. I'll need to figure out how to prove the poc is useful.

Apple's "Connect to a Satellite" touches on that, but it's not available for most of the world or on old devices. :|

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1. sneak ◴[02 Apr 25 01:48 UTC] No.43553000[source]▶
Starlink is rolling out direct-to-unmodified-cellphone soon, to provide SMS connectivity to devices in locations that would otherwise be completely offline. It will work on standard, unmodified phones (if they are outside and can see the sky).

Admittedly doesn’t work under rubble, but should work in the usual/general case.

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2. HeatrayEnjoyer ◴[02 Apr 25 02:38 UTC] No.43553222[source]▶
Starlink unfortunately is also not reliable for long-term just outside the US (or even inside).