Distress.OS

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  Main Screen

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  Create contact page

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  Activation

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  Tracking Page

Introduction and Inspiration

In a world where safety should never be compromised, we present Distress.OS, a revolutionary app designed to provide swift assistance in critical situations. Inspired by the need for a rapid, non-invasive solution, our team focused on creating an application that ensures user safety within minutes, offering a discreet interface and quick setup.

What it does

Distress.OS enables users to set up an emergency contact in under a minute. With a simple tap, the app sends the emergency contact a link for real-time tracking, providing crucial information during distress. To enhance privacy, the app cleverly disguises itself as a calculator, offering an extra layer of security for those seeking discreet assistance.

How we built it

Distress.OS is built using React.js for the front end, and Express for the backend. VT Cloud clusters, along with Docker was used to host the servers. Text messages are sent via email-to-text, which allows texts to be sent via sending an email to a cellular provider's email that forwards it via text message.

Challenges we ran into

• Front end customization was very difficult to get right.
• Twilio doesn't allow the text message API without approval first, preventing us from using this method to send text messages.
• Testing proved very difficult without deploying to a server.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Less than a minute from app launch to sending an emergency text
• The app features a modern and intuitive UI design
• Reliable real-time tracking functionality

What we learned

• We improved our skills in React.js
• We learned about Material UI, an API that we had never used before to make UI elements.
• We learned about tracking location via a progressive web app.

What's next for Distress.OS

There is so much more to do with Distress.OS. Distress.OS has the potential to make a significant impact on personal safety. Future plans include refining and expanding features, such as incorporating SOS messages for immediate assistance. The app's focus on domestic violence situations highlights its importance in providing a rapid, discreet lifeline for those in need.

Built With

• docker
• express.js
• google-maps
• mongodb
• react