Voice-activated panic app Valor enhances safety because a user can alert armed response and medical emergency teams as soon as she or he becomes aware of a threat or danger, thereby minimising the risk of abduction, theft or other serious crime, says app developer safety and security services company BYY Strategic Services.

Once users on iOS or Android phones have downloaded the Valor app, they set a panic custom command phrase, which will be used if they find themselves in a potentially dangerous or high alert situation, says BYY Strategic Services CEO Amanda Rogaly.

Once the phrase is said, the phone will dispatch response teams to the user's exact real-time location. The control room will also monitor ambient sounds via the app, to assess the user's situation and provide details to emergency and armed response services while they are en route to the exact location, she says.

The app’s real-time tracking means that it can provide a safeguard even in situations where a user might feel uncomfortable or in danger, she adds.

The app also notifies the user's bank when his or her safety has been compromised, alerting fraud departments so that they can initiate protocols to protect the banking accounts on the user's phone.

“Facial recognition means that criminals can gain access to victims’ bank accounts by holding their phones to their faces, but Valor offers a solution that lessens the financial implications of having your accounts accessed,” Rogaly says.

BYY Strategic Services has partnered with some of South Africa’s banks and with the largest emergency control room in South Africa, so that users receive immediate support from more than 22 000 security and emergency responders throughout the country.

“All control room agents are highly trained and multilingual. Valor harnesses AI to educate and support members, but, when it comes to something like personal safety, many people prefer to speak to a human who can offer trust and reliability.

“Valor has been designed to prioritise speed and simplicity to make it exceptionally easy to use even in high stress situations. The app functions as a personal, voice-activated command centre to protect the safety of your family,” adds Rogaly.