SOS HELP - A safety-first mobile app with real-time alerts, AI features, and smart emergency tools.
SOS HELP - A safety-first mobile app with real-time alerts, AI features, and smart emergency tools.
01. Introduction
~ Concept:
Emergencies can happen anytime, and having a quick, reliable way to get help is essential. The SOS Help mobile app was developed as part of my UX design learning journey, aiming to provide users with a comprehensive and easy-to-use safety tool.
This app combines several key features to ensure fast and effective assistance. The one-tap SOS button allows users to alert emergency services or their chosen contacts instantly. For situations where discretion is needed, the silent alert feature sends help quietly without drawing attention. Real-time location sharing helps responders find the user quickly, and the app also includes a safety check-in feature, which automatically notifies contacts if the user doesn’t check in on time.
By integrating these essential tools into a simple and intuitive interface, the SOS Help mobile app offers a reliable solution for personal safety, designed to be ready whenever and wherever it’s needed.
Process: Research · Synthesis · Ideation · Prototyping · Interaction Design · Testing · Iteration
Role: User Experience (UX) Designer, User Interface (UI) and Interaction (IxD) Designer
Tools: Figma, Figjam, Photoshop
SOS Press: Tap to call 911 with AI support
Emergency Chat: Chat with AI for faster emergency help
02. Problem Statement And The Solution
~ Understanding The Requirement:
In emergencies, quick and reliable access to help can be life-saving. However, many individuals encounter obstacles when trying to get assistance, especially in high-stress situations or when discretion is essential. Existing SOS apps often fall short, offering limited features such as a single, visible alert method, minimal real-time location sharing, and few options for notifying trusted contacts. Additionally, most lack critical health data sharing, which can be vital in emergencies. These limitations mean that people in urgent situations may face delays in receiving appropriate and timely help.
The SOS Help mobile app addresses these gaps by offering a comprehensive and flexible approach to personal safety, designed to cover all essential needs in emergencies. Unlike other apps, SOS Help mobile app includes:
Multiple Alert Options: With a one-tap SOS button for immediate help and a silent alert feature for situations where discretion is crucial, users can reach out quickly without drawing unwanted attention. The one-tap SOS button can also be added to the mobile lock screen for quick emergency help.
Real-Time Location Sharing: Continuous live location tracking allows emergency contacts and responders to locate the user accurately, reducing response times and increasing the chances of timely assistance.
Customizable Emergency Contacts: Users can set up a list of trusted contacts who receive real-time alerts, ensuring that friends or family members are immediately informed and can provide support as needed.
Health Data Sharing: When medical history is essential, the app securely shares critical health information, such as allergies, medical conditions, or medications, with responders. This data can be life-saving, ensuring first responders have the context to make the right emergency decisions.
Emergency Store for Emergency Products: The integrated Emergency Store provides users access to essential emergency products, such as portable chargers, personal alarms, first-aid kits, GPS trackers, and more.
These features establish the SOS Help mobile app as a comprehensive solution, prioritizing user control, rapid response, health awareness, and preparedness across a broad range of emergency scenarios.
"Explore interactive prototype of SOS button on lock screen"
03. User Research
~ Methodology:
In developing the SOS Help mobile app, thorough User Research was conducted to ensure the design responds directly to the real needs and pain points of potential users. This phase aimed to understand what features users prioritize, identify gaps in existing SOS solutions, and define key performance areas (KPAs) and indicators (KPIs) to guide the app’s development. The findings from this research shaped the app’s core functionality and user experience, ensuring that each feature was tailored to address pain points and improve response times and safety.
The Research Objectives helped structure the user research by outlining clear goals for understanding user behaviors, motivations, and needs in emergencies.
Identify Common Emergency Needs: Gain an understanding of the types of emergencies users frequently encounter and the specific requirements for each situation.
Analyze Current SOS App Shortcomings: Identify gaps in existing emergency applications and determine which features users find ineffective or lacking.
Establish User-Centric Features: Identify features that provide real value to users, such as a silent alert, lock screen access, and multi-contact notifications, and measure the importance of each feature.
Determine Performance Indicators: Define KPIs to measure the app's success, including SOS response time, location accuracy, and user satisfaction, to ensure that the app meets high usability and reliability standards.
These objectives provided a clear focus for the research, guiding the development of methods to capture detailed insights to help shape a more effective app.
To gather a well-rounded set of data, multiple research methods were used:
User Interviews: Interviews were conducted with a diverse group of participants to understand their real-life experiences with emergencies and the limitations they faced. Interviewees included people who had used SOS apps, those who were unfamiliar with them, and individuals with various emergency concerns, such as medical needs or safety concerns.
Competitive Analysis: A review of three leading SOS applications was undertaken to analyze their functionalities, UX design, feature sets, and user feedback. This analysis identified gaps in current solutions, which informed the unique features of the SOS Help mobile app.
Affinity Mapping: User feedback was organized using affinity mapping to identify common themes and patterns in emergency needs and desired app features. Insights from sticky notes revealed priorities for quick access, discreet alerts, and health data integration, and helped in feature prioritization.
Persona Development: Personas were created to reflect distinct user types based on interview insights and results. These personas highlight common motivations, needs, and behaviors, guiding the app's design and features.
To gain a foundational understanding of user needs, I conducted an initial round of in-depth interviews with six individuals who fit the target user profile. These participants included individuals who frequently travel, live alone or have specific health concerns, all of whom would likely benefit from a reliable SOS app. This small-scale, qualitative approach allowed me to gather detailed insights into common pain points, desired features, and practical design considerations.
The data collection was conducted via online user interviews, each lasting approximately 30 - 40 minutes. During these sessions, participants shared their experiences, typical usage scenarios, challenges with existing solutions, and desired improvements.
Interview Focus:
Usage Scenarios: How often they use SOS features, in what contexts, and what triggers emergency app use.
Pain Points: Challenges encountered when using existing SOS apps.
Feature Wishlist: Key features they would like to see added or improved.
Emergency Behavior: Typical actions taken in emergencies and how they might use an SOS app in those scenarios.
From these interviews, key observations emerged. While the sample size was limited, these insights highlight critical areas for improvement that can significantly impact user experience and safety.
1. Ease of Access to SOS Functions:
Observation: All participants expressed difficulty accessing SOS functions quickly, especially under stress or in dark or unfamiliar locations.
Conclusion: A prominent, lock-screen SOS button is essential for immediate access without requiring users to unlock their phones.
2. Desire for Discreet Alerts:
Observation: Participants wanted a way to signal for help quietly, especially in situations where noise could escalate risk.
Conclusion: Integrating a silent alert option would improve safety by allowing users to send alerts discreetly when necessary.
3. Reliable Real-Time Location Sharing:
Observation: Users expressed concerns over location sharing during emergencies, noting that poor network conditions often interfere with accuracy.
Conclusion: The app needs to support real-time location sharing optimized for low connectivity environments to ensure dependable assistance.
4. Health Data Integration:
Observation: Participants indicated they would feel safer if emergency contacts received relevant health data in urgent situations.
Conclusion: Including an option for users to input critical health information can enhance emergency response efficiency and user confidence.
5. Emergency Preparedness:
Observation: Users want an e-store to buy emergency supplies and resources like first-aid kits and guides.
Conclusion: Adding an e-store will improve preparedness by offering emergency products directly in the app.
These observations point to key features of an SOS app: easy SOS access, discreet alerts, reliable location sharing, and health data integration.
User Interview Summary Table:
Themes and Sticky Notes:
1. Quick Access:
"It’s hard to find my current SOS app when I’m in a panic."
"I want the SOS button to be available even on my lock screen."
"Every second counts in emergencies; delays can be life-threatening."
"It should work instantly, with no unnecessary steps."
Insight: Users need immediate access to the SOS feature to reduce response time in emergencies.
Actionable Design Solution: Add an SOS button directly on the lock screen and ensure the app launches quickly.
2. Discreet Alerts:
"I don’t want to draw attention when I send an SOS alert."
"There should be a way to notify someone without making noise."
"Silent alerts would make me feel safer in risky situations."
"A subtle vibration should confirm that the alert was sent successfully."
Insight: Users value privacy and subtlety in emergencies where overt alerts may escalate the situation.
Actionable Design Solution: Introduce a silent alert mode with vibration confirmation.
3. Emergency Preparedness:
"It would be great if the app could help me prepare for emergencies in advance."
"I want to buy items like first-aid kits or portable chargers from the app."
"Suggestions for what I might need in different emergencies would be really helpful."
"The app should guide me on how to handle common emergencies."
Insight: Users seek proactive emergency planning tools and access to relevant products.
Actionable Design Solution: Integrate an eStore with curated safety products and provide educational content on emergency preparedness.
4. Real-Time Location Tracking:
"My family should know exactly where I am if I’m in danger."
"The app should share my live location even if there’s poor internet."
"I don’t trust apps with delayed or inaccurate location sharing."
"I want to feel confident that help can find me quickly."
Insight: Accurate, reliable real-time location tracking is critical for user safety and trust.
Actionable Design Solution: Use advanced GPS for precise location sharing, including offline functionality.
5. Health Data Sharing:
"First responders should know about my allergies or medical conditions."
"Having my medical information on hand during an emergency is a must."
"It’s scary to think of having a medical emergency and people not knowing my history."
"The app should ask for optional health data when setting up my profile."
Insight: Users want the ability to share essential medical information with emergency responders.
Actionable Design Solution: Add a health data-sharing feature for users to input medical conditions, allergies, and emergency contacts.
6. User Control and Customization:
"I want to choose who gets notified when I send an alert."
"The app should let me customize the type of emergency I’m in."
"It’s important to have control over what information is shared."
"Not all emergencies are the same; I should be able to set different modes."
Insight: Users want flexibility and control over alerts and information sharing.
Actionable Design Solution: Allow users to customize emergency modes, notification recipients, and shared data.
Sticky Notes:
Purpose of Thematic Analysis:
Thematic analysis was chosen as a key method for examining user interview data and observations, providing a structured approach to understanding and interpreting user needs for the SOS Help mobile app. This process identified recurring themes reflecting users' expectations, concerns, and preferences regarding emergency features.
Overview of Identified Themes:
Six core themes emerged from the analysis, each highlighting a unique aspect of user interaction and experience within the SOS Help app:
Quick Access: Users require immediate, effortless access to emergency functions.
Discreet Alerts: The option to send alerts quietly to avoid drawing attention is essential for some users.
Emergency Preparedness (E-Store): Users are interested in an integrated e-store for safety products, ensuring they’re equipped for emergencies.
Real-Time Location Tracking: Real-time location sharing is a priority for users who want their whereabouts to be known during an SOS event.
Health Data Sharing: Users wish to share critical health information with emergency responders to receive appropriate assistance.
User Control & Customization: Users desire flexibility in configuring their SOS contacts, alert preferences, and data-sharing settings.
Thematic Analysis:
Below is a detailed design capturing each theme, key observations, actionable insights, and corresponding design recommendations:
Key Findings and Patterns:
Several important patterns emerged across the themes:
Emphasis on Accessibility: Users consistently expressed a need for features that are easy to access, such as the lock-screen SOS button, emphasizing the importance of immediate response.
Privacy and Discretion: The importance of discreet alerting options demonstrates users' concerns about being noticed when seeking help, which is critical in sensitive situations.
Comprehensive Preparedness: Users value digital and physical readiness, reflected in their interest in an e-store and real-time location tracking to support physical safety and preparedness.
These patterns underscore the app's need to be accessible and adaptable, supporting users in various emergency scenarios with minimal effort.
Design Implications:
The insights derived from this thematic analysis directly shaped several important design elements in the SOS Help app:
Instant Access SOS: Incorporating the SOS button on the lock screen ensures that users can trigger an alert instantly, even without unlocking their phones.
Silent Alert Option: A silent alert mode was prioritized. This mode allows users to alert emergency contacts subtly, reducing the risk of escalation in unsafe situations.
Real-Time Health and Location Sharing: Health data integration and automatic location tracking were implemented as essential, actionable features for providing responders with accurate, real-time information.
Key findings from the data collection and analysis process revealed significant user needs and preferences:
Quick Access Needs: 100% of users prioritized rapid SOS activation, especially from the lock screen, with an expected activation time of 3 seconds.
Silent Alerts for Discreet Safety: 70% expressed needing a silent alert option in situations requiring discretion.
Health Data Integration: 45% of participants with health concerns desired the ability to share medical information with responders.
Accurate Location Tracking: 80% of users found reliable, real-time location tracking crucial, addressing frequent connectivity issues in existing solutions
The user journey map is divided into key stages: trigger, search for help, SOS activation, discreet alert, assistance response, and post-event support. Each stage captures user goals, actions, emotional states, pain points, and opportunities, offering a comprehensive view of the user's experience.
The bar diagram highlights user emotions across the app journey, peaking during critical stages like SOS activation and easing during assistance and post-event support.
04. Design Process
~ Design Methodology:
I approached the design system through iterative processes using a user-centered methodology. I combined user research insights with ideation, prototyping, and testing to create a solution that prioritizes simplicity, accessibility, and efficiency in emergencies. This methodology allowed me to refine key features like quick access, discreet alerts, and health data sharing while ensuring the app remains intuitive and impactful.
In the mind mapping phase, I focused on organizing and visualizing the core features and ideas for the SOS Help mobile app. I prioritized and refined the app's most critical features by connecting key functionalities like quick access, discreet alerts, and real-time tracking. This process helped me clarify the app’s structure and ensure every feature aligned with user needs and emergency preparedness goals.
In the next phase of designing the SOS Help mobile app, I employed the MoSCoW method to systematically prioritize features. This method categorizes features into four levels of importance: Must-Have, Should-Have, Could-Have, and Won't-Have. These categories were based on user needs, initial observations, and my understanding of emergency scenarios.
Immediate Needs: Features like the SOS button, silent alert, and location sharing were prioritized to ensure the app performs effectively in critical moments.
Enhancements for Usability: Should-have features, such as an e-store and customization options, aim to make the app versatile and user-centric without detracting from core functionalities.
Future Potential: Could-have features were identified to showcase possibilities for extending the app's scope, emphasizing how the design can evolve.
The SOS Help app was inspired by the Bento Box design and adopted this technique to ensure clarity, simplicity, and efficiency, which are essential for an emergency app.
Centralized SOS Button: The SOS button is prominently placed in the center with a circular shape, making it easy to locate and press in urgent situations.
Organized Layout: Features such as E-Services and E-Contacts are placed in square-shaped icons, while the Silent Alert button is displayed in a rectangular icon. This grouping helps users quickly identify and access important functions.
Quick Access: The design ensures essential features are immediately accessible, allowing for fast action in an emergency.
User-Friendly: The simple grid layout with distinct shapes ensures the interface is intuitive and easy for all users, regardless of their tech savvy.
Scalable and Adaptable: The Bento Box layout allows for easily adding new features like the safety check and first-aid tips without overcrowding the home screen.
Designing the SOS Help app was an iterative journey, beginning with conceptual rough sketches and evolving to detailed high-fidelity wireframes. The process started with rough sketches, where I explored multiple layout ideas and worked to understand the core design system. This phase was instrumental in visualizing the app’s functionality and testing how the design could remain intuitive and accessible. After evaluating various concepts, I determined that Design Idea 3 best balanced clarity and functionality, ensuring the interface would not feel cluttered or overwhelming.
Building on these insights, I progressed to low-fidelity wireframes to establish a structured layout and flow. This stage allowed me to experiment with text placement, icon arrangements, and usability while maintaining a minimalist approach. Finally, the high-fidelity wireframes polished these ideas, introducing visual aesthetics, refined interactions, and a cohesive user experience. This process was shaped by constant learning and improvement, ensuring each stage addressed user needs while adhering to best design practices.
"Welcome Page"
"Register Page"
"OTP Verification Page"
"Home Page"
"AI Assist with 911 (Emergency) Call Page"
"Emergency Services Page"
"AI Chat Assist Page"
"Emergency Store Home Page"
"Emergency Store Product Page"
"Adding a Desired Data Under Medical Information Section in Health Data Page"
I chose these colors and typography for their ability to create a clean, calming, and accessible user experience. The light background color #ececec ensures clarity and prevents visual strain, while #f8f8f8 for the Bento boxes provides a subtle contrast without overwhelming the interface. Open Sans was selected for its modern, readable style, making text easy to digest in high-stress situations, while ensuring consistency and clarity throughout the app.
"Visual Design Layout"
In the Hi-Fi interactive prototyping phase, I’ve focused on developing and testing key user scenarios:
Activating the SOS button triggers an AI to call emergency services on the user's behalf.
Using AI chat for assistance during emergencies.
Updating health data and adding additional information.
Adding a product to the cart in the emergency store.
“Tap the image or the button below to explore the full interactive prototype.”
Designing for High-Stakes Scenarios: Developing an SOS app emphasized creating an intuitive and functional interface under pressure, ensuring users can respond swiftly during emergencies.
Integrating AI for Critical Support: Exploring AI’s role in emergency responses, such as handling calls and chats, taught me how technology can bridge communication gaps in high-stress situations, making assistance faster and more reliable.
Balancing Simplicity with Depth: Simplifying the design while integrating advanced features pushed me to prioritize user flow and ensure clarity without overwhelming the interface.
Understanding User Behavior: Researching how people behave in emergencies helped me design for accessibility, trust, and a sense of security, ensuring the app feels supportive in critical moments.
Future updates for the SOS Help app could include advanced AI integration for more intuitive and context-aware responses, additional language support to ensure accessibility across diverse user groups, and integration with wearable devices for quicker, hands-free access during emergencies.
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