CAIRO: The United States Department of Health and Human Services, along with the White House Office of Science and Technology launched an “Apps Against Abuse,” challenge last July, in which tech developers set out to design an application for handheld devices that could help fight against sexual abuse. Last week, the two winning apps were announced from a pool of 30 anti-sexual harassment and assault programs designed for the competition. The winning “Circle of 6,” iPhone app allows women to quickly access six of their closest contacts with just two touches of the screen. It sends a text message to the contacts calling for help, with prewritten messages like “Come and get me. I need help getting home safely” or “Call and pretend you need me. I need an interruption.” It also sends the user's GPS location along to contacts and connects to various domestic violence organizations. The second app, “On Watch,” a similar program, features a “panic” button that automatically dials 911 and sends a message to a designated group of friends with a call for help and the user's mobile phone GPS coordinates. The apps will be available for free public download in the beginning of 2012. Meanwhile in Cairo, many have celebrated the launch of the new anti-sexual harassment campaign “Harassmap,” in which women can document instances of sexual harassment along with their location with the simple mobile phone short code #6069. BM
