Follo, a personal safety lifestyle and technology company, introduces the world’s first completely automated walking safety software – a game-changing new digital tool designed to empower people to feel safer, more confident, and autonomous when traveling by foot.
When enabled during a stroll, the app monitors the user’s device with four revolutionary Safety Triggers until they safely arrive at their destination. If something out of the ordinary occurs while the app is active, Follo will send a timed and security-enabled notification to the user’s phone to check in on them first.
If the user is not responding, the software sends an SMS alert to the user’s pre-selected Key Contacts. The notification includes the user’s most recent recorded location, the cause for the warning, and a link to recommended response instructions.
The Safety Triggers that monitor a user’s travel are engaged automatically if the device starts moving much faster than walking speed, deviates from their intended path, stops moving for an extended period of time, or becomes disconnected.
Follo’s groundbreaking automatic features address many of the issues that users of other walking safety apps have, as well as many of the reasons that discourage individuals from using one in the first place.
Follo is changing the safety tech sector by giving customers with three major differentiators, in addition to being exceedingly quick and simple to use.
- Automatic: They do not have to manually activate an alert (i.e. engage with their gadget) when they are in a dangerous situation or require assistance.
- Private: Follo only monitors its users’ devices when they are active for a travel, and their Key Contacts are called only if an alert is triggered and they are unresponsive. Users are not forced to alert their Key Contacts or reveal their whereabouts with anyone before embarking on a journey.
- Effortless: To receive SMS notifications, a user’s Key Contacts do not need to download or sign up for the app.
According to a recent UK survey1, 2/5 of men and 4/5 of women feel frightened walking alone after dark in a park or open space, adding to the millions of people worldwide who do not feel safe, or lack the confidence, to walk alone. Nonetheless, according to a survey2 conducted by the charity Mind, 94 percent of participants claimed ‘green exercise,’ such as walking, helped mental health, with further data3 demonstrating that walking a mile and a half emits 75 percent less greenhouse gases than driving the same distance.
Follo co-founder Chris Miller says: “There shouldn’t be a need for a product like ours, and we wish there wasn’t, but people are looking for tools to feel safer and more independent. We want to give customers the greatest product possible, one that is not just dependable and simple to use, but also outstanding in terms of innovation and function.”
“Whether walking for physical or mental health benefits, to help reduce carbon footprint, for the necessity of travel, or just for the pure love of it – we want people to have, and believe they should have, peace-of-mind and confidence when out and about on foot,” says Charlie Pothecary, Follo co-founder.
Follo has used useful real-world input to inform the development of new features since its release to app stores. The first of them is “Just Walk,” which is intended to track meandering dog walks and free strolls without a specified itinerary or destination. If enabled, this feature keeps three of the four Safety Triggers while deleting the route deviation trigger and allowing for less regimented walks.
The company also intends to join the public and private sectors, giving Follo to businesses as part of their Duty of Care policy, along with other health and wellness products to assist employees live happier, healthier, and safer lives.