I've always been concerned about being without my phone (getting robbed - which is common in Brazil - running out of battery, having it break, etc.), so I decided to create a page that sends SMS messages (LLM-summarized) and emails with more detailed information such as geolocation, IP address, and the full message.
It’s a simple page that allows sending one or more messages, with recipients being myself and other people - for example, in case I or they need help or need to communicate something important.
The source code is available at https://github.com/skhaz/dokku/tree/main/apps/help
I've recently stopped or working on stopping the triple digits driving.
The topic at hand this would be a Twilio thing sending a message like "so and so might be in jail take care of the cat" which is messed up/funny but I do tell them in advance can you be on this list. But at least this phase of my life is over/I have something to look forward to/behave for.
Check out HPDE events to get your speed fix and keep it off public roads.
I've ran with Chin Track Days and 10/10ths and can recommend both orgs (USA based because that's what I know).
Anyway, my super sweet high performance sports car can really only get up to highway speeds, and it takes a long time to get there. Getting on the highway means at least 20 seconds of full throttle driving, and staying at highway speeds is pretty darn close to full throttle too. It's kind of fun having your foot down the whole time you're driving without endangering others. :)
One of these days, I'm going to take it to the drag strip for fun. I'll get a better value, since I'll be on the strip for at 2-3 times as long as someone in a fast car :)
Really, I got it because I thought it'd be fun to get it running and hopefully keep it running, and it would probably be an easy manual to refresh my skills and teach the kiddo and maybe the spouse on. That and bugs and cuter VW vans were spendy, so I got the Vanagon instead.
I don't do the squeeze benz shit, if it's day time I see a gap in traffic that's when I floor it but yeah, even with a radar detector a lot of cops/troopers don't use their radar so not even helpful... and the tickets which I was dumb and paid... like I said I'm done with it as I want to stay out of jail
It's almost a curse discovering fast cars the thrill of the acceleration... I used to drive like mundane just part of life... and with the RD now I'm just on edge looking for the cops so yeah... I'm glad not speeding now
What cat would this be? My cats act like the world is ending because the bottom of the dish is visible. Tolerate is clearly the wrong word here.
Also, you might consider using existing messaging app. Then you can interact if have them install the app. Matrix might work. I think Matrix can do SMS.
"I was in a car accident, come to general hospital downtown"
I would have used two textboxes, Title and description, but this works as well.
Do with that information what you will.
2FA Mule:
Maybe an alternative is to store the WhatsApp contact information of people who could help behind a password.
Then, if I need help, I can ask to borrow someone's phone on the street. If they don't have WhatsApp, I can just make a regular phone call instead.
The goal should be to send a single message with nature of emergency, what you need from them, and what they do like call police
I could see a private reference page with important info. Including checklist for various scenarios. That's what I thought you did. Then print out a copy and put in binder somewhere at home.
Is this really likely? I would guess only 70 year olds don't have WhatsApp.
Seems more likely you forget the impoprtant phone numbers because you never enter them manually.
Are you not getting a ton of spam from this form being open to public?
I've had similar ideas but I'd probably make it something easy to remember like myname.com/message and it quizzes the user or various things that only my family would know. Things like the color of the bedsheets, which specific IKEA kallax square the cat loves to hang out in, the location in the kitchen where the rice is stored
So far I have not taken the effort to better filter them. It is a nice check to make sure the site is still working at the moment given the low volume I get.
I should try to AI inject them though at this point with something silly, like I am more likely to respond if you email as a limerick.
Anyone will hopefully lend you a phone if you're in a pinch but I realized that I don't know very numbers to actually call and it's kinda weird to start using email/Whatsapp whatever on a strangers phone compared to asking to visit one site and make one call
I honestly wouldn't count on it, at least not where I'm from, not anymore anyways. IME, having been in that situation (and knowing the numbers I need to call) it's rare for someone to let a stranger use their personal device for something as mundane as a phone call due to risk of theft, scams, or other criminal behaviour, not just on the part of the person borrowing the phone, but the person on the other end being contacted from an unknown number. While the chances of something like that realistically happening are incredibly low, it's a surprisingly easy social engineering method that's got people wary of trusting others to handle effectively their entire life in one device. A lot of businesses don't even let customers make personal phone calls from their landline for the same reason.
I thought a solution might be some type of “check-in” service - especially for employees. Are you OK? How can we reach you? Are you available for work? Do you need assistance? Etc.
Things like slack, teams, etc. can fit the bill so it was not really monetizable.
Sorry, you have been blocked You are unable to access delduca.org
I'm from Germany
I even created a generator so people can configure it with their Telegram/Pushover settings and have it generate a static app easy to host on Netlify or Clouflare Pages/Workers.
You forget your phone but how do you access a webpage in an emergency?
If this works for you and your personal use case, then everything is fine. But I see a lot of hurdles along the way here.
I would rather think of something like: If my phone hasen't been moved over an X amount of time (locations based or accelerometer) the phone drops a note to predfined receipients with "My phone hasen't moved in 60 minutes, maybe I forgot it somewhere". You can send a location point, but that is just where the phone is.
At least it would solve the point where you have to do something manually.
(or ask them to type a message while they hold their own phone obviously. i once was approached and asked to send an email to a relative because they were locked out and without their phone)
So far...
Also, how do you prevent spam?
No matter what solution you choose you will need to remember something. I have two family members who always answer, so their phone numbers are the only two I know. By dialing them manually now and then I make sure my memory is working.
In the age of AI/voice generators I’ve also told them how I will identify myself. So if being mugged in Kiwiland, and they get a call where I ask them to transfer money they can do so knowing it would only be me making that request as I told them the secret phrase: ”yes, it was me who tipped over the Christmas tree”. Ofcourse not that, but something none of the inner family will ever forget.
The issue is verification - a password seems the most obvious. Something you can remember once your phone is gone.
The other issue from reading comments below - you need to be able to walk up to someone and tell them, "I've lost my phone, do you think I can use your phone briefly." Alternatively, you could walk into a box-store (or library) and use one of their PCs.
Also, a way to get transport quickly would be important - perhaps that is the first thing you do when on another computer.
