Google is bringing peace of mind to smartphones around the world.
It's new app, called Trusted Contacts, allows for designated contacts to reach out and easily discover your location in an instant.
On the surface what sounds like prying is an efficient and crucial innovation that offers travelers a way of placating those nervous wrecks back at home when a natural disaster or some other tragedy strikes in or around a location on our itinerary.
Software engineer Minh T. Nguyen outlines how you might use the new Android app to inform friends and family of your whereabouts without so much as lifting a finger.
Nguyen writes: "Once you install the Android app, you can assign 'trusted' status to your closest friends and family. Your trusted contacts will be able to see your activity status - whether you've moved around recently and are online - to quickly know if you're OK."
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Unfortunately, we can't take everyone we love with us on our vacations. Some people who truly care about our wellbeing will be left behind to eagerly await those social media posts.
But sometimes, sadly, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or other frightening occurrences may take place near your respective travels.
That's usually the moment the people you love back at home begin to slowly freak out. Trusted Contacts is an app that gives these people some calm by allowing them to find out where you are in an instant while also addressing obvious privacy concerns.
Interested parties can download the app now from the Google Play store.
As noted, you can pick and choose which friends are considered 'trusted,' and it's these contacts that can reach out and discover where you are in the world when tragedy strikes.
You can instantly negate a location request. However, if a denial is not offered in a certain amount of time those designated contacts will get an update, assuring them where you are.
Another cool feature is the ability to virtually add a contact to follow you through what you might consider sketchy parts of town. These contacts will have your location as you meander about possibly dangerous locales so that you might ensure a modicum of safety.
Privacy is of utmost concern for many of us. Google certainly answers that with Trusted Contacts while also offering an avenue for friends and family to keep tabs on us in a smart and responsible way.
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