Product Introduction
- Definition: SoloGuard is a mobile safety monitoring application (iOS) designed for daily check-ins. It operates as a passive emergency alert system requiring minimal user interaction.
- Core Value Proposition: SoloGuard exists to provide a privacy-focused, zero-effort safety net for individuals living or operating independently. Its primary function is to automatically notify designated emergency contacts via email if a user fails to complete their simple daily check-in, addressing concerns about isolation, remote risks, or sudden incapacitation without invasive tracking.
Main Features
- One-Tap Daily Check-In: Users confirm their safety with a single tap within the app. A visual countdown timer displays the time remaining until their next check-in deadline. This leverages minimal UI interaction for maximum accessibility.
- Automated Emergency Contact Alerting: Users can add up to 5 emergency contacts (email only). If a check-in is missed and the user-defined grace period expires, SoloGuard automatically sends an email alert to all contacts. This alert includes the timestamp of the user's last successful check-in. No action or app installation is required by the contacts.
- Customizable Safety Parameters:
- Check-in Deadline: Users set their daily check-in time (e.g., 9 PM).
- Adjustable Grace Period: Defines the delay before alerts are sent (12, 24, 48, or 72 hours after the missed deadline).
- Push Reminders: The app sends iOS notifications as the check-in deadline approaches.
- Pause Mode: Temporarily suspends check-in requirements and alerting for vacations or breaks.
- Privacy-Centric Design & Interface:
- No Location Tracking: SoloGuard explicitly avoids collecting or sharing geolocation data.
- No Data Selling: User data (check-in times, contact emails) is not sold or shared for marketing.
- Minimalist Dark Interface: Optimized for quick daily use.
- Sign in with Apple: Provides a private, secure authentication method, minimizing personal data exposure.
- Check-in History: Maintains a simple calendar view within the app, allowing users to track their past check-in activity over time.
Problems Solved
- Pain Point: Mitigating the risks of isolation for individuals living alone, traveling solo, working remotely, or aging independently, where sudden illness, accidents, or lack of communication could go unnoticed for dangerous periods.
- Target Audience:
- Individuals living alone seeking peace of mind.
- Solo travelers and backpackers in unfamiliar locations.
- Remote workers in isolated areas (cabins, rural settings).
- Seniors living independently and their concerned families.
- Outdoor enthusiasts (hikers, climbers, campers) operating off-grid.
- Anyone desiring a simple, passive safety net without social features or constant monitoring.
- Use Cases:
- An elderly person forgetting their daily check-in after a fall, triggering an alert to family.
- A remote worker losing internet/power in a storm, missing check-ins beyond their grace period, alerting contacts to potential trouble.
- A solo traveler becoming incapacitated, with contacts notified automatically after 48 hours of silence.
- A person living alone experiencing a medical emergency, ensuring help is alerted if they cannot call.
Unique Advantages
- Differentiation: Unlike location-sharing apps, complex medical alert systems, or social safety apps, SoloGuard focuses exclusively on passive, privacy-respecting check-ins. It requires no active monitoring from contacts, no wearable devices, and avoids the complexity and privacy concerns of constant GPS tracking. Competitors often lack this specific, minimalistic, and contact-independent alerting mechanism.
- Key Innovation: The core innovation is the combination of extreme user simplicity (one tap) with fully automated, contact-independent emergency notification (email alerts requiring zero setup from recipients). This is underpinned by a strict privacy-first architecture (no location, no data selling, Sign in with Apple).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How does SoloGuard work if I have no internet connection? SoloGuard requires an internet connection to register your check-in tap and to send alerts. A missed check-in due to no connection will still trigger the grace period countdown. If connectivity returns before the grace period expires, you can check in normally. If connectivity only returns after the grace period expires, an alert will be sent immediately upon reconnection.
- Is SoloGuard available for Android devices? Currently, SoloGuard is exclusively available on the iOS App Store. The website and product description confirm it is "Available on the App Store," indicating no Android version exists at this time.
- Can SoloGuard prevent false alarms? Yes, SoloGuard provides tools to minimize false alarms: customizable grace periods (12-72 hours) give ample time to check in later, push reminders before the deadline, and Pause Mode allows temporary suspension of check-ins and alerts during vacations or known unavailability.
- What data does SoloGuard collect and how is it protected? SoloGuard collects only essential data: your check-in timestamps and your emergency contacts' email addresses. It uses Sign in with Apple for private authentication. Crucially, it does not collect location data, does not sell user data, and has no social features. Data security relies on standard iOS app security practices and Apple's infrastructure for authentication.
- Is SoloGuard free? SoloGuard is listed as a free download on the App Store. The product description and website prominently state "Download free" and "Free to download." There is no mention of in-app purchases or subscription fees in the provided content.
