Ok, so this post is actually in a response to this tweet by @AdrielHampton asking people to take a look at the “AED Nearby” app for the iPhone and “ShowNearby AED” for Android. The response is over 140 characters so I’ve posted it here.
The AED Nearby App is a cool concept. Need an Automated Emergency Defibrillator? Start up the app!
The app opens up with a list of nearby AEDs. Now, part of the problem is that the nearest AED according to the app is 8km away (not sure how to calculate that miles off the top of my head – which I’d have to do in an emergency) The other thing is that I know it’s not correct. The nearest AED should be a at the small hospital down the street from me. (But I assume if I was using this to build an app for my city, I’d have all the data updated and current)
The second problem is that if the nearest AED is really 8km away – I might as just wait for Chicago’s finest to get here with the ambulance – and the app should say as much when it boots up (to call 911 first before using the app). [I should also point out that Chicago’s Fire Department also has ambulances and their response times are pretty quick]
So, for all practical purposes let’s say I’m in an area where I can get to an AED quicker that than the Chicago Fire Department. I can see the building, but nothing else. The screen shots on the app page tell me that I’m supposed to see a picture – but in my examples I can’t find one. The picture doesn’t really help me though. It should say something like, “Behind the front desk, front desk staffed is trained how to use it” or ” “Enter through front door, take first left down hall, third door is pool, Life guard is trained”
The app seems incomplete. Would a Gov 2.0 shop be able to build on it to make it an effective app? I don’t know – not a developer. But there is definitely room for improvement.