RightMesh Announces Offline Emergency Communications App
‘Flare’ app will allow users to send and receive critical communications even when phone service and Internet are unavailable due to natural disasters or other disruptions.
RightMesh, a company using mesh networking and blockchain technology to enable offline connectivity, subsequently announced the development of Flare™, a mesh-enabled application that will act as an “emergency communications kit” when all other forms of communication fail. Flare is in its final prototype testing phase and is scheduled for public release Q2 2018.
From their main office just outside of Vancouver, CEO John Lyotier says, "This week's tsunami alert in our own backyard reminds us just how quickly a disaster can strike. We are building Flare to help those in need at times when the Internet, Social Media and mobile connectivity are not available."
RightMesh has 2 offices in Bangladesh, a country rated the 5th most at risk of natural disaster, a fact which inspired the company to develop this application and have it publicly released as soon as possible.
The mesh-enabled Flare app is intended to serve as a staple in any emergency preparedness kit. Just as people stock up on bottled water, people can download the Flare app as a backup for communication in case of disruption to phone and Internet service.
Key features under development include:
- Peer-to-peer text, photo, audio and location messages
- Send an Emergency “Flare” — blast messages for help, sent to anyone available in the mesh
- Ability to post and respond to requests for items such as water, pet food, or a generator
- Ability to share location on downloaded maps so users can geolocate each other
An additional concept RightMesh has been developing is a drone that can function as a node in the mesh to enhance Flare’s utility to help rescue efforts. With the autonomous connectivity of the mesh network, the drone could fly over affected areas and instantly detect autonomous blast messages or ‘Flares’ asking for help from within 100 metres or anyone that is mesh connected. The drone could then return to a base or Internet-connected zone to relay the information to rescue workers.
The overarching mission of RightMesh is to connect the world using the combined power of mesh networks, blockchain technology, and tokenization. Using only the devices people already own, smartphones and IoT devices, RightMesh enables direct peer-to-peer connectivity via Wi-Fi, W-Fi direct and Bluetooth without the need for a central ISP. RightMesh mobile mesh networks are self-forming, self-healing and self-regulating.
