What is Sentlive? #
It is a service intended to allow members to connect and reassure each other on a regular basis, with the added option of calling for assistance when necessary; this is all wrapped up with features to augment this, including Scheduled and Instant checks, Stints, and a social network platform, with the aim of bringing everyone who uses it peace of mind.
Who can use Sentlive, and how and why would I want to? #
We have tried to design Sentlive so that anybody can use it, to be as easy to use and as simple to understand as possible, so that young children to great great grandparents and everybody in between is included. How anyone will use it would be entirely up to the individual and their closest contacts, but we imagined many scenarios with the original version where people might not only find it useful, but invaluable, and now with the added social network aspect, we hope that it will be enjoyable as well. We have drawn up some imaginary, but realistic scenarios that can give some idea how and why it could be useful to you, which you can find here.
So how does Sentlive work? #
The idea is quite simple, but the implementation has been complex. Basically the core aspect revolves around the ‘Big Blue Button’ found on the Crew Button, Loops and Stints pages; one click (computer) or tap (touch screens) will not only turn the button green, but also trigger the following:
- Create a CALM Alert, with the location when the button was used;
- Post this Alert to The Buzz;
- Send a Push Notification and Private Message to the connections of the person.
Of course something very similar happens when a Signal Alert is generated – a member holds the mouse or their finger down on the button, and it turns red, and the same sequence follows.
As this is more likely to be used by a member on a mobile device, the site is not only available via a browser, but can be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA) without the need to download from an app store. Members are encouraged to do this on their mobile devices so the service is available anywhere they have an internet connection. Read more about the process to add Sentlive to your device here.
