FAQs
About Watchful i
What is Watchful i?
Watchful i is a powerful phone-based app which can be used on an everyday basis
to provide peace of mind, personal protection, and personal development opportunities to individuals who may be at risk, and Peace of Mind to their designated Protectors.
Why was it developed?
Watchful i was developed to recognize that overall welfare is partly protection-based, but other personal factors like worry, stress, and anxiety also need to be considered because they affect those under threat and also those who care for them.
What is "peace of mind"?
Peace of mind is often described as calmness, freedom from stress, composure, and self-assurance. The app supports peace of mind through three components:
- Knowledge of what to do in a threatening situation.
- Optimum support through a sophisticated Protector system.
- A powerful backup server that collects, stores, and uses location and activity
data.
What Personal protection is provided?
Watchful i offers a range of personal protection features, however a main distinction between us and any other safety app, is that Watchful i allows you to self monitor, without notifying anybody unless things go wrong. This allows you to feel safety and peace of mind 24/7 without directly affecting anybody else unless required.
How does Watchful i help in personal development of self-confidence, and independence in facing up to difficult or potentially threatening situations?
Watchful i provides audio recording, location recording, emergency deterrants, emergency contacts, and easy access to emergency officals. With all your safety handled in one app, you can go about your day to day life without the subliminal anxiety and a reduced fear of danger.
How does it work?
How does it work to protect me?
Watchful i offers protection by:
- Supporting emergency services.
- Recording important data during emergencies.
- Providing deterrents to potential threats.
- Enabling messaging to notify
- Protectors of the need for assistance.
What is a Seeker?
A seeker is someone seeking assurance and support relating to their safety.
What is a protector?
A Protector is someone who can monitor and support Seekers if needed.
Who does it benefit?
Watchful i benefits a wide range of users, including:
- Individuals seeking personal protection.
- Parents concerned about their children's safety.
- Young adults looking for independence with added security.
- Workers in potentially dangerous environments.
- Those in awkward or sensitive relationships.
It offers a sense of security and reassurance to both users and their protectors.
Can a protector be a seeker as well?
Yes, a Protector can also act as a Seeker, and vice versa. They can use the app for mutual support.
Operational issues
Will it work on other devices?
Yes, Watchful i works on both Apple and Android phones.
Is it easy to use?
Yes, Watchful i is designed for easy operation, using an intuitive traffic light concept with red, orange, and green buttons to indicate the level of risk involved and the protection required.
How do I remove a Protector?
To remove a protector, please refer to the app's settings or user guide for specific
instructions on managing your list of protectors.
Who gets notified when I press the alert?
You have multiple Protectors, usually three, and they are prearranged in order according to the situation you are facing. The primary protector is alerted, and the alert flows to the second or third protector if the first does not respond.
What are the tabs across the bottom of the interface?
Watchful i features 4 main tabs:
- Seeker home page: Where you can access all your alerts, invite new protectors, and update your protector priority
- Protector home page: Where you can see all your seekers, and their statuses. From here you can open up any recent or active alerts to monitor them live
- Notification page: Where you will see all updates, from both seekers and protectors.
- Support page: Where you are now! You can access all help resources here, from a short tutorial video, a long list of FAQs, and a form to contact us directly.
What does the Siren do?
The siren is a feature that can be activated to deter potential offenders by alerting
nearby people to the threat situation.
Can a Protector start safety coverage for someone else?
Yes, Protectors can initiate safety coverage for others by inviting them to use the app as a "Seeker" of support, which they will provide. Subscriptions have to be made by the Seeker involved, who then choose their Protectors.
Are all my Protectors notified at once?
The notification process may vary, but typically, protectors are notified in sequential
order, starting with the primary protector. If the primary protector doesn't respond
within a minute, secondary protectors may be notified.
Can I leave a message?
Yes, leaving a message is a feature of the app, and recording begins as soon as the
app is opened.
How do I know my alert has been received?
The app provides confirmation that your alert has been sent to your designated
protectors.
How many protectors can I have?
Usually three but possibly more. The number of protectors may vary based on the
wishes of the Seeker.
What type of data does the Server store?
The server in Watchful i stores location data, sound data, messages and some
activity data in case it is needed for alerts and emergencies. This data can be
provided to emergency services, protectors, and users if required.
How does the Deterrent work?
When the red alert button is pressed asking for urgent assistance, an option is
provided to issue a deterrent warning spoken from the phone itself. The precise
wording is:-
“WARNING! We are live recording at present. “WARNING! We are live recording at present. Please think very carefully about your next actions”.
Does it work all over the world?
Watchful i is designed to work in various locations but at present is limited to Australia, until modified slightly for other country systems and regulations.
Why do I need it? I can dial "000" (Emergency number in Australia)
Watchful i provides additional features and reassurance beyond simply dialing an
emergency number. It offers a range of safety options, including recording data during emergencies, providing deterrents to threats, and notifying designated protectors. It aims to reduce anxiety and improve overall safety.
Self Monitoring/Server Monitoring
Exactly what is self-monitoring or server monitoring?
Self-monitoring refers to the use of the orange alert "watch me" button when you set a particular countdown time after which it is initiated automatically. Initially, the timer is set to 10 minutes but can be varied by the Seeker.
Typically, self-monitoring means that protectors are not contacted, but depending on circumstances, the Seeker can choose to alert protectors at any stage using an available contact button. Self-monitoring benefits include reassurance to the Seeker without troubling protectors, applicable to routine daily use, steadily building confidence and independence.
What happens if I go out of range?
If you are self-monitoring and go out of range, the app may not be able to upload your location or progress effectively. However, the Server supporting the app will continue the timer countdown and initiate a red emergency alert, with all the location and audio data uploaded before you went out of range.
Why is it so useful to use server-monitoring every day?
While protector monitoring is valuable, self-monitoring offers Seekers the independence to assess their own safety without involving protectors unless necessary. This feature can be especially useful in routine every day situations when a user has even the slightest of concerns, without alerting the protector (or protectors). The follow-on benefit is the development of more confidence and
independence in the handling routine worrying situations.
Can I re-set the time before the Alert goes off?
Yes, you can. This allows you to customize the duration for which the app will monitor your safety before involving protectors.
What if I forget to cancel the timer?
Although the timer has an automatic reminder one minute before expiry, it is possible that you will forget to cancel. When this happens, the automatic red alert will be issued, and your protectors will be advised of your request for urgent assistance. Normally, their first reaction will be to give you a call and check out your welfare, and that call in itself will either confirm the alert or cancel it because you are safe. Emergency services are only contacted if you make a deliberate decision to call them, something you would not do if you had simply forgotten to cancel the alert.
Charges and Concessions
Is there a free trial period?
Watchful i offers a free 30-day trial period, after which a subscription is required to retain the premium features.
How does a subscription work?
The seeker pays a monthly fee. They can have unlimited protectors, who load and use the same app, but the seeker isn’t protecting anyone (so won’t see anyone in the seekers tab), and the protector won’t be able to start an alert from the “Emergency tab”.
How do I cancel?
There is no need to "cancel" during the Trial process. If you decide not to subscribe or if your subscription is unpaid, your premium features will be disabled, leaving you only with a red alert option to call Emergency services from your phone. A grace period of five days is given to enable you to update your subscription.
Price
The launch price of Watchful i is currently set at $5.99 per month, or $65.00 yearly. This may subsequently vary based on new subscription plans and options. Please refer to the app updates for pricing details.
Still have questions?
Let us know if there's anything we can help you with, our team will reply to you shortly!