As a society, we cannot afford to not replenish our methods every once in a while. This is because if we stick to our guns, we run a major risk of stagnating over time, and that can have some serious implications. Hence, to avoid such a scenario, the world has developed specialized avenues for us to stay consistent in our progression. Each avenue here talks to a wholly diverse set of factors, and yet we have one that consolidates them all rather effortlessly. Yes, we are talking about technology. Technology’s enormous importance in our lives today is driven largely by how inventive it has been around scaling things up. You see, the creation didn’t just improve human horizons, but it also did so through a very refined approach. By prioritizing convenience and unmatched success rates, technology formulated a reality where we had an answer for every imaginable question. However, having mastered the said art, the creation is now hoping to move towards a future that is more in line with our needs than anything we have seen before. In fact, one recent acquisition does a lot to push us in the exact direction.
The popular crime watch app, Citizen has officially acquired Harbor for an undisclosed fee. Harbor, a disaster preparedness app and tech firm, becomes Citizen’s first ever acquisition, and it arrives at the best possible time. Previously called Vigilante, the crime watch app is actually suffering a fair amount right now to its controversial history. Accused of matters like encouraging activities that could lead to risk or physical harm, deploying private security workers to investigate a crime scene, and many other questionable antics, Citizen’s reputation among the general public has looked in freefall for a while now. However, Harbor’s composed system should balance things out by a good margin.
Harbor is well-known for gamifying the process of disaster preparedness. Unlike some related platforms that flood the user with alerts, this one practices a methodical week-to-week process, where you are recommended time-friendly tasks such as checking smoke detectors. Although the platform suggests time-intensive tasks like learning CPR too, it does bring a relatively easier vibe to the entire setup.
“Transforming public safety is a massive undertaking and requires an incredible team and set of products to accelerate our mission globally. We’re excited with this acquisition of harbor, along with their technology, products and team,” said Citizen Founder and CEO Andrew Frame.
Currently operating in over 60 U.S. cities, Citizen reportedly dispatches 20 million alerts every single day, but if Harbor’s acquisition succeeds in restructuring the infamous anxiety-inducing element of these alerts, the figure can be expected to go up dramatically.