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[Free App] Get rewards for NOT texting while driving.
Introducing the Drive Alive App.
Drive Alive rewards drivers with cash, discounts, and more just for running the app while driving around safely. Simply run it before you start driving, drive safely, and close it when you arrive. For people who already don't use their phones while driving, this is basically free money!
Right now there is a pool of $300.00's, collected from donations, currently being given out as cash rewards for you if you drive safely, as well as other rewards.
You also get the chance to compete on the leaderboard. You get to show off your good driving habits to the whole world, and make sure you are the number one safe driver. There's also an anonymous option for users who don't want to be on the leaderboard publicly. The Drive Alive App Leaderboard
Join the 30 drivers on the leaderboard today who have driven for a total of 108 hours safely using Drive Alive, while earning over $150.00's so far. Don't let those 30 earn it all!
Last edited by DriveAliveApp; November 17th, 2011 at 04:18 PM.
Curious to know what's stopping someone from running the app at home/work etc to build up points
This guy below you is correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alostpacket
GPS tracking I'd think.
Anyways cool idea for an app -- you should market this to insurance companies / try and patent the idea.
Good luck
Yup, we have a patent pending on it, and also we have the # 1 car insurance company in NJ very interested, so let's hope that works out, and then larger insurance companies take notice, so people can start earning discounts on their auto insurance as rewards in addition to some cash.
That was my original goal in creating the app, because after research I found that the cost of giving out these discounts is less than the cost of paying out for these types of accidents. Preventing them in the first place would save car insurance companies money.
Thanks for the replies guys.
I'm from NJ, so i'm trying to start local first, but give it some time I plan to not rest until there are very desirable and sustainable rewards for everyone everywhere.
Edit: I'm also working on receiving some type of government type funding for government sponsored rewards, possibly like toll discounts or something along those lines. There are plenty of grants out there for keeping roadways safe that i'm looking into, for now though just enjoy the cash I have collected, and if you are in NJ the coupons from local businesses I was able to collect so far.
Last edited by DriveAliveApp; November 9th, 2011 at 05:57 AM.
The cash rewards are for anyone who drives safely, regardless of location, but I will probably try and focus on the US for now for the insurance and local business rewards, as it would be fairly difficult to manage that in other countries, not impossible though.
Edit: Assuming the app works in other countries, and the GPS can still confirm they were driving, and all of those types of things. And that these people from other countries have PayPal accounts (which is how I distribute the cash rewards).
I'm assuming it should work since android phones, are android phones, but i'm not sure about how GPS technology works in other countries.
Edit2: I don't mean to offend anyone, I just don't know how it works with satellite positioning and stuff.
Last edited by DriveAliveApp; November 9th, 2011 at 08:27 AM.
So yeah, great. Glad it works in other countries, I will make an updated version soon that allows UK zip codes (and other counties zip codes to get past the settings screen)
Out of curiosity, how many digits are UK zip codes?
Drive Alive rewards drivers with cash, discounts, and more just for running the app while driving around safely. Simply run it before you start driving, drive safely, and close it when you arrive. For people who already don't use their phones while driving, this is basically free money!
Right now there is a pool of $300.00's, collected from donations, currently being given out as cash rewards for you if you drive safely, as well as other rewards.
You also get the chance to compete on the leaderboard. You get to show off your good driving habits to the whole world, and make sure you are the number one safe driver. There's also an anonymous option for users who don't want to be on the leaderboard publicly. The Drive Alive App Leaderboard
Join the 15 drivers on the leaderboard today who have driven for a total of 51 hours safely using Drive Alive, while earning over $70.00's so far. Don't let those 15 earn it all!
Wow that would be brilliant if you got insurance companies to reward drivers for this.
But also, who's to say that they're actually driving? What if they just put it in their pocket and walk around or take the bus? or use it while jogging?
There are certain rules it follows that can tell if you are jogging or driving. It can tell the difference. I don't want to give away all it's secrets.
Eventually known public transportation routes will not give credit for the trip, but for now if some one does have the restraint to not use their phone while on a bus or train, they will have a chance to receive rewards.
Right now I am working on the iPhone version (which should be ready by Chrsitmas) after that we have lots of exciting updates, including the public trans discrediting one.
Thank you for the kind words, and keep the questions coming!
So yeah, great. Glad it works in other countries, I will make an updated version soon that allows UK zip codes (and other counties zip codes to get past the settings screen)
Out of curiosity, how many digits are UK zip codes?
Uk zip codes are variable I'm afraid. Between 5 and 8 characters, sometimes with a space in between
Ok, interesting. Thanks for the info. For now other countries can enjoy the cash rewards. If you want you can pitch the idea of becoming an affiliate to your favorite pub or food establishment and ask them to give out rewards to safe drivers in your country.
I have got 4 local businesses around me to affiliate so far. I pitch the idea as "Help us stop texting while driving by partnering up with us in rewarding safe drivers. You can offer any reward you'd like (as long as it can't be found elsewhere), and stop at anytime. In exchange you tell them that they get free advertising via the Drive Alive Website, twitter, and Facebook pages. I facebook post and tweet about rewards our app users receive from our affiliates. I also let them know they can change or stop offering rewards at any time. That's the basics of it, you can find more at our affiliates page. The Drive Alive App Affiliates
If you want UK rewards let them know how to affiliate and maybe they will and you can receive coupons! That would be awesome!
Edit: I think most people would be all for it, because if no one ever ends up using the reward they give out, then it was just free advertising for them. No real risk. Especially since affiliating is free.
Last edited by DriveAliveApp; November 9th, 2011 at 03:34 PM.
Uk zip codes are variable I'm afraid. Between 5 and 8 characters, sometimes with a space in between
Officially there is always a space. It's 1 or 2 alpha characters followed by a 1 or 2 digit number. A space and a 1 digit number followed by 2 alpha characters
So I run a cheap HTC hero on my back seat, text everyone I know on another phone and make rewards?
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Officially there is always a space. It's 1 or 2 alpha characters followed by a 1 or 2 digit number. A space and a 1 digit number followed by 2 alpha characters
So I run a cheap HTC hero on my back seat, text everyone I know on another phone and make rewards?
If you pay for two phones, and two services, then yes you can cheat the system, for now.
Even if... you have a cheap phone like a pay as you go plan, it's likely that the cost will be more than the rewards you are earning (well maybe not if you are getting a car insurance discount), but we feel that very little users are willing to do this, and if it becomes a real problem I have a few technological solutions for this.
Last edited by DriveAliveApp; November 9th, 2011 at 04:34 PM.
I have two thoughts:
Running the GPS continuously will drain battery.
And there are apps available to spoof the GPS.
Thanks for your concerns.
Our app does not need to continually monitor GPS data, like other anti texting while driving apps. ALL of them work on the premise of "If the user is moving over 10 MPH" -> "Then block them out of their phoning/texting functions.
That makes it necessary to ask the phone "is he moving over 10 mph now?" is he doing it now? constantly. They also market it towards parents and employers to help control their kids/employee's. You put it on the phone with a password and then the kid/employee can't delete it (or if they do an email is sent to the parent) and it monitors GPS data all day and night.
We only periodically monitor GPS data, we purposely designed it to use as little battery as possible. We also decided to make giving out rewards our main focus, so that combined with the fact that it doesn't block you out of your phone, we hope it will cater to a much larger market, and actually help stop cell phone related distracted driving.
From the 18 or so users on the leaderboard who are consistently using our app, we have not received any complaints of excessive battery life consumption. Also, if it was that big an issue I assume most people have car chargers for their phones, but it shouldn't use it TOO much.
Thanks for the heads up on the apps that can spoof the GPS, I will look into it, but Drive Alive is designed to monitor phone activity other than Drive Alive while Drive Alive is running so it's likely it will catch it, but if it hides itself or something I am going to research it and stuff, thanks for the heads up.
Last edited by DriveAliveApp; November 9th, 2011 at 04:35 PM.
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I drive 100 miles a day to and from work, 3 days one week, 4 days the next week, and so on and so on. Just installed this on my phone, time to get RICH!
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Is GPS location data uploaded to anywhere? or is the moving vs. non-moving calculation done completely client side with the only outgoing traffic being something like "user x drive time with no texts 51 min"
If location data is uploaded, is it stored? Sold to/shared with anyone?
Sorry for the delay on the responses we have been busy working on the app.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hrethgir
I drive 100 miles a day to and from work, 3 days one week, 4 days the next week, and so on and so on. Just installed this on my phone, time to get RICH!
I hope you earn some rewards! Thanks for trying out the app.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Redcorn
Is GPS location data uploaded to anywhere? or is the moving vs. non-moving calculation done completely client side with the only outgoing traffic being something like "user x drive time with no texts 51 min"
If location data is uploaded, is it stored? Sold to/shared with anyone?
I will have to check with our programmer for the specifics, but I can assure you that the information is only used to determine a users speed. The only information displayed on our Leaderboard is Just like what you wrote, 'x' driver drove "x" amount of time without distraction. It also shows how much money in rewards that particular driver earned.
Edit: You also have the option of being displayed on the Leaderboard as a number, known only to you in case you want to be anonymous.
I just tried the app for the first time and was wondering where the settings are for your anonymous number. I went through the set up too fast and didn't catch the number and now I have no idea on the drive alive app website if I have been shown as using the app. Is there any way to find out the number from my phone after the setup was complete?
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Don't have a paypal account but I thought I'd let think Australia has a 4 number zipcode.
We fixed the zip code text box to accept any amount of digits (we also set it to accept letters too)
Quote:
Originally Posted by eghill1125
I just tried the app for the first time and was wondering where the settings are for your anonymous number. I went through the set up too fast and didn't catch the number and now I have no idea on the drive alive app website if I have been shown as using the app. Is there any way to find out the number from my phone after the setup was complete?
If you go into the app and hit the settings button at the bottom left of the phone and then hit settings it will bring you back to that screen when you first ran the app.
The option you are looking for is 7th question down. We checked your database entry and you put down "anonymous" which I believe is the default if you "miss" the question like you did by going too fast.
If that was not what you intended please go into settings and switch it to display publicly. If not you will be emailed your identifying number shortly.
Is GPS location data uploaded to anywhere? or is the moving vs. non-moving calculation done completely client side with the only outgoing traffic being something like "user x drive time with no texts 51 min"
If location data is uploaded, is it stored? Sold to/shared with anyone?
Ok I have a specific answer for you direct from our chief programmer.
So as of right now we do have location data (coordinates) being sent to us, but we don't really use it for anything. It was just leftover from bug testing. The client-side calculation is enough for what we need. I can take the coordinates out in future versions if it's a security problem. And of course we are not selling/sharing with anyone.
Also nothing is stored client side he said, all location data is sent and stored securely on our side in our databases.
This is still a demo, so for now we will keep the coordinates in for testing purposes.
Thanks for your concern, and we hope that this addressed it. If not please ask more questions and we will be happy to answer for any further clarification.
I just tried the app for the first time and was wondering where the settings are for your anonymous number. I went through the set up too fast and didn't catch the number and now I have no idea on the drive alive app website if I have been shown as using the app. Is there any way to find out the number from my phone after the setup was complete?
Your anonymous number that corresponds to your entries on the leader board was emailed to you. How do you like the app?
It's a completely opt in system, that only rewards users for NOT using their phone while driving, and in no way ever punishes them for using the app wrong. I am a big believer in that positive reinforcement and encouragement work better for correcting undesirable behavior better than punishments and discouragement.
As a result, I designed Drive Alive to simply monitor your phone while you run it, and you choose when and if you run it. There were twenty apps designed to stop cell phone use while driving, but they all worked on the premise of "If the GPS detects the user is moving over "x" MPH (usually 10) then lock down the user's device. They were also all super pricey, like over $30.00 or having a monthly fee of $10.00 or more.
I believe app's should enhance what your phone can do, not limit it. So my app never blocks, and gives you rewards for not touching your phone while driving. It's also free right now. I will eventually charge a onetime fee somewhere between 1-5 USD when the rewards become more plentiful. Right now I just use the $800.00 I collected in donations and give it out to my app users via PayPal as rewards, as well as various rewards my 6 (and growing) affiliates offer.
It is not a scam, you can checkout the downloads page if you don't believe me, Drive Alive has 35 different 5 star ratings, with only one bad rating of 1 star.
[Free App] Get rewards for NOT texting while driving.
