Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu (center) holds a press conference on the HKSOS mobile application on Jan 26, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Hong Kong police have launched a new smart rescue mobile application— which includes several deaf-friendly features.
Hearing-impaired users have commended the HKSOS mobile app, saying it has effectively addressed long-standing issues they faced when seeking emergency assistance.
Police launched the app on Jan 20. Even in areas without network coverage, the police can detect the signal from the app and initiate search and rescue operations, thus greatly enhancing the effectiveness of rescue efforts during outdoor activities.
The app also incorporates deaf-friendly features. For example, it visualizes and textualizes messages simply, and the graphics are carefully designed according to the most common types of cases for which the deaf seek help.
Previously, the hearing impaired mainly used 992 Emergency SMS, which was launched in October 2004, to seek assistance, but this service has no GPS positioning function, and the registration process is complex
The cases include injury, severe blood loss, breathing difficulty, animal attack, chest discomfort, getting lost, helping others, allergic reaction and others, so as to enable the reporting center to grasp the situation quickly.
HKSOS also provides a real-time chat function for helpers to send images or text to the Regional Command and Control Center.
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Previously, the hearing impaired mainly used 992 Emergency SMS, which was launched in October 2004, to seek assistance, but this service has no GPS positioning function, and the registration process is complex.
Once the user has changed the phone number or service provider, the function can no longer be used, said lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu, who advised police about the problems.
Hearing impaired Tam Kwai-piu said the 992 service had several shortcomings. He said that a few years ago, a deaf friend was walking up a mountain on New Year’s Day and started foaming at the mouth. As it was hard for him to seek help through 992, he actually died before anyone could reach him.
In sharp contrast, a few days ago, a healthy friend of Tam sprained his ankle. Tam used HKSOS to call for help, and was successfully rescued.
Siu, another hearing impaired person, said that his father used to feel unwell but could not speak. He needed to call the police for help, yet it was very difficult for him to communicate through 992 SMS.
The launch of HKSOS made Siu feel relieved, he said, as its positioning function is very accurate and it can even send photos, which can enhance communication efficiency.
Siu said he hoped that in the future, he can not only be the one being helped, but will also be able to provide help to others. He also suggested that in the future, the app could add a function for reporting criminal cases.
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Tang appealed to public, especially the hearing impaired, to actively download the app. He also called for the authorities to train more volunteers to teach the public how to download and use it.
