Dash to market for Roberto’s cam app
Providing an extra set of eyes on the road, dash cams are frequently being used to record road accidents, report reckless drivers and help police solve crimes.
When engineer Roberto Ferraris began noticing an increase in appeals for footage following car accidents, kidnappings, robberies and even murders, he had a brainwave.
He decided to create a mobile app which could not only turn any smartphone into a dash cam but also help to build up an online database of real time footage from across the globe.
The 46-year-old, who grew up in Argentina, Ecuador and US and worked in Italy, believes it could become a valuable resource for both the public and the country’s police forces.
“I noticed a few years ago a real increase in the use of dashcams and with that police appeals for footage following incidents,” he said.
“We know it is impossible to have a police officer or a police car on every street corner these days, however I believe this mobile app can help massively. Dash cams can behave like CCTV and help solve different mysteries. If there was a missing person, the police would be able to check the footage uploaded from that street.”
He has spent the past 18 months developing his KronoVisor app, which is free to download and use, through his business Inar Group.
After leaving his job as a business development engineer, he decided to dedicate his time to the project which he funds through his IT consultancy work.
Dash cams have soared in popularity over the past few years as their benefits have been more widely publicised.
They can be used as a defence in the event of a crash and some insurers also offer a discounted premium to motorists that actively use them in their car.
As well as helping to respond to police appeals for footage, Mr Ferraris says people who download the app can use it as a dash cam in their day to day life.
“Dash cams can help when there is controversy after an accident and people don’t really know what happened. You can check the footage and it’s very clear,” he says.
He says the online resource can also be used for entertainment purposes. “There is a map so people can look at what is happening in other towns and countries. It’s not very populated at the moment but as more people use the app and upload videos there will be more to see.
“If you want to see a building that is being constructed so you will be able to see how that construction is going on. You might have a fleet of vehicles and want to check on their progress” explains Mr Ferraris.
“The idea behind KronoVisor is pretty simple – the more people using it the more useful the app becomes to the community and the authorities in crime prevention and solving reported cases of crime,” he added.
The app has already been launched for Android users, available via the Google Play store, with an iPhone release set for later this year. Videos are automatically uploaded and can shared and viewed by other users.
“The mobile app is cloud-friendly and optimised to efficiently upload geo-referenced videos, and by logging into their account online users can explore their maps and videos,” added Mr Ferraris.
The app, which has the option of a front or rear camera, also has the ability to protect people’s privacy, something Mr Ferraris believes is vital.
“Privacy is important, so KronoVisor also includes an element of artificial intelligence which automatically blurs out faces and number plates on videos,” he said.
At the moment, it’s an open app so that anybody who downloads it can see any of the videos that are uploaded. “Now it’s open but it might be that it’s closed other than to subscribers and police.”
He has been pleased with the response to the app and will look at improvements over the coming months.
“I didn’t want to look back in 20 years and think ‘what if’, so decided to take the plunge and invest in the development of KronoVisor because of how much value it can bring to society,” said Mr Ferraris.
