Imagine this: a mobile app with a pop-up character that will help students negotiate the perilous world online.
Raycasts Technologies, a start-up, in association with Cyberdome, the State Police’s ISO-certified law enforcement unit, has developed an augmented reality interface CI Mobi to make children aware of online safety.
As children spend more time online, their security in the cyber space has become crucial. With dangers such as cyber bullying, identity theft, stalking, phishing, and fake news lurking around the corner, children are very vulnerable, often because they are unaware of the dangers.
CI Mobi educates children about cybersafety and rules so that they know how to use the Net safely. “We often find that despite awareness sessions, end-users rarely listen to what is being said. So, we have used augmented technology in this app to engage with children and ensure that the message stays with them,” says Abhishek Mohan K, who has developed the app.
All students have to do is stick the sticker on a notebook, and scan it using the CI Mobi app, and a pop-up character in police uniform will interact with them on cyber rules.
Cybersafety rules
Six cybersafety rules are already up – these relate to the police advise on the Blue Whale challenge, how to use social media platforms safely, banking-related advice such as protecting passwords and pin numbers.
Each month, a new set of cyber rules will go up, says Abhishek. Updates will be done depending on contexts.
Reality stickers
The plan is to distribute 8 lakh augmented reality stickers to students, he says. “This will help create a base, and we can update the back end to take across the Cyberdome’s message to this strong community.”
Says Abhishek, who is into game development, “I wished to apply games for socially relevant issues, and associated with the State police, which too was keen on it.”
Abhishek says the app is an example of an interactive game that has a positive impact. “It is all about the experience. The 3D animated character CI Mobi is what will attract children.”
The app was launched on Tuesday.
