Reference no: EM131372452

Audio Video Enabled Personal Locating Device

Background Theory

Audio video enabled personal locating device is a small portable unit that enables any person that carries it to notify security by a press of a button in case of an emergency. The device is designed to be used by the student body of university campuses, gated communities or corporate organizations by their private security services. The issue with existing PAL (Personal Alarm Locator) devices is that it gives away your location to security but they cannot tell whether you have a medical emergency or a security emergency. Security personnel comes to find an unexpected situation. If there is audiovisual communication with the victim, the security personnel can expect and prepare for the situation before arrival. VAPAL consists of two components. 1. Portable tracking device 2. Software Application Portable Tracking Device The portable tracking device is a component that individual student or resident will always carry. Each portable device has a unique signature that is used by the software application to identify the person carrying it. In the case of a health-related, or a security related emergency, the person carrying the device will press the button to notify security of their location. They can optionally use the audio transmitter to communicate with security and provide details, and the built-n camera to snap a picture. The picture will be stored in the device until it is retrieved by the security or the owner. Software Application The software application is installed on a secure server and communicates directly with the tracking devices and one or more screens in the security office. Each person’s basic personal information such as person’s name, address, emergency contact as well as medical history and allergies are stored in the system. When a victim activates the tracking device, security personnel on the other side will receive a real-time notification on their computer indicating the victim’s location and information that is stored in the system database. Advantages of VAPAL • Enhanced and precise locating using GPS and GSM networks. • Audio communication enables two-way communication between victim and security dispatch. • Video capture capability allows the victim to snap multiple photos in a security threat and use them as evidence in a legal proceeding. • Optimized and user-friendly software to view/update user information. • An interactive map that displays activated device’s location on the security screen. • Water resistant. • Rechargeable battery. Technology Portable Tracking Device This piece that is carried by individuals is approximately 2”x2” equipment. It can easily be attached to a key chain and it fits in normal pant pockets. This device is equipped with a GPS tracker, a small microphone, small speaker, a camera and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This device is made of durable water resistant material and it will have a small memory unit to store images that can be captured using the built-in camera. GPS Unit GPS tracking hardware comprises of a SIM808 chip that is an all in one GPS, GPRS, and GSM module used for real-time outdoor positioning estimation. Location information can be transmitted using the GSM and GPRS functionality via SMS or HTTP protocol (Ng & Kong, 2016). IMU (Internal Measurement Unit) is used to estimate the user’s orientation and position. These two components are linked with an Arduino Nano board which is one of the most compatible processors with SIM808 unit (Ng & Kong, 2016). Microphone The miniature microphone that is embedded in the unit is similar to microphones that are used in cellular devices. There are many mini microphones that are available in the market. This will use a designated radio frequency and a GSM network to enable two-way communication using push-to-talk method (Tsaur & Liu, 2010). Camera The product will be equipped with a small camera that is used in mobile devices (Ma, Sharma, Thompson, & Rolland, 2013). Images will be stored in the built-in memory chip. Further enhancements to process images can be pushed into the unit as firmware updates (Chang, Kim, Song, & Choi, 2009). Data Transferring and Updates The device will contain a USB port that can connect to a computer. This will allow users to transfer any images to a computer as well as push firmware updates to the device. Same USB port will be used to recharge the lithium-ion battery. Software Application All user data will be stored in a secure, isolated SQL database instance. Web-based user interface that is delivered to the security person will be optimized for performance and it will be using Web 3.0 for user friendliness. This user interface will be integrated with Google API. Services provided via Google API can be used to pinpoint the location of an activated device on Google maps (Ng & Kong, 2016). When a tracking unit is activated, tracking unit sends its unique ID. Using that unique ID, the software will query the database to find the owner of the tracking unit and information of that person will be displayed on the security monitor along with the current location. Market Description So many measures are being taken by colleges and campuses all over the United States to ensure the safety of their students and faculty members. With the recent rate of crime and violence on the rise are becoming very alarming that even campuses and educational institutions are no longer a safe haven for students and the faculty. There is a greater need for improving security systems of campuses. While major shootings and other major crimes remain relatively infrequent on the nation’s approximately 10,000 colleges and campuses, students are hardly exempted though the experience is lesser than their non-student counterparts. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics for 1995-2002, college students ages 18 through 24 suffered 61 violent crimes per 1000 individuals (Katel). Some of these measures include awareness and consciousness training for students to always be on the alert for possible dangers. Security officers patrol day and night by foot, after-hours escort services with security personnel, seminars given by campus security officers are offered to individuals and campus groups. According to (Yardley, 2006), Campuses are also turning towards more sophisticated security systems. For instance, Johns Hopkins University recently spent $500,000 on new surveillance cameras for its Homewood, Md., campus. At the University of Bridgeport CT., each student is given a personal alarm locator, a thumbnail-size device that when pressed alerts the campus security guards. In view of this, there is a serious need for more sophisticated security system on campuses hence, we came up with the audio-visual supported personal locator which has several other advantages over all other security systems used on other campuses. The audio-visual supported personal locator proposed in this study helps to give an audio-visual advantage such that once it is activated; it shows the obvious immediate threat that the student is facing, and gives a visual evidence of the crime and the student can also quickly communicate his distress to security personnel. In addition to helping reduce crime and violence, it is also useful in medical emergencies; the student can communicate the problem and can be given possible first aid prior to the arrival of emergency services. Sale of Product (Wholesale or Retail) Due to the nature of the product, the device will be produced, customized and connected to the security system of each college or campus and sold at wholesale to the school management. The school management will, in turn, sell it out in retail to students as part of the registration processes. This will afford us the opportunity to sell large quantities of our audio-visual supported personal locator all at once. It also helps to lessen expenses as money spent year-round on in-store marketing will be reduced. Target Market The target market for the Audio-visual supported personal locator are campuses and colleges in the United States. Due to the recent increase in crime rate and shootings on campuses, every institution management are investing in a more comprehensive security system that is flexible, convenient, and effective in assuring the safety of students. This thereby provides a ready market for the audio-visual supported personal locator. Market Breakthrough Not many institutions have warmed up to the use of the personal alarm security devices because several schools have their security system in place for addressing security issues. Though these security systems used in these schools may be effective, the audio-visual supported personal locator gives students and faculty members a sense of personal safety and will do greatly when introduced to campuses. In view of this, it is anticipated that the device will be a huge success when introduced into the market. Marketing Strategies The marketing strategy that will be employed is the use of sales representatives who will go to several campuses and meet with the school authority along with the security departments of these schools. They will highlight the several advantages of the audio-visual supported personal locator and the reason why it will be a good security system for their institution. Another marketing strategy is to ensure that the price of the enhanced audio-visual supported personal locator is reasonable and affordable enough for the school. Another marketing strategy that will be employed is the use of mainstream, social media, and cold calls to bring awareness of the audio-visual personal locator to educational institutions. Organizational Plan This segment depicts the distinctive procedure of recognizing an organization prompt and long haul targets, detailing and observing particular methodologies to accomplish them. It involves the laws, environment, staffing, and responsibility for the business. The application and integration of visual and audio sensor into safety and security framework has grown up as a dependable, financially savvy implies for evaluating and reacting to psychological oppressors assaults and other life undermining circumstances. A visual sensor is a compelling means of preventing crimes, safeguarding resources, apprehending and prosecuting guilty parties. The end goal which is to create a quality visual and audio supported personal locator with the required market request, we collaborate with the National Protective Systems, Inc. Eatontown, New Jersey. This gives the business the chances to boost client benchmark, assets and create great benefit. Likewise, it additionally gives National Protective Systems the path for an expanded income, higher market control and giving their existing customer baseline with the chance of better service. This is conceivable on the grounds that National Protective Systems has accomplished a trust based establishment with their clients which the University of Bridgeport is one of their various clients. “The most significant driving force behind the explosion in the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) has been the worldwide increase in theft and terrorism, the commensurate concern and need to protect personnel and assets” (Herman, 2011). Also, this is the significant force behind our project. Staffing The staffing structure of the firm will involve six (6) principal operation unit which include Human Resource Unit - Works in overseeing workers inside the association. Accounting/Marketing/Sales/Distributing Unit – Charged with finance responsibility, coordination of obtaining material and circulation of items to different outlets. Frameworks/software designers - In charge of software development for in – built visual and audio application. Creative/ Engineering / Designing Unit - Essentially for the outline and details of the item. Innovative Work Units - In charge of making discoveries on the assets required and availability, for example, work, materials for creation, authorizing and model advancement. Customer Service Unit – Provide information about the product, emails and providing technical support online. Estimation of staff Since it is a new business, we will consider making use of the predetermined number of staff now and then increase once demand increases by 60% of current products. This will guarantee that we are maximizing profit, producing at minimum cost and still accomplishing a top notch rate. We will be taking a staff of nineteen (19) individuals for all units recorded below and the dissemination for every unit is recorded below. Operating Unit Number of staff Human Resource Unit 2 Accounting/Marketing/Sale/Distribution 3 System/Software Developers 3 Creative/ Engineering/Design 3 Research and Development 3 Customer Service Unit 5 TOTAL 19 Table 1. Estimation of staff Funding The recorded names above are the essential accomplices of the business, in this way 45% of the capital required will be provided by the three of us, contributing 15% each from individual reserve funds or cash gotten from family. National Protective Systems being our auxiliary partner will likewise be contributing 30%. Considering the enormous speculation required for the achievement of this project, likewise, we will be reaching out to different investors for the remaining 25% or look for a bank loan. We plan to persuade different investors by giving information accessibility of a steady and developing business sector for this item as the crime rate is continuously rising, point by point projections on the expanding request rate for the product and how fast profits will be made even within the accessible competitive market since we are modifying the existing product.

Types of Business Ownership Here we have to consider the lawful structure of the business. After a cautious examination of the alternatives of possession which incorporate sole proprietorship, partnership and limited liability and corporation. We consented to make it a partnership business. Moreover, sole proprietorship and partnership are the best options for some new business (Beth Laurence, 2016). We didn't select sole proprietorship because it is a new business by one man also, we didn’t select limited liability and corporations because it is expensive and complex (Beth Laurence, 2016). As a group, we considered over numerous things before we made our firm a partnership firm and they are 1. It doesn't require much time to compose the statement which begins once the business start. 2. We don't require taxes; rather the taxes are documented and paid by individual as personal income with their tax return (Beth Laurence, 2016). 3. The withdrawal of one of the colleagues won’t affect the business. After the conclusion of the kind of ownership which is the Partnership, we wrote and signed the memorandum of Association (Score Association, 2011). Taxes Taxes are not required to be paid for this business, it is a general organization. In view of the understanding, the profit will be shared among the partners and each of them will pay their taxes separately on their income and not the business capital (Beth Laurence, 2016). Marketing Plan “Many marketing efforts fail because the consultant hastily decides what marketing strategies he is going to use and what to charge without considering how the clients/prospects best receive the message”(Brian, 2007). The crime rates in the United States have been recorded since colonization and have varied over time. Even with the invention of personal alarm locator (PAL), the rate of crime has not drastically reduced. According to the FBI, the index crime in the United States includes violent crime which consists of murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault etc. however different measures have been devised to reduce the crime rate which includes the invention of Personal Alarm Locator and other security devices but with this modified personal alarm locator, we will be able to drastically reduce the crime rate in the university campuses and gated communities. The statistics obtained from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation depicts that the highest robbery crime rate recorded in the US was 849.0% and it is in Oakland, California while Cleveland, Ohio was recorded as the city with the highest crime rate in rape with stated figure of 124.0% and this shows that the rate of which crime is been committed in some cities and states of US is still on the high side and strategic measures should be drafted out in order to tackle it. We will be targeting the states with the highest rape and robbery rate which are California and Ohio. Life Cycle of the Project Figure.2 Life cycle of the project For the sake of high crime rate, we have decided California and Ohio will be our first point of the market. We have located an industrial warehouse at 1916 Main street Oakland, California 15678 which has industrial space that cost around $3500 per month including the domestic bills. For the secondary industrial space, we are taking a gander at a couple of spaces around Cleveland, Ohio which costs around $2000 to $2300 every month. Considering the office set up we have reached with the entrepreneur center of Cleveland, also two or three incubators for office space which costs about $700 every month with a reception conducive enough for a stroll in purchasers and retailers taking into consideration all the cost by the financial sector and keeping in the competition. Our wholesale price of the visual/audio personal alarm locator will be $250. In addition, there will be a monthly software subscription and maintenance fee. Segmenting Marketing Strategy We are partnering with the National Protective System and they will have some of our product to offer to their existing customers. We likewise have the plan to converge with a web-based advertising sites and web based business customers like Amazon in order to showcase our product. Also, we have a physical marketing team whose obligation is to get the contracts, new customers, and markets for our product sale. After a fruitful approach in the Universities of East and West coast of the U S, we plan to expand our units to different parts of USA and most likely to different nations recorded to have high crime rates. We are attempting to make the world the most secure place for all. For clarity purpose, we are utilizing the differentiated market strategy on the basis that our product offers a unique feature, benefits, services, and different elements for security position which are not in its model.

Question:

WRITE a conclusion of the product stating if

i) is it a viable plan?

ii) what makes it a viable plan?

iii) how can you help ensure success?

iv) what will make an investor interested in the plan?

v) why would they want to be involved in the plan?