The Mobile Life Guard: Guardian of Safety or Big Brother?

Mobile Life Guard, a smartphone app developed by researchers at the University of North Texas, promises to keep an eye on drivers—just in case no one else was watching.

What is Mobile Life Guard?

It always starts the same way: well-meaning scientists and researchers developing something that they think will benefit the public and improve society. Soon enough, someone—perhaps one of the well-meaning scientists themselves—realizes that in addition to serving the public good, there is money to be made. Full stop.

Then comes the inevitable sales pitch to the big corporation followed by the greedy capitalist writing a big check knowing full well they are paying pennies on the dollar. The start is always the same, but the ending differs. The question for the researchers at the University of North Texas and their team at The Mobile Life guard is simple. Financial considerations aside, are you prepared to accept the distinct possibility of a Big Brother endgame?

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Commit App — Commitments Were Never So Easy!

The new Commit app helps you commit to your goals—and stay committed. For only 99 cents, you can set the tone for the rest of 2012.

A New Year

So, the New Year has rolled around. You have a fresh batch of resolutions. And this year, you really want to stick to them. You’re not lazy. No, of course not! Maybe just a little forgetful.

Well, if this sounds even a little bit like you, the new Commit app by software and web experience design firm Legend is just the app for you. Commit makes setting big and small goals as simple as sliding a finger across a screen.

When you open up the Commit app, you get a card with a very alluring legend on it that reads: “I will ______ every day.” Not only is goal-setting as easy as filling in the space but it also, with this simple phrase, challenges you to decide what you will do every day.

Part of the problem with changing habits and setting new goals is that we do not ask ourselves the very simple questions, like, “What do I want today…every day?” The Commit app cajoles us into doing just that. Like nudge from a friend, “So what do you want to do?”

Commit to Commit

Once you have typed in your goal—say, learn Spanish, write a screenplay or a poem, drink a glass of water—the Commit app then asks you to set a time to be reminded. Once you do that, simply tap the “commit” button, and the app takes care of the rest.

If you have made the commitment, each day Commit will prompt you to answer the following question:

“Did you ______ today?” (the blank is filled with your goal for the day)

If you select “Yes,” it will be replaced by a very cheerful and affirmative green check mark. Now you can feel good that you accomplished your goal for the day. Commit also tracks the numbers of days in a row you have stayed on track. Of course, you can have more than one card, depending on the goals you have set.

So for 2012, help yourself stay committed to your New Year’s resolutions with Commit. The Commit app can be downloaded at the App Store.