Monday, August 29, 2016

[Q]Tasker Profile using/expanding Samsung Galaxy's Send SOS Messages

Lately, I've been noodling how I can improve Samsung's Send SOS ("Send help" on the S5) feature using Tasker.

Some background: Since the S5 and perhaps earlier, the Galaxy line has a built-in Safety Assistance feature. When switched on it can be triggered by pressing the power button three times quickly. The phone then switches on high accuracy GPS and creates two texts ("SOS!" and "I need help") with this location data. It also records a 5-second audio clip and takes a photo using each the front-facing and rear camera. These five texts are sent to pre-designated contacts (up to four).

Whether hurt in an accident or facing a bad outcome with a criminal or a cop with an attitude, this feature could is useful. Still, I'd like to enhance it:
- a more actionable "help" message, e.g., Google street address approximation or key instruction;
- a longer recording that is shared and backed up to the cloud.

This looks like it should be easy for Tasker to handle. I created a profile triggered by a notification that help messages are being sent. After the initial text, I used the Recordr app, which has a Tasker plugin to record, then stop after two minutes. (I don't reverse this order because I don't wish to delay the instructional message. Who knows what can happen if I wait?)
It saves the recording in a file with a 15-character name based upon date and time, e.g.., DATE_TIME.aac.

A1: Send SMS Number xxxxxxxxxx Message: Avenge me!
A2: Recordr Configuration Record
A3: Wait 2 minutes
A4: Recordr Configuration Stop

My messaging app, Message+ (no judgements, please), automatically sends in Group messaging mode, which allows potential coordination by my "saviors." Sadly, some services may not respond as I'd like. Google Voice and Metro PCS recipients do not use Group mode. Short of having everyone switch messengers -- a very personal and unlikely option -- the only solution I can think of is to warn everyone that some people may not receive or respond in Group mode.

Another issue: Not knowing the file name, I'm unsure how to go about sharing the longer recording. I'm leaning to not having to know the name and using AutoShare or AutoInput to get this done. Also: Any thoughts on what's long enough? A crime is probably less than a minute, an accident needs little time like location info, and a traffic stop can take a while unless things go south quickly.)

My questions:
1. How can I retrieve and send this recording to a contact or point to a link online?
2. How long a recording do you recommend?
3. Any other ideas on what to add?
4. Rather than wait for the Send notification, which waits until after the location has been determined, is there a way to trigger off the initial button presses?


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