While the inspiration for SafetyNet came from tracking stolen bicycles, we have designed the full system to be as universal as possible. This section will cover a few examples of how both the Long-range and Portable versions of SafetyNet can be employed.

Bikes

The first is a Bike Park that uses the Long-range SafetyNet. The Bike Park idea is intended for areas in which a large quantity of bikes may be kept, but has a high rate of theft, such as a university or business park. It is a secure environment where bikes can be stored during the day and located should they be stolen. Each bike has a tracker that is checked in and out at a terminal within the bike park area. If it has been checked in and the tracker leaves a defined safe zone around the terminal, an alert will be sent to the owner and to site security if applicable, who (via CCTV) can confirm whether a bike has been stolen. The tracker will start transmitting its location. This will be mapped and stored in an online database, where it can be accessed by the user on the SafetyNet website.

Animals

Another possible use for the Long-range SafetyNet is to monitor valuable animals or livestock. It follows the same principle as the bike park but with a much larger safe zone. There is a central terminal communicating with trackers attached to animals. If any are stolen or leave the area where they are kept they will register as having left the safe-zone and the owner will be alerted. In the meantime, the tracker will be transmitting its location, which can be used to recover the missing animal.

Schools

The Portable version SafetyNet can also be adapted for many applications. A guide on health and safety for school trips in the UK recommends a supervisor-to-pupil ratio of between 1:6 and 1:10 depending the pupils' ages. The Portable SafetyNet system would be given to each group: a supervisor and a number of pupils. Each will be be self-contained and free to move independently of any other groups. The supervisor would have the terminal device on their person and each child within the group would have a tracker attached to them. If they leave the safe-zone around the terminal, the supervisor is alerted and the terminal device displays the direction of the missing child. This isn't just applicable to school trips: any situation in which a group of people need supervision can use this system. Another example is of a party trekking through the mountains; in adverse weather conditions, people can quickly be separated from the main group. The Portable SafetyNet would enable someone to be found quickly and safely. It is light and has a long battery life making it perfect for extended use.

Both systems we have proposed are very versatile and can be adapted to suit most needs. The designs explained in this report mostly consider the technical details concerning location. When designing the full product, the specific use must be taken into account. For example, if it is to be used on an expedition into a jungle, the hardware must be ruggedised and water-proofed.