Coming Soon to a YouTube Channel Near You

Great news on the preparedness front: SF Heroes is now available on both iPhone and Android! And last week we finished filming the last scene for our SF Heroes smart phone app ‘commercial’. The minute and a half video is intended to explain what the app does and why it is important in a fun and virally amusing way. We don't want to spoil the story line for you, but suffice to say it's funny and campy and we are really excited to see it hit the online social networks.

What is SF Heroes?

SF Heroes is DEM’s smart phone app that leverages gamification to promote preparedness. One of our preparedness goals is that San Franciscans adopt preparedness behavior and talk about and demonstrate what they have done to be ready for an emergency with their family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. SF Heroes is one tool that supports meeting this goal because users demonstrate using the app (and their accomplishments) on Facebook and Twitter—where their friends and followers can see their earned SF Heroes badges.

What is Gamification?

Gamification is the use of game mechanics, feedback loops, and rewards that drive deeper engagement in non-games. Because SF Heroes allows you to earn points that ultimately become super hero badges, people can show their friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter when they have earned badges, which we hope will inspire—through healthy competition—the desire to also earn badges.

We look forward to premiering the video on the DEM Blog, but as a teaser here are some videos of the shoot. So, stay tuned!

Getting into character.

Looking good, SF Heroes!