Lost or uneasy in a new city? This app lets a friend virtually walk you home

Even the savviest business travelers have gotten beyond lost in the streets of an unfamiliar city, or have stayed out a little too late trying to entertain clients, whether it's sipping one too many glasses of Beaujolais or ending up singing a round of sake-fueled karaoke. But a new app called Companion wants to help you get home safely, especially if you don't have a company car returning you to your hotel's doorstep.

The new personal safety app can do wonders for overserved smartphone users – or anyone who feels unsafe in an unfamiliar area or even on the dark streets of their own hometowns. Companion was created by students at the University of Michigan and has been designed to let friends or family members digitally follow your trip back to your house or hotel room, using GPS and an online map. Co-founder Lexie Ernst told the International Business Times UK:

"Both men and women from all demographics have emailed us saying they'd love to use the app, lots of parents want to use the app for their children, and some people want their elderly parents to use it too to make sure they don't get lost."

The app allows you to choose someone from your phone's contact list and then let them virtually hold your hand on the way home (and no, your own real-life companion does not need to have the app on their own phones). How is this different from texting or calling someone? Well, the selected contact has access to a link with a map showing your exact location. Since the app is doing all of the work, providing the real-time details of your whereabouts, you don't have to be further distracted by trying to talk or text.

If you've ever doubted the fact that your smartphone is actually smart, this app will prove it to you. Companion can detect if you've fallen, been pushed, have sped up or veered in a strange direction. It will then ask if everything is OK and give you 15 seconds to respond; if you fail to respond to the prompts, it emits an alarm and provides an option to call local authorities.

While originally designed for college students crisscrossing campus at all hours, the app has tremendous potential for travelers in new or unfamiliar cities. Whether you're stumbling home after singing a slurred rendition of "Sweet Home Alabama" or just feeling uneasy leaving a dark parking garage, this app does seem to have your back.