Mobile News

iPhone app aims to raise awareness of the homeless

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

By Becca Talbot Becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Care for a virtual hobo with the iHobo application.

Homelessness charity Depaul has launched an iPhone application designed to challenge people’s perceptions of the homeless.

The iHobo app is much like a Tamagotchi virtual pet because it downloads a virtual homeless person onto your iPhone who then becomes your responsibility to care for.

“We wanted to reach that elusive generation of young, affluent donors, who tend to exist in a world defined by their mobiles,” said Tom Ewart, joint executive creative director at Publicis – a company involved with iHobo’s promotion.

Over the course of three days you must decide when to offer the virtual homeless person a mixture of food, money and emotional support. Notes will be automatically sent to your iPhone when the iHobo needs help.

At the end of the three days you’ll be invited to donate your spare change to Depaul.

The iHobo app is available to download for free from Apple's App Store.