In the Fight to End Violence Against Women, the Next Generation of Rape Screening Software Launches on Kickstarter

SAN FRANCISCO, March 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- KATIA Plus, the next version of the KATIA rape screen software that protects women dating online by searching national crime databases using men's faces, instead of their names, has launched a 60-day Kickstarter campaign on March 1, 2016: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1873745076/katia-plus-saving-womens-lives

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"Using facial recognition technology, KATIA can compare dating profile photos against mugshots of known sex offenders," said Scott Drotar, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and University of Kansas, and one of the scientists and R programmers behind the technology used in KATIA. He can be seen speaking on the official Kickstarter video for KATIA Plus.

KATIA is currently available for any woman to protect herself for a $15 admin fee, at toddandclare.com/katia.

"In only 3 hours, [KATIA] can gather information, analyze a message, and deliver the results straight to a woman's inbox. This gives her information in real-time to prevent the harmful attacks of rapists and other sex offenders," Mr. Drotar continued.

Police say sexual predators use online dating sites under false aliases, which is why KATIA's facial recognition and linguistic technology is needed, because standard background searches fail at stopping rapists contacting women online.

The current rape screen software, KATIA, which is coded in the computer science language, R, background checks men's faces and dating messages up to 15,000 characters long.

KATIA Plus extends the rape screen's linguistic analysis by identifying rapists from the language and phrasing they use to lure moms and single women online. KATIA Plus can analyze messages over 15,000 characters long and in more detail.

Female members of Todd and Clare, the online dating network which sponsored the first KATIA screen to safeguard women from being contacted by sex offenders, can use the software free. Todd and Clare members will be able to use KATIA Plus free as well, when it becomes available.

"KATIA is evidenced-based and tested and has already shown on numerous occasions what a powerful tool it can be to save women from the harm of online predators," said Mr. Drotar, who is asking for $20,000 on Kickstarter for his statistical consulting work on KATIA Plus.

Mr. Drotar estimates that he will be able to finish programming on KATIA Plus, with the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign, by Christmas 2016.

Summary: KATIA Plus, the next generation rape screen software designed to safeguard women in online dating sites, apps, classifieds ads, and meetup groups, has launched a Kickstarter funding campaign. In addition to the facial recognition technology that goes through crime databases, KATIA Plus provides a more detailed, focused analysis of rapists' language to lure women.

Hannah Hammond

T&C Network Solutions

415-915-0892

SOURCE Todd and Clare

Related Links

https://www.toddandclare.com