CalcuSaver

At 15, I built a calculator app that discreetly connects people with help.

Role Designer & Developer (age 15)

Team Built with help from Elijah Cobb, an older classmate

Partner Independent project

Timeline January 2017 – May 2021

See Project See Award The project in the news See Video

CalcuSaver app icon: a calculator on an orange background

CalcuSaver's calculator cover screen, indistinguishable from a real calculator app

CalcuSaver's setup screen for entering a name, emergency code, and emergency contact's phone number

A lock-screen text notification triggered by CalcuSaver, alerting an emergency contact that Elizabeth Saunders is in a situation and needs to be contacted

Elizabeth Saunders at the Congressional App Challenge #HouseOfCode event in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth Saunders holding her CalcuSaver poster on the steps of the U.S. Capitol

Congressional App Challenge winners group photo on the U.S. Capitol steps

Elizabeth Saunders being interviewed on camera about CalcuSaver

Elizabeth Saunders presenting CalcuSaver to a member of Congress at her exhibit booth

Elizabeth Saunders with her CalcuSaver display and members of Congress, wearing a House of Code Winner badge

Congressional App Challenge district-winner graphic listing CalcuSaver by Elizabeth Saunders alongside other winning apps

The gap

Inspired by being in an uncomfortable situation I could not find my way out of, I saw a real need for a way to discreetly ask for help without anyone around noticing.

My role

At 15, with the help of an older classmate, Elijah Cobb, I learned how to program, build, and launch an app onto the iOS App Store.

The key decision

Disguise the safety tool as an ordinary calculator. CalcuSaver looks and functions like a regular calculator, but once its output matches a preset emergency code, an immediate message is sent to a chosen emergency contact — an incognito way to send for help.

What I built

Emergency contact setup

Custom emergency code

Fully functional calculator (cover)

Instant alert on code match

Outcome

2017 Traverse City Central High School SciMaTech Science and Research Fair Winner

2018 Congressional App Challenge winner — presented at the Library of Congress

2019 "Best Pitch," TCNewTech — secured funding