Getting Started with Connect

Connect is UTurn’s real-world discovery radar. It is built for those spontaneous moments when you want to step outside and meet someone nearby for a coffee, a walk, or a casual conversation—with someone who is just around the corner.

Activating Connect (“Let’s Go”)

To protect your privacy, Connect does not run passively in the background. You choose exactly when you want to be visible to your local neighborhood.

1. Tap the Connect tab in the main bottom navigation bar.
2. If you want to check your past local chats first, you can access your history by tapping the Message Icon in the top title bar.
3. To start, tap the Let’s Go button at the bottom of the screen.

🛑 The Permission Gatekeepers

Connect requires two specific phone permissions to operate. If you do not grant both, the radar cannot start:

• Background Precise Location: UTurn needs this to accurately place your temporary icon on the local radar grid relative to others.
• Notifications: This ensures you instantly receive chat responses when someone nearby reaches out to meet up.

Setting Up Your Activity Vibe

Once permissions are granted, you will be taken to the Your Activity screen. To save you time, UTurn automatically remembers and fills in the choices you used the last time you turned on Connect.

You can customize the following options:

1. Predefined Activity

Select what you are currently in the mood for from our quick-selection list. You can choose from several predefined activities, such as:

• Cup of coffee ☕
• A meal 🍽️
• Dog walk 🐕
• Sport partner 🏀

2. Note to Interested People

Use this input field to type a quick, public status description to let nearby users know exactly what you’re up to. For example:

• “Grabbing an iced latte at Cool Bar for the next hour!”
• “Walking my golden retriever near the central park fountain.”
• “Lunch at Tasty PizzaPalace, first slice is on me!”

3. Radar Animation Toggle

By default, the active radar view features a continuous animated sweep. If you find the movement distracting and prefer a static, quiet view of the grid, flip the Radar Animation switch to Off.

4. Active Background Timer

Choose how many hours you want Connect to stay active before automatically shutting down and hiding your profile.

Launching and Stopping the Radar

• To exit without starting: Tap Cancel at the top of the screen to head back to the main menu.
• To launch: Tap Start at the top right. Your app will securely check into our servers and instantly take you to the live radar grid.
• To turn off Connect: When you are done socializing or want to disappear from the grid, simply tap the Stop button located in the top title bar of the radar screen. You will instantly vanish from other users’ grids and stop receiving local messages.