Techniques provided for using hardware and software to modify a mobile device to improve the safety and awareness of a user to their environmental surroundings. One embodiment of the invention is to update mobile device applications to include live video using the built in rear camera of area ahead of the user as background image. Rear camera would normally be viewing ground, so an embodiment includes a custom case or other attachment to the mobile device with a mirror to allow rear camera to view area ahead. The case or attachment positions the mirror relative to the camera and has an adjustable angle to achieve the correct field of view for the way (or posture) the user is holding the mobile device.