Archive for emergency services
by Ewan Spence
June 16, 2008 at 6:15 am · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, Devices, Carriers, Communication, emergency services, Android, Civic
want to look into the future of disasters - the so called ‘big ones,’ because while mobile phones are useful in ‘personal emergencies,’ it’s going to be in the large scale disasters that your smartphone could make the difference. At least, with some forward planning.
To a certain extent, mobile phones are already “emergency aware.” By that I don’t mean they’re constantly on the lookout for danger, like some sort of Finnish Knight Rider, but that they have systems in place that become useful in an emergency. The primary one for me, is that no matter what model of phone, even if the key-lock is on, then the emergency number (be it 911, 112, or 911) should still work - there’s no need to try to work out what the key-lock release is. They won’t even care what network they can find; you’re not network locked for an emergency call - if the signal can get through, through it goes.
The problem as I see it, is the reliance of the mobile phone on one thing. The network. Because in a major disaster (let’s pick the “it’s going to happen at some point” earthquake on the San Andreas fault as an example), there’s going to be a lack of power, and a lot of infrastructure damage. Do you think that the network cell towers are going to be around to carry the mobile signals from the handset?
Yet a mobile handset is both a receiver and a transmitter - and there are going to be times when that’s all you have in the disaster area. Traditionally, mobile phones are going to be useless (beyond the ability to take some pretty gruesome pictures). which is a shame, because communication is vital in these situations. If phones could literally piggyback on each other, chaining calls together like some demented Arpanet of mobile voice calls, then these little computers suddenly become a lot more useful in our scenario.
With the inclusion of Wi-Fi on many models perhaps that medium, rather than the GSM frequencies will act as the common carrier - although the range is far more limited than the radio circuitry for cellular calls.
I doubt we’d ever see anything like this on a regular mass market phone, but if Google Android takes off, and you get a bundle of handsets with re-write able firmware, I wouldn’t be surprised if (a) we see a Mesh Network using a mix of cellular and wifi hotspots spring up, and (b) it won’t really be noticed outside geek circles until something horribly big in the Bay Area. So if you start hearing of a strange underground phone network early next year, with no contract, no ties, but not quite 99.99% reliability, you know what’s happening.
by Darla Mack
June 4, 2008 at 12:26 am · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, Nokia, emergency services
In the past weeks since the disaster in Sichuan, China Nokia has played a very generous role in offering its support.
Both Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks have offered not only financial support but a solution of technology as well. With their initial donation of RMB 3 million for search and rescue missions, 5000 mobile phones donated with prepaid sims in partnership with Sichuan Mobile, and the plans for longer term efforts such as the offer of psychological/counseling services to school children and helping schools to educate the children about earthquakes, Nokia has indeed displayed a heartfelt way to help people stay connected.
“This disaster has changed the lives of many Chinese people and sadly ended many others. I am proud and humbled by the tremendous and spontaneous efforts and sacrifices our staff in China have made, as well as by the financial donations that have been made by our staff, not only in China, but in several other countries, such as Finland, USA, Canada and Denmark. We are matching these employee donations.” Said David Tang, Vice President, Nokia Greater China.
by Darla Mack
April 22, 2008 at 1:54 am · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, SMS, emergency services, Messaging, CTIA Wireless
MSNBC reports that the Text Messaging Alert System has been approved and will possibly be in affect sometime in 2010.
Federal regulators approved the service last Wednesday and consumers will have the option to opt out of receiving the messages… but why would you?
The plan stems from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires upgrades to the nation’s emergency alert system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.
Since text messaging has become one of the most popular methods of communication in todays society, it goes without question that this would be the appropriate way to reach out and inform.
According to the regulations, there will be 3 different types of messages in affect. The first being a national alert from the president in regards to a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would be involve “imminent threats”, such as natural disasters (hurricanes or tornadoes) or university shootings. The third, which some of us are already familiar with, would be reserved for child abduction emergencies or so called Amber Alerts.
“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families prior to, and during, disasters and other emergencies,” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Consumers may opt out from receiving these alerts and might possibly not be charged for receiving them.
by Russell Shaw
January 3, 2008 at 9:51 am · Filed under emergency services
As one who lives 15 minutes from Washington State, and drives up to and in traffic-clogged Seattle often, I say:
Mad props to the new texting-while-driving law that took effect in Washington State on New Year’s Day.
Under a new law that takes effect today, drivers who read and compose text messages could face a $124 ticket. If texting while driving leads to a car accident, the ticket could increase to $175.
“Any distraction is a bad distraction, but texting in particular,” Washington State Patrol spokesperson Bob Calkins tells the Associated Press. “Nobody is that good a driver that they can have their eyes down looking at a PDA [personal digital assistant] and not looking at the road.”
IMHO the law strikes a balance between personal freedom and community safety.
Under this statute, texting while driving is a secondary offense. This means motoring texters can’t be busted for that act alone. They have to be pulled over for another offense, such as driving too closely (a.k.a. tailgating, but you already know that), speeding, blowing through a red light, driving w/expired tags, etc.
Even if you get cited, a texting-while-driving citation will not become part of your driving record. Nor will this infraction be reported to your insurance company.
Another out:
A ticket will not become part of a driver’s record, and dialing a phone is not considered text messaging. The measure exempts transit and emergency-vehicle personnel, as well as anyone who is text-messaging to report illegal activity or summon emergency help.
Yes, but if I were driving, and saw a disabled vehicle with a freaked out motorist on the side of the road, my immediate reax after a quick “there but for fortune go I” would be to call 911, not text it.
I’d figure that with all the rubber-neckers taking their eyes off the road to eyeball the situation on the shoulder, me texting-in the report (presuming I would have text addys for whatever jurisdiction I’d be driving thru) would only create conditions for a collision.
by Debi Jones
October 23, 2007 at 2:26 am · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, emergency services, San Diego Fire
Some readers at Mobile Messaging 2.0 may be aware that I live in San Diego. Fortunately, I am not there. I’m San Francisco to cover CTIA this week, however, I have received three public service messages from the city of San Diego on my mobile phone today.
The disastrous fires burning in San Diego have initiated a service used by the city and county government to inform and update residents. Mandatory evacuation orders have been communicated via reverse 911 on both landline phones and mobile phones. The messages are prerecorded and as I’ve said, three messages have been received on my phone. The first was an evacuation order. The next message was a notice that San Diego schools are closed until further notice along with the instruction to keep children inside and restrict their activity levels (smoke and ash is so thick in the air that keeping it out of your house is impossible during large fires). The third message was information on evacuation centers that were still open as several are already full.
Regulation in the US for Enhanced 911 or emergency service which incorporates location data has resulted in a number of emergency related services that are unique to the US market when compared to other geographical regions like Western Europe or Asia. The reverse 911 system isn’t specifically a mobile service, but that it does include mobile phones is impressive and to see this system work in the case of a disaster saving time and lives is an important development. To this point, 262,000 households have received reverse 911 calls.
Map of San Diego Fires
There have also been a flood of messages via Twitter from those located in San Diego and those seeking information on the fire progress and the safety of friends and family.
Advisories have been announced on CNN and local San Diego TV stations asking people to limit their mobile phone use as the networks are saturated. This is a common problem during emergencies as we’ve seen over and over. The one component that continued to provide communication during the London bombings, post Katrina flooding in New Orleans and now in San Diego is text messaging. Twice today my mobile calls have been rejected with the network reporting, “all circuits are busy”. And yet, I’ve continued to be able to send out SMS.
One San Diego resident, Nate Ritter, is using Twitter which I’m receiving on my phone to broadcast updates on evacuation shelter openings and closings once they are full along with updates on the spreading of the fires. Five Hundred homes lost, so far. I learned on Twitter that an additional 50 K people have been evacuated in San Diego today bringing the total to 300 K.
The most up to date information, persistent personal communication capability and official notifications from the government’s emergency services have been delivered to my mobile phone. This is one more demonstration of how critical mobile communications have become not merely for entertainment and trivial time wasting, but as a critical and always-on resource when such capability can literally save lives.
