[MR] [OT] Timely earthquake warnings by cellphone.

[David Chessler]

------ Original Message ------
Received: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:00:24 PM EDT
From: Charlie Seaman <cdseaman at bellsouth.net>
To: johnmacsgroup at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [johnmacsgroup] Another "good" thing

Technology

Timely: An iPhone App That Warns You When Earthquakes Are Coming

     Cord JeffersonCord Jefferson
     Senior Editor

In the wake of every natural disaster, people are often left uttering 
the same sad refrain: "If only we could have known this was going to 
happen." Along with luck, preparedness is the key to surviving most any 
disaster, even if that preparedness is hastily thrown together. When 
earthquakes strike, like they did in Japan earlier this year and on 
America's East Coast yesterday, minutes and seconds can mean the 
difference between life and death. Today, technology may have finally 
caught up with disaster victims' desire to see the future.

In Japan, which is still reeling from the earthquake and tsunami in 
March, Apple just released news that its new iOS 5 operating system will 
allow users the option of receiving early earthquake notifications on 
their iPhones. The warning app plugs directly into Japan's national 
earthquake warning system, one of the most advanced in the world, and 
can buy iPhone users anywhere from seconds to minutes to prepare. That's 
not a lot, but it's at least time enough to get out of a building or 
move to higher ground.

Judging by the panic in New York City and Washington, D.C. yesterday, 
it's obvious that many Americans would appreciate their own earthquake 
warning app. Let's hope Apple considers that before releasing iOS 5 to 
the U.S. this fall.

http://www.good.is/post/timely-an-iphone-app-that-warns-you-when-earthquakes-are-coming/



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And, as always, YMMV:

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/alerts/Should-SMS-Text-Messaging-102510.html
http://info.singlewire.com/singlewire-blog/bid/52585/SMS-Text-for-Emergency-Notification-Isn-t-Enough


On Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 2:11 PM, George Lowry <drydiggins at gmail.com> wrote:

    In some areas, notifications are already available in SMS (texting)
format.

    Thus greatly lowering the bar for participation.

    (Disclosure, both my wife and I are satisfied iPhone owners.)