This blog post is inspired by this blog and my reply by Steve Hamm.
Steve writes: "Japan already has a sophisticated alert system that notifies people by SMS to their mobile telephones when the beginning of an earthquake is sensed. But people don’t always respond with the urgency that’s required."
This got me thinking. Based on anecdotal stories and video posted on YouTube, it hit me that there is another factor at work: that the victims simply didn't know *what* to do. Japan has a very fancy, automated earthquake alert system that tells you that something really bad happened but not what to do next.
Steve writes that IBM Research is working on simulations and ways to communicate to the general public the seriousness of the warnings -- simulations of what 'could happen'. I think that's great, so that they understand the warnings and take them seriously. What I'm concerned about are those who *want* to take them seriously but *can't*.
For example, in the YouTube video I linked to, it seems to me if the driver went straight instead of left that they would have immediately started going uphill. Instead s/he turned left and was caught in the flow of water & debris. Very interesting video, for sure.
What is needed is to not only warn that there "is a problem", but then to add "what to do about it". Given your GPS position, the type of danger, etc. then correct instructions could be sent to the phone. For example, in the tsunami situation it could have sent 2 kinds of instructions: if you are in a building, you must go to a floor at least XX meters above ground. If you are in a car, follow this routing to the evacuation route (or to a 'safe' building).
I can also imagine (and was discussed on the news) that visitors and ex-pats would be completely clueless if they are in an unfamiliar area. Even worse if you don't speak the local language. So - the system should be fully integrated to alert you of the danger in your native language, tell you what happened, what to do and where to go. Once the disaster is abated, you should then be able to register somewhere so others know of your status, locate emergency shelters & supplies, and generally find ways to survive. All this should be location based and in your language too...
Sounds like a System of Systems approach is needed!
Sounds like a System of Systems approach is needed!
