[LINK] SMS - shortcomings in emergency services

[Kim Holburn]

On 2008/Sep/20, at 12:36 AM, Ivan Trundle wrote:
> There's a broader, more complex issue here: in times of emergency,  
> power is often the first utility which is cut.

Not necessarily.  It depends on the emergency.

> This limits the usefulness of mobile phones in an unusual way  
> (experienced first hand): after a period of time, mobile phone  
> batteries require recharging, and with no power outlets to service  
> this request, mobile phones become useless (apart from the problem  
> of not being able to use the service in the first place).

This is not that different to ordinary phones that are supplied with  
power from the exchange.  For that reason, it's possible that a cell  
tower requires less power than an exchange and could possibly last  
longer without power.  At least with mobiles you can charge them in a  
car or with a solar charger.  Also for me emergency usually means  
something that is fairly sudden like a bush fire.  If it drags on for  
several days it's past having emerged and become more of a disaster.

I can't see that this is really a problem, mobiles give you something  
in most emergencies which we didn't have before.  When all  
infrastructure breaks down they don't work - goes for most things  
really.

> Modern mobile phones serve multiple purposes, and one of them is to  
> provide 'at hand' illumination in times of crisis (again,  
> experienced first hand) - which further depletes battery life.
>
> In contrast, battery-powered radios suffer none of those  
> consequences, and are thus better suited for broadcast messages. All  
> that is required is for an element of ubiquity in the public's  
> understanding of how communications are relayed in times of crisis:  
> many expect the AM radio service to do this, but I'd imagine that  
> there is a generational blind-spot here, or a lack of education.

Umm, and you'd have to have a battery powered radio to hand which I  
think many households may not these days.  Although my mobile  
functions as an fm radio in extremis, the radio function chews through  
the battery.

> Come to think of it, I'm not sure that there are many people in  
> Australia who are aware of what the public emergency siren call  
> sounds like (and I'll be happy if I never hear it again), let alone  
> knowing where to hear it, and what to do once it is broadcast to all  
> and sundry.


Yeah, we're all so used to everything working well and as planned,  
stable and comfortable.  That's good isn't it?

--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3494957443
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