Emergency texting

[Astrojewels]

So yesterday everyone I knew received a text from the Victoria police about the extreme weather expected today, I would really like to hear some opinions on this ‘new technology’ what are your ideas people?

 

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/victo...-8mfq.html

 

 

Victorians receive fire text warning

• Marika Dobbin
  
• March 2, 2009

MILLIONS of Victorians have received SMS texts to their mobile phones warning of today's extreme fire danger.

The state's major telecommunications networks — Telstra, Optus and Hutchison — sent warnings from Victoria Police to their mobile customers yesterday afternoon, warning of high wind and fire risk, and advising they listen to ABC radio for emergency updates.

The networks sent the messages to more than 3 million phones, using technology that isolated Victorian numbers, and sent the texts in bulk through a dispatch centre.

Premier John Brumby said the technology trial was a first for the state and a supplement to warnings made through the media.

However, he said the system was not suitable for an immediate threat, such as a terrorist attack or tsunami, because it could only deliver texts at a rate of up to 600,000 an hour.

"We can't provide an instantaneous warning," he said. "We're not in a position to do that yet, we don't have the capacity or the technology.

"We are doing everything we can to push forward with some more sophisticated early warning systems."

South Australia trialled a similar system of text messages last week but customers complained about receiving the text days afterwards, and sometimes in the middle of the night.

A Telstra spokeswoman said the dispatch centre had been instructed to stop the automatic resending of failed messages after this evening.

In the aftermath of Black Saturday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd vowed to end years of wrangling between the states over an early warning system and fund research into how best to target mobile phone users in the danger area.

Mr Brumby promised Victoria would push ahead with its own system before next summer's bushfire season.

[DreamTime]

You find this a problem? I think it is good that they are warning people and could save some lives. Look at it this way: if they didn't do something like this, and people found out that they had the technology to warn people and they didn't do it, then the people would be screaming and yelling at them that they were accessories to murder. So there are two sides to this problem. Which is the better one?

[Astrojewels]

DT,

I don’t find the warning a problem and I agree with you that it is a good way to let everyone know, I was asking for opinions on the actual technology.

[Mercy Now]

Of course I'm all for safety too, but I'm of the opinion we have become too dependent on technology period.It seems the more dependent we become the more we lose our ability to take care of ourselves and be responsible for ourselves without help from  authorities.

[Astrojewels]

Yes, I certainly see the logic in the warning, and have no qualms about that.  I feel that this tragedy, (which might have been pre-planned for many reasons), has allowed technology to enter a new era, our state still has many uncontrollable fires still going, and yes there is a risk, yet there is a ‘fear’ factor being instilled, a state of panic, we now have schools, buses and so many things closed due to weather warnings, it is making children and adults very scared, just waiting for ‘something’.

[Mercy Now]

That was my next question AJ. "Is there residual fear among the public?"From what you report, there is , so it seems as though this could have been  a "create the problem and suggest the solution "in order to gain a stronger hold on the people.Fear in humans seems to cause a spiritual paralysis.

[Astrojewels]

Yes MN, that is what I am saying, I certainly see it as a ‘good technology’ to give a warning, yet I think now it has become a panic, and an old freemason tradition- create the chaos and you control the solution! In my opinion, the true cause is being put at the bottom of the pile- the greenies- they are totally to blame. When people are afraid, they can not think logically, panic takes over and they make choices that actually put them at risk.