As reported earlier here on this site ad-hoc SMS text messages have saved lots of lives this time. This has convinced many to believe that social SMS circles may be the best option to warn people about impending tragedies. I have two messages from readers on the topic of SMS sending.
Reader, Rohit Gupta writes:
It is already being hinted that citizens' SMS networks may be the only workable solution for tsunami warnings.
Despite their unquestionable success, I see two problems with legitimizing this:
(1) Rumour control: Needless panic will result from elaborate SMS messages designed to scare.
(2)Individuals being left out: Cell phone users who are not particularly social or having few contacts in the SMS generation may never get the message from a social circle of SMS senders.
The solution I would like to see is a consortium of telcos that acts as the central contact for disseminating warnings and alerts. In addition TV and Radio stations should be set up in the region to accept warning interrupts from the law enforcement agencies like in the developed world.
And this is exactly the solution that reader Ryan M. Ferris has in mind:
- Everyone has cell phones capable of receiving SMS Alerts.
- Users subscribe to alerts of their choosing (tsunami, bio-terror, crime, etc.)
- A system sends the alerts with instructions
- People follow the instructions (more detailed instructions are found on the wireless phone browser)
What do you think, gentle reader ?
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