Even if the network ‘goes down’
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1) The document proposes embedding emergency management information directly into mobile operating systems to ensure access to critical safety information even without internet connectivity. 2) It argues this is needed because networks often fail during emergencies, and current emergency apps rely on users proactively downloading them. 3) Embedded emergency management solutions could include evacuation routes, hospital locations, shelters, and stress management information to help people remain calm during crises.
Even if the network ‘goes down’
- 1. Even if the network ‘goes down’, you can still ‘pull up’ current, local EM info instantly. As a mobile societywe have become dependentonourdevicestostay connected,satisfyingourhard- wiredcravingforan unlimitedstreamof new,information. Non-consciousnormalitybiasconvincesus that informationwill alwaysbe accessible,butrealitytellsadifferentstory.Inthe midstof the extreme circumstances,networkconnectionbecomesunreliableatbest. Take,for example,the WorldSeriesparade lastyearinKansasCity.Evenwithcarriersprovidingwhat theybelievedtobe ample backup,the systemcrashedbasedpurelyonoverusage.If a parade has the powerto knockout a network,we findourselvesinavulnerable positiontolose essential informationin the handsof a more critical overloadortargetedattack.Asa result,we become handcuffedinourability to seekoutresourcesjustwhenwe needsafetyandsecuritymost.Atatime whensecondscount, information,directions,andinstructionsonwhatto do,where togo, and how to getthere needstobe withinarm’sreach. It’stime for a seriouscall toaction throughoutthe EMcommunityforhonestcollaboration,tobring togetherexpertsineverydiscipline todevelopa collectionof best case scenariosforindividuals, families,companies,education,agencies,andorganizationsforreliable andrelevantmedical and emergencyresources.These geospatialmodelswouldbe constantlyevaluatedandupdated before beingpushedtothe communityin need,and embeddedintothe OSoneverymobiledevice for immediate access,whensecondscount,withorwithoutconnectivity. Workingalongside carrierstoembedemergencyinformationwill provide usersaccesstowhatshouldbe a universal right– safety.Receivinganotificationthat“yoursmartphone justgotsmarter”boost confidence thatincase of emergency,the mostcurrentandrelevantinformationisavailable whethera wirelessconnectionisaccessibleornot.We have alreadyseenthisevolve forweatherandmap applications,anditwouldseemobviousthatotherrelevantprogramswouldfollow. Accordingto the AmericanInstitute of Stress,recentscientificresearchhasshownthataccessto resourcesprovidesabuffertothe negative consequences of stresswhichotherwise hijackthe brain’s focusand clarity.Ourabilitytokeepa level headduringdifficultcircumstancesisdeterminedbyour confidence thatwe have whatwe needtoadapt,makingchallengesanopportunityforgrowthinstead of breakdown.Byembeddingemergencyinformationintomobile devicesandtargetingmessagesbased on geocoding,notonlyare those at riskmore informedbutthose nearbycanbe instructedasto how bestto provide supportservicestothose inneed,enablingthe communitytoworkmore effectivelyand efficientlytowardsrecovery. As we adapttechnological advancementsfromsocial media,mobilemarketing,andmessaging,itwill affordus a betteropportunitytodeveloptargetedstrategiesforprovidingintelligent, emergency managementinformation.Withaconsistentpresence oneverydevice forthe firsttime,itwill enable us to collectthe bigdata necessarytodeveloptightersupportnetworksandoffersafetysolutionsin anticipationof needinthe midstof crisis,whileproactivelysharingtrainingtechniquesforresilience and stressmanagement.Alongwithinformationrelatedtoevacuationroutes,hospital servicesand locations,sheltersandsoon,intelligentembeddedemergencymanagementsolutionsthatincludes stressmanagementinformationassistsindividualsinremainingcalminthe midstof chaos sothat they are able tomake smarter choicesinthe moment. Althoughmanyhelpfulemergencymanagementeffortsexist:EmergencyAlertSystem(EAS),Wireless
- 2. EmergencyAlarm(WEA) the newandimprovedFEMA app,Facebook’sSafetyCheck,the collectionEM mobile appsbythe AmericanRedCross,andcountlessothersavailable throughbothappstores,there are still twoprimaryissues:whennetworksfail,informationavailablequicklybecomesoutdatedandwe relyon the userto thinkaheadenoughtoknow to install the appinthe firstplace.The fact is our normalitybiaskeepsmostpeople assumingcrisiswill alwaysbe someone else’sconcernandthe overwhelmingamountof informationstreamingonlinecancause analysisparalysisformostuninformed individuals.Whichmeansthatourcurrenteffortsare beingseverelyunderutilized,while newavenues for data collectionandrevenue streamsforcarrierswhoassistinprovidingandpromotingthese solutionsare beingignored. Despite ourbestintentions,whensafetyinformationisneeded,mostof ourcommunicationpathways are compromised.One simplenative apponeverydevice,atrulycollaborativeandembeddedoffering that bringstogetherinformationfromkeyEMcontentproviderswill provide consistentassessments that ensuresconfidence whilecollectinghelpful informationtofurthercustomizethe userexperience. The keyto facilitatingacollaborative platform withuniversal accesswillbe partneringwithmobile carriers.Currentapplicationsprovide noincentive forcarrierstomake themnative tothe operating system,buta model thatincludesthe providersinthe developmentprocessandoffersanew unique revenue streamwillachievefull participation.A simple,sponsor-drivennotificationplatform, basedon userpreferences,willmake thisemergencymanagementsolutionthe largestmobile advertising opportunity,eliminatingthe needforfeestobe passedontothe enduser.AccordingtoBusinessInsider, UnitedStatesmobile adspendisalreadyanticipatedtoreacharound$42 billionin2018, up bya five- yearcompoundannual growthrate of 43 percentfrom2013. As contentisupdatedviathe carriers, confidence isensured,evenif there isadisruptioninservice. Once a trulycollaborativeEMsolutionisinplace,we canthendevelopacomprehensiveplatformfor communicatingadditional safetyinformationinamore proactive way,such as educationregarding stressmanagementtechniquesandconnectionopportunitiesforvolunteersandothersupport networks.Ongoingdatacollectionanduserfeedbackwill provide uswithadditional areasforfurther development,perhapsincludingnewtechnologiessuchasbiofeedbackmeasuresthathave beenshown to indicate riskof heartattack or stroke.One simple touse andfullycustomizable platformforall emergencyneeds:bothreactive andproactive. All of the informationnecessaryforustobe successful inanemergencyordisasterisavailable within the publicdomain;we justneedtomake sure it’saccessible.Byautomaticallyupdatingandembedding critical contentintothe memoryof everyelectronicdevice isthe bestandonlywaytoguarantee its availability,withorwithoutconnectivity. LifeSavingAdvice JohnEubank (619) 241-9958 john@lifesavingadvice.com