Ye olde World Wide Web is full of curiosities, from piano-playing cockatoos to Wu-Tang name generators (Granny Ina’s rap alias is Intellectual Ambassador).
But the internet can also be a useful, constructive and safe place to hang out.
Following a series of deadly earthquakes in Indonesia last month, for example, the internet mobilised quickly to help survivors alert family and friends as to their whereabouts.
Facebook’s Crisis Response page has also proven to be instrumental in the aftermath of humanitarian crises and natural disasters, while Google’s Person Finder app helps connect missing persons.
And, while tech can’t prevent disasters, it can go a long way in alleviating the stresses they bring.
Let’s take a look at the IT solutions designed to help make our lives more secure.
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Your safety net
Thanks to software developers, the global app market is continually expanding to help meet our personal safety needs.
The savvy SmartWatcher App can turn almost any smart-phone into the ultimate safety gadget. Users designate friends and family to act as their own personal safety network. If your safety is compromised in any way, the click of a button will alert your network something isn’t right and your trusted pals can decide if the emergency services should be contacted.
A Continuous Safety Monitoring feature also checks in with users periodically – if you don’t confirm you’re safe, your network will be alerted.
Every day IT is growing into a digital social service: tech gurus are always finding new ways to develop personal safety solutions or provide social help, particularly in the app development sector.
Personal protection
The Google Person Finder site was developed in 2010 as an immediate response to the devastating Haiti earthquake.
The open source web app includes a registry and message board for survivors, family and friends affected by natural disasters. Individual sites relating to specific crises are often up and running within an hour.
IT workers know the importance of working quickly and efficiently and mobilising sites such as this has helped save lives and reconnect countless loved ones.
Look into the future
While technology can’t prevent natural disasters, it can help to predict them. There are many IT solutions out there being used to forecast earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.
The Early Earthquake Warning System (EEW) is an advanced piece of tech that can detect the onset of tremors and predict the epicentre and magnitude. Alerts are then sent to the public as well as trains, elevators and computers – allowing people adequate time to deploy the appropriate safety measures and find shelter.
If you’d like to be at the forefront of saving lives, why not check out the latest IT/Telecommunications vacancies on s1jobs now?