Google, Twitter and The Role of technology in disaster management.

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Haiti and Chile have been the recent victims of natural disasters and now as I write this new magazine post Hawaii is next on the list as the Tsunami waves are about to hit there in 5-10 minutes.

This post could have been avoided but as aware citizens, we at eMagzin think that it is our prime duty to inform everyone about their surroundings and how our lives have been changed with the “over” indulgence of technology.
If only you could see what I am witnessing right now on my computer screen, would you have understood the gravity and the magnitude of the situation I am trying to express here!

Hawaii tweets in 30Secs

I login online on my social networks and what do I see on twitter? An array of tweets piling up on my timeline all about the Chile quake and within minutes I had all the information I needed to remain updated from a Social Networking Website.
One could find pictures which people had uploaded, videos being streamed and back linked to other websites, news channels broadcasting live coverage and prayers being offered. At this time I was really moved to see how the world had just shrunk and just come together for a uni-cause.
Along with this, a new topic started to trend, which was #Hawaii. By now I also got in the grove and started checking

Number of twitter searches on Hwaii

out the trend and re-tweeting people’s posts. There were live News channels covering everything that was happening and which was going to happen and streaming it online. Tsunami was back again. People were wishing luck to their loved ones and then came across a tweet which said: Find missing people in Chile! -———

——— Google is known for setting benchmarks and yet again they have managed to set a mark on this world. They have developed a specially altered peoples search for the victims of Haiti and Chile to find their friends and relatives. Not only this, but Google has made this a free code which people can embed on their own websites and derive maximum benefits for the people. They have partnered Governmental and non-governmental organizations to organize and make a database of people.
It is a very simple, 1 page website which asks you your situation.
a) Are you looking for someone?
b) You have information about someone?

And in the next page you information is added to the database and shared.
They are tracking more than 4400 people in Chile and 58700 in Haiti.

  • Google Person Finder : Chile Earthquake [useful resources: below]
  • Google Person Finder : Haiti Earthquake [useful resources: below]

To know more about the Google Person Finder, check out their blog. [useful resources: below]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have posted an educational video on Tsunami and is very informative which I have included below. Do check it out.

 

The age old war between the question about whether technology is good or bad!! Well, this situation has certainly earned technology a lot of merits and stars from my side at least.

I am sure that a big enough chunk of the population in the world spent their time like I did!
Let us all rise to the occasion and do what ever is in our hands and start by praying.

Useful Resources:

Google Person Finder : Chile Earthquake
Google Person Finder : Haiti Earthquake
Google Person Finder Blog
NOAA Tsunami website

Haiti and Chile have been the recent victims of natural disasters and now as I write this new magazine post Hawaii is next on the list as the Tsunami waves are about to hit there in 5-10 minutes.

This post could have been avoided but as aware citizens, we at eMagzin think that it is our prime duty to inform everyone about their surroundings and how our lives have been changed with the “over” indulgence of technology.
If only you could see what I am witnessing right now on my computer screen, would you have understood the gravity and the magnitude of the situation I am trying to express here!

I login online on my social networks and what do I see on twitter? An array of tweets piling up on my timeline all about the Chile quake and within minutes I had all the information I needed to remain updated from a Social Networking Website.
One could find pictures which people had uploaded, videos being streamed and back linked to other websites, news channels broadcasting live coverage and prayers being offered. At this time I was really moved to see how the world had just shrunk and just come together for a uni-cause.
Along with this, a new topic started to trend, which was #Hawaii. By now I also got in the grove and started checking out the trend and re-tweeting people’s posts. There were live News channels covering everything that was happening and which was going to happen and streaming it online. Tsunami was back again. People were wishing luck to their loved ones and then came across a tweet which said: Find missing people in Chile! ———-

——— Google is known for setting benchmarks and yet again they have managed to set a mark on this world. They have developed a specially altered peoples search for the victims of Haiti and Chile to find their friends and relatives. Not only this, but Google has made this a free code which people can embed on their own websites and derive maximum benefits for the people. They have partnered Governmental and non-governmental organizations to organize and make a database of people.
It is a very simple, 1 page website which asks you your situation.
a) Are you looking for someone?
b) You have information about someone?

And in the next page you information is added to the database and shared.
They are tracking more than 4400 people in Chile and 58700 in Haiti.

· Google Person Finder : Chile Earthquake

· Google Person Finder : Haiti Earthquake

To know more about the Google Person Finder, check out their blog here.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have posted an educational video on Tsunami and is very informative which I have included below. Do check it out.

The age old war between the question about whether technology is good or bad!! Well, this situation has certainly earned technology a lot of merits and stars from my side at least.

I am sure that a big enough chunk of the population in the world

Author:

Internet, Gadgets, Ideas, Music, Food, Footwear, Games, Graphics and Designs, Barney Stinson, No Books. For what its worth: Counterstrike and Fifa, Watches and Mobile Phones, Pinky and the Brain, Wonder years and Dr Doogie Howser.... P.S: Loves his dearest sister :) Follow him on twitter : @gobindshahbaaz

One Response


cssjockey
03.01.10

Seriously! World is so small. Keep up the good work guys. We appreciate it.

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