It's amazing the technology we have today. With a smartphone, people have instant access to the Internet, email, text messaging, apps, news, etc. Smartphones also give access to social media, which is huge in the United States and connects millions of people across the world. The video I found from CNN discusses how social media can be helpful in the case of a disaster. Facebook / Twitter are instantenously accesible on smartphones. In the case of a disaster such as a tornado or tsunami, people have access to their cell phone for a specific period of time until the battery dies. Computers and house phones are not useful if the power is out. Cell phones, such as the Droid or iPhone, uses cell tower frequences and not WI-FI; therefore, Internet is still accessible when the power is out.
With the amount of disasters in the past couple years across the world, people have been using Facebook and Twitter to help save lives. As the video states, people can get up to date information for the disaster to make sure family / friends are ok. Also, First Aid and weather apps are available for safety purposes. With the cutting edge technology available today, people can take greater precautions for safety and make the best use of the applications and resources of the technology available to us.
When I was in Florida on vacation in May, I was accessing facebook through my iPod touch. I checked my homepage one day and it was filled with status updates regarding the tornado that destroyed Springfield, MA and swept across MA. Without checking Facebook, I may not have learned of the disaster until I got home a week later; however, with the help of social media, I was aware of the disaster and was able to check with friends and family to make sure they were okay. Technology is continuing to improve and provides endless possibilities.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/05/24/exp.nr.best.tech.disaster.cnn
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