Comments on: Twittermergency http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Gloria http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855813 Gloria Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855813 Well, according to the story, she could have also just texted someone. It's more like "text-based communication has saved a life!" rather than Twitter, per se. This IS coming from someone who has a crud non-smart phone, so maybe I'm just trying not to worry how my frugality is dooming me to a lonely death in the woods. Well, according to the story, she could have also just texted someone. It’s more like “text-based communication has saved a life!” rather than Twitter, per se.

This IS coming from someone who has a crud non-smart phone, so maybe I’m just trying not to worry how my frugality is dooming me to a lonely death in the woods.

]]> By: Raines Cohen http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856071 Raines Cohen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856071 I was surprised to see that, despite having zero bars on a digital (T-Mobile) network in Northern CA just North of Cloverdale a few years back, the phone switched to analog mode (not otherwise supported in normal phone operation) for a 911 call and it made it through. Presumably there are other fallback modes available now that analog cell service has been discontinued; I do know that free digital roaming via subcontracted carriers appears to cover many rural areas not covered by the primary network operator. I was surprised to see that, despite having zero bars on a digital (T-Mobile) network in Northern CA just North of Cloverdale a few years back, the phone switched to analog mode (not otherwise supported in normal phone operation) for a 911 call and it made it through. Presumably there are other fallback modes available now that analog cell service has been discontinued; I do know that free digital roaming via subcontracted carriers appears to cover many rural areas not covered by the primary network operator.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855816 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855816 So she didn't have enought coverage for voice, but did for data? Odd. So she didn’t have enought coverage for voice, but did for data? Odd.

]]> By: nuke_you http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855817 nuke_you Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855817 I'm calling BS...If you have enough cell signal to tweet or txt then you have enough signal to make a call. I’m calling BS…If you have enough cell signal to tweet or txt then you have enough signal to make a call.

]]> By: tsdguy http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855821 tsdguy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855821 Great that this story ended happily. However, you'll have to color me skeptical on the circumstances. She had no signal to put in a 911 call which works across any provider but she was able to establish a network connection, log on to her Twitter account and send off a tweet? I would believe this more readily if she had been saved by a text message. It's been well established that in times of poor cell reception or saturated cell towers, an SMS message can get through. Wonder if it's a case of mistaken technical identity? Great that this story ended happily. However, you’ll have to color me skeptical on the circumstances. She had no signal to put in a 911 call which works across any provider but she was able to establish a network connection, log on to her Twitter account and send off a tweet?

I would believe this more readily if she had been saved by a text message. It’s been well established that in times of poor cell reception or saturated cell towers, an SMS message can get through.

Wonder if it’s a case of mistaken technical identity?

]]> By: Blackbird http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855826 Blackbird Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855826 Twitter would be better since you have more than one person your sending it to (unlike a txt). A county in Iowa started taking texts last year, it takes longer, but if your low on power, or deaf/mute, this is a good alternative. Twitter would be better since you have more than one person your sending it to (unlike a txt).

A county in Iowa started taking texts last year, it takes longer, but if your low on power, or deaf/mute, this is a good alternative.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856084 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856084 I'm guessing that as she only tried calling a friend, rather than 911 that her friend was the one who didn't have a signal. I’m guessing that as she only tried calling a friend, rather than 911 that her friend was the one who didn’t have a signal.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856347 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856347 You don't have to login to Twitter to update. You can text message from your phone to 40404 I think it is and text messaging will oftentimes sit there and try to find a moment when there is just enough signal to send the message, so yeah, it's feasible this happened. You don’t have to login to Twitter to update. You can text message from your phone to 40404 I think it is and text messaging will oftentimes sit there and try to find a moment when there is just enough signal to send the message, so yeah, it’s feasible this happened.

]]> By: BennyMcBenBen http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855838 BennyMcBenBen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855838 She should have tried dialing 0118 999 881 999 119 725 3. It's easy to remember and I always get through! She should have tried dialing 0118 999 881 999 119 725 3. It’s easy to remember and I always get through!

]]> By: benjymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855839 benjymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855839 She might've tweeted via SMS, of course, which would make sense, if you think about it - there's a chance the person she texted might not read the message for a few hours, whereas, as Blackbird pointed out, she obviously knew she had Twitter followers who were likely to see her message. Likewise, with SMS, most phones will just keep trying and trying until they manage to get a message through, when there's low signal. She might’ve tweeted via SMS, of course, which would make sense, if you think about it – there’s a chance the person she texted might not read the message for a few hours, whereas, as Blackbird pointed out, she obviously knew she had Twitter followers who were likely to see her message.

Likewise, with SMS, most phones will just keep trying and trying until they manage to get a message through, when there’s low signal.

]]> By: Wordguy http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855843 Wordguy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855843 The circumstances are quite reasonable in my experience: - In my house and at the office I often have trouble making a cell call, while texting works just fine. - Before I got a smart phone I tweeted via texting, after having set up my plain ol' cell phone as a mobile device on my Twitter account. The circumstances are quite reasonable in my experience:

- In my house and at the office I often have trouble making a cell call, while texting works just fine.

- Before I got a smart phone I tweeted via texting, after having set up my plain ol’ cell phone as a mobile device on my Twitter account.

]]> By: cls http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855844 cls Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855844 You can tweet via text, no logging in required. You can tweet via text, no logging in required.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855847 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855847 what I call BS on, is that she was supposedly far into the woods, yet an ambulance arrived in minutes? what I call BS on, is that she was supposedly far into the woods, yet an ambulance arrived in minutes?

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855865 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855865 Yeah, the article says a "300 acre wood," which is less than half a square mile. Not deep in the woods. But I guess all that matters is she was too far away to yell for help while injured. Yeah, the article says a “300 acre wood,” which is less than half a square mile. Not deep in the woods. But I guess all that matters is she was too far away to yell for help while injured.

]]> By: Blackbird http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855871 Blackbird Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855871 It doesn't say the ambulance arrived in minutes, that she HEARD it minutes later. She didn't know where she was in the woods, it's very possible that she was only 100 yards from a road. Being lost does not always equate with being 'far' away from civilization. It doesn’t say the ambulance arrived in minutes, that she HEARD it minutes later. She didn’t know where she was in the woods, it’s very possible that she was only 100 yards from a road. Being lost does not always equate with being ‘far’ away from civilization.

]]> By: rebdav http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855889 rebdav Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855889 Is it possible to SMS 911 in the US? In Israel SMS messages are converted to synthesized voice if you send to a landline number so I suppose it might work here. Is it possible to SMS 911 in the US?
In Israel SMS messages are converted to synthesized voice if you send to a landline number so I suppose it might work here.

]]> By: dragonfrog http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855891 dragonfrog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855891 I was just going to say - you really should be able to send SMS messages to 911, for just this sort of situation. I was just going to say – you really should be able to send SMS messages to 911, for just this sort of situation.

]]> By: MichaelRN http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855937 MichaelRN Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855937 It's been done. During the Mumbai terrorist attacks, a teenager hiding in a closet in one of the hotel rooms txted the locations of the terrorists to the police. It’s been done. During the Mumbai terrorist attacks, a teenager hiding in a closet in one of the hotel rooms txted the locations of the terrorists to the police.

]]> By: romulusnr http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855939 romulusnr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855939 Just think, we will soon be hearing from all the wireless companies how you should sign up for unlimited texting because it could save your life! And it's much cheaper than the wireless companies rolling out E911 and AGPS and all that! Just think, we will soon be hearing from all the wireless companies how you should sign up for unlimited texting because it could save your life!

And it’s much cheaper than the wireless companies rolling out E911 and AGPS and all that!

]]> By: bitman362 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855941 bitman362 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855941 The unreal humans were unwilling or unable to help? The unreal humans were unwilling or unable to help?

]]> By: Eli http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856211 Eli Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856211 You should dial 911 even if you don't think you have a signal. Your phone will "roam" onto any compatible network (with a high priority bit set). So even if your T-Mobile phone has no service, you can call for help over AT&T's network. You should dial 911 even if you don’t think you have a signal. Your phone will “roam” onto any compatible network (with a high priority bit set). So even if your T-Mobile phone has no service, you can call for help over AT&T’s network.

]]> By: Ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856519 Ocker3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856519 A coherent voice call requires sustained periods of connection and higher power usage, a data transmission is much shorter, requiring less power usage and a shorter sustained connection. We don't Know that she wouldn't be able to get through to 911 due to special features, but neither did she. A tech-savvy person might suspect such a feature, but your average user may not. A coherent voice call requires sustained periods of connection and higher power usage, a data transmission is much shorter, requiring less power usage and a shorter sustained connection. We don’t Know that she wouldn’t be able to get through to 911 due to special features, but neither did she. A tech-savvy person might suspect such a feature, but your average user may not.

]]> By: minamisan http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856035 minamisan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856035 sadly, most of my twitter followers are spammers and ebusiness marketers, so the only response I'd get would be an invitation to a seminar on how my website could make me a million dollars. sadly, most of my twitter followers are spammers and ebusiness marketers, so the only response I’d get would be an invitation to a seminar on how my website could make me a million dollars.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856553 Michael Smith Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856553 #4, Maybe a data service can retry while the owner of the phone moves around, then silently send the message. #4,

Maybe a data service can retry while the owner of the phone moves around, then silently send the message.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856299 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856299 Yeah this is BS. As many have already pointed out, even when there is no standard network reception (which she clearly had if she tweeted) you can often still make emergency calls. The emergency number "112" is used in various countries as the mobile phone emergency number: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-1-2#Implementation It won't get you through when you are out of mobile service range, but what it does do is use <i>any</i> available network (not just the one who is your service provider) to connect the call. It also overrides network priorities, so if the mobile network is busy (think straight after NYE countdown) your call will still get through. This is a real twittermergency: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/05/12/desperate-man-in-ele.html Yeah this is BS. As many have already pointed out, even when there is no standard network reception (which she clearly had if she tweeted) you can often still make emergency calls.

The emergency number “112″ is used in various countries as the mobile phone emergency number: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-1-2#Implementation

It won’t get you through when you are out of mobile service range, but what it does do is use any available network (not just the one who is your service provider) to connect the call. It also overrides network priorities, so if the mobile network is busy (think straight after NYE countdown) your call will still get through.

This is a real twittermergency:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/05/12/desperate-man-in-ele.html

]]> By: Itsumishi http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-858357 Itsumishi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-858357 I'm calling bullshit on your statement. There are plenty of situations where text messages will get through where phone calls won't connect at all. Try making a call whilst at a camping music festival with poor coverage. You'll virtually never get through whilst texts will sit in your phone trying over and over again to connect and when they do they only need a small amount of signal strength for a few seconds before they send. They also have the advantage of sitting on a server somewhere until whoever you've texted comes into a small amount of signal. Whereas a call requires both ends of the connection to be in range, with more signal strength for a longer period of time. Not applicable in the case of calling 911, but certainly it proves your statement incorrect. If she was just on the edge of one cell towers reception (i.e. no other carrier to switch to) then it wouldn't matter if 911 will roam automatically or not. A text message to an individual might not be read for a long while. 1 text message to 1,000 followers is a much safer bet. I’m calling bullshit on your statement. There are plenty of situations where text messages will get through where phone calls won’t connect at all. Try making a call whilst at a camping music festival with poor coverage. You’ll virtually never get through whilst texts will sit in your phone trying over and over again to connect and when they do they only need a small amount of signal strength for a few seconds before they send. They also have the advantage of sitting on a server somewhere until whoever you’ve texted comes into a small amount of signal. Whereas a call requires both ends of the connection to be in range, with more signal strength for a longer period of time. Not applicable in the case of calling 911, but certainly it proves your statement incorrect.

If she was just on the edge of one cell towers reception (i.e. no other carrier to switch to) then it wouldn’t matter if 911 will roam automatically or not. A text message to an individual might not be read for a long while. 1 text message to 1,000 followers is a much safer bet.

]]> By: signsofrain http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855802 signsofrain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855802 Those who call Twitter useless... well, it saved a life. What did you do today? Those who call Twitter useless… well, it saved a life. What did you do today?

]]> By: scionofgrace http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-856060 scionofgrace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-856060 You're right. In the U.S., any powered mobile phone that's in range of a cell tower can make a 911 call, regardless of what network it's on, or if it's on a network at all. But does texting get through on a worse/weaker signal? You’re right. In the U.S., any powered mobile phone that’s in range of a cell tower can make a 911 call, regardless of what network it’s on, or if it’s on a network at all.

But does texting get through on a worse/weaker signal?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/09/twittermergency.html#comment-855806 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-855806 Glad to hear she's okay. The article says she tried calling a friend and didn't get through. But don't give up on 911 just yet. As I understand, many times you can use extra power (although I couldn't find a source for this), phone network priority, or roaming capability when making 911 calls. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number#Emergency_numbers_and_mobile_telephones Glad to hear she’s okay. The article says she tried calling a friend and didn’t get through. But don’t give up on 911 just yet. As I understand, many times you can use extra power (although I couldn’t find a source for this), phone network priority, or roaming capability when making 911 calls.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number#Emergency_numbers_and_mobile_telephones

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