Nissan’s Re-Leaf prototype is a mobile power supply for disaster response

When a natural disaster strikes, one of the biggest challenges is getting power to the disaster site. Nissan may have a way to change that. The company has developed an all-electric emergency response vehicle concept. Dubbed the Re-Leaf, the prototyp...

Watch a ‘transforming’ drone blast out of a cannon

Researchers launched a drone from a pneumatic baseball pitching machine strapped to a truck traveling 50 miles per hour. They hope this ballistic launch method might lead to drones that are better suited for emergency response and space exploration m...

Alphabet’s balloons broadcast LTE two days after Peruvian quake

When a magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit Peru Sunday, the Alphabet spinoff Loon was quick to respond. Within 48 hours, Loon delivered its internet-relaying balloons and began providing LTE coverage to users below. While more balloons are on the way, Loon...

Japan considers using social networks in disaster situations

Japan considers using social networks in disaster situationsEmergency services are embracing technology as new ways to investigate, send alerts and receive reports of crises. And now, the Japanese are looking at social networks to support communication in disaster scenarios, especially when traditional services fail. The local Fire and Disaster Management Agency put together a panel discussion on just that topic, with representatives attending from the likes of Twitter, Yahoo, Mixi and NHN Japan, as well as various government and emergency bodies. The talk was motivated, in part, by the March tsunami, when the internet was the sole means of information for some, and with initiatives like Google's Person Finder playing a role in the aftermath. Any formal implementation of the ideas discussed is probably a long way off, and this is the first of three planned meets to hash it out. In the meantime, however, Twitter's Japanese blog posted some suggestions on how their network could be used in emergencies -- we just hope they won't be needed anytime soon.

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Japan considers using social networks in disaster situations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package

PlayBook Mobile Responder App

The PlayBook may not have taken off in the consumer market, but its enterprise-friendly features may help it find a home elsewhere -- especially now that it's packing a speedy 4G radio. Fresh on the heels of the LTE edition hitting Canadian shores, Intergraph has unveiled its Mobile Responder app that turns RIM's slate into a formidable tool for police and other emergency responders. The app taps into the company's Computer Aided Dispatch system, which pulls in data from police databases, keeps dispatch centers just a tap away and allows the immediate filing of incident reports. The suite is getting its first public demo next week at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Nova Scotia. For more, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package

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PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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