New York Tests Xbox-Based Emergency Alert System

An interesting concept is currently being tested in New York. Gamers used to confronting invading terrorists, nuclear attacks, and natural calamities, in virtual form may get a dose of reality in the middle of their game. Gamers in New York State could soon receive warnings about real emergencies through their favorite video console. My son’s reaction…”cool, could you please move out of the way”. It’s a great idea and one I’m almost certain will be implemented elsewhere.

State authorities are testing a plan that would see the Emergency Management Office issue alerts over online gaming networks in addition to regular channels.

The goal, said New York State Deputy CIO Rico Singleton, is to reach younger residents who spend more time on the Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii than with television or radio.

Singleton, speaking Thursday at the Interop technology conference in New York City, said the plan makes sense, “considering the amount of time our youth spend on video games.”

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo operate online networks that allow players to compete against each other over the Internet. Under the state’s plan, authorities would tap those networks to broadcast warnings about natural or man-made disasters.

Singleton had few details, but confirmed that the plan is in the testing phase.

It’s one of many technology initiatives New York State has launched under a program called Empire 2.0. The goal is to make the state’s government more “transparent, participatory, and collaborative,” said Singleton.

Under Empire 2.0, the Department of Mental Health is monitoring some Facebook posts in an effort to spot suicidal behavior, the Office of Homeland Security is using Second Life to train 700,000 first responders, and senior members of the state CIO’s office are using Twitter to disseminate information about technology initiatives to the public.

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MySpace, Department of Homeland Security Team Up With Hurricane Alerts

In what is heralded as the seeds of an Internet-age emergency broadcast system, MySpace has teamed with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to spread news on hurricanes through users of the online social network.

As Hurricane Gustav blasted the US Gulf Coast early this week, DHS officials telephoned MySpace executives to “fast-track” a project to build a disaster alert system that capitalizes on the hot Internet social networking trend.

A software application that automatically feeds hurricane information from federal disaster agencies to MySpace users was launched Tuesday.

“What you are seeing us doing with DHS and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is the beginning of bigger things to come in the future,” MySpace chief security officer Hemanshu Nigam told AFP on Thursday.

“Tragedy often inspires people to do great things and this has happened here.”

MySpace users can download a small application, or “widget,” that links profile pages to federal information including finding dislocated Gustav victims; help in storm-slammed areas, and online tracking of coming storms.

The application meshes naturally with social networking pages on which people share pictures, videos, stories and news quickly online with loved ones, according to MySpace

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