The country where smartphones can save lives in 10 seconds

On Sunday, April 23, all 4G and 5G mobile phones in the UK will ring and vibrate together to test a new public alert system that could help save many lives in the near future. Even when the device is muted, the siren will sound and all other functions will be disabled for a short time. After at least 10 seconds, the citizen will need to digitally confirm that they understand the nature of the message before they can reactivate all mobile phone apps. The BBC reports this.

“Getting this system operational means adding a new tool to our emergency kit,” said Oliver Dowden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. “Make a note of the date of April 23 on your agenda, we will start the national test at 3 PM, it is very important to make the British public even safer from cases of alarm,” Dowden said, “it could be the voice that saves your life.” The power plant is designed to reach the largest number of citizens in the shortest possible time in the event of a natural disaster such as a major flood, a major earthquake, a major fire or extreme weather conditions. This technology will make it possible to reach almost 90% of the British population in a very short time. In addition to its intense ringing and vibrating, a message will appear on the screen of each mobile phone with the main actions to be taken to secure itself.

Some testing within the UK had previously only been done locally, in East Suffolk and Reading. If this initial national test is positive, it will pave the way for a system partially available in Japan (Earthquake Early Warning System) and formalization in the United States, where the first national tests for the Fema public safety system date back to the 1900s. until 2011. Evidence of the entire region comes 10 years after the initial findings from the Cabinet office. As early as 2013, the British government concluded that “alerts will not only be seen as a useful service by the public, but will also allow individuals to apply certain protective measures in an emergency”.

The acceleration towards the implementation of this technology has come after criticism received by the British executive for the management of alarm alerts during the pandemic crisis. According to many, the British government lagged behind systems developed by different countries such as South Korea and the Netherlands. APPLICATION messaging to control the spread of the virus. According to Mark Hardingham, chairman of the national council of fire chiefs, “we must use all the means at our disposal to keep people safe, (…) we need everyone to do their part, and the new warning system, do it”.

As reported by The Guardian, the government has stated that there will be no further emergency testing after the national test. Subsequently, the sending of such a message will occur only in case of an immediate threat to life. “The 10-second national test may be irritating to some, but please forgive us for intruding, because the next time you hear it, your life and the life-saving actions of our emergency services may depend on it,” Hardingham said. .

Source: Today IT

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