Google Responds to Tsunami in Japan with a Person Finder Tool

[dgstorm]

This news isn't directly Android related, but it is something really worthwhile from Google. We wanted to share it with you in case you might need it, and didn't know about it.

"Props" go out to Google for "getting in action" regarding the Tsunami that just hit Japan this morning. Where most of us sit around wondering what we could possibly do to help, the Google devs whipped up a quick "Person Finder Tool".

It's basically a website database that allows worried folks to "look-up" their loved ones that may have been affected by the Tsunami. Right now, the site has over 7000 people added. Here's what Engadget had to say about it, quote] ...it should be a useful repository for missing person data, particularly since mobile networks were taken down by the tsunami's damage earlier this morning. Information should also start piling up as recovery efforts continue. Let's just hope this Person Finder won't have to be used for too long and things can be brought back to normal soon. [/quote]

Source: Engadget via Google Person Finder Tool

 

[Jaxidian]

Yay for Google! Prayers to those in and around Japan that have been affected by this, and their loved ones.

 

[beneharris]

thats really col they are doing that. its an actual helpful thing!

 

[matthewthegreat]

Meanwhile in response to the tsunami apple releases the ipad 2...

lol Google>Apple

 

[phantom phenom]

Brad Pitt - Google Person Finder (

not cool for someone to pretend that Brad Pitt got shot ?

rightttt

 

[kodiak799]

Even if the mobile network goes down, wouldn't GPS still work? Like anyone, I don't want my GPS to be publicly available at all times, but a helpful feature would make this available to friends and rescue workers if you're last known GPS location was in a disaster area.

Of course it probably won't work in a building collapse, but if it updated every 30-60 seconds more than likely if it lost GPS you aren't very far from where it shut off.

 

[makaveliq3]

i hope google does something to prevent people from using this as a pranking tool and they prune the fake entries.

 

[czerdrill]

this is like the wikipedia of people finders. anyone can add a name, and google says they don't review the accuracy. going to be more spam then anything useful unfortunately.

 

[czerdrill]

Meanwhile in response to the tsunami apple releases the ipad 2...

lol Google>Apple

wow a mention of apple by the third reply in a thread about a natural disaster. how sheepy of you.

 

[spaz33g]

this is like the wikipedia of people finders. anyone can add a name, and google says they don't review the accuracy. going to be more spam then anything useful unfortunately.

Yeah thats why i choose to use one of the thosands of other peopl... oh wait.

At least they did something. What do you want from them?

tappin and a talkin

 

[czerdrill]

this is like the wikipedia of people finders. anyone can add a name, and google says they don't review the accuracy. going to be more spam then anything useful unfortunately.

Yeah thats why i choose to use one of the thosands of other peopl... oh wait.

At least they did something. What do you want from them?

tappin and a talkin

I'm not blaming Google, I think it's awesome that they set something up like this. I'm just saying it's not practical, because there are far more idiots out there then those who actually would contribute to this correctly. That's what the internet is...where have you been the last 15 years.?

 

[spaz33g]

It's not perfect, I understand that, but that's what they had and for some people that would have been the only way to know that their loved ones were ok.

tappin and a talkin

 

[DaWolf85]

Even if the mobile network goes down, wouldn't GPS still work? Like anyone, I don't want my GPS to be publicly available at all times, but a helpful feature would make this available to friends and rescue workers if you're last known GPS location was in a disaster area.

Of course it probably won't work in a building collapse, but if it updated every 30-60 seconds more than likely if it lost GPS you aren't very far from where it shut off.

You'd still need something to communicate said GPS status to someone else...
Maybe a bluetooth finder or something, so if you still have your phone rescuers can find your bluetooth and then you along with it dancedroid