NY testing emergency broadcast network on Live, PSN
- November 24, 2009 09:37 AM PST
Gamers may soon be receiving emergency alerts and threat level updates on their console of choice.
New York State officials are testing a new emergency broadcast system designed to spread disaster alerts and instructions across XBox Live, PSN and the Wii.
An InformationWeek article published last week reveals that New York State has called for more transparency in governance and launched a public works initiative called (perversely) "Empire 2.0." Under this new mandate state health officials have admitted to monitoring Facebook updates for suicidal behavior, Homeland Security has begun to train civilian fast response teams in Second Life and the New York Senate is posting proposed bills to an open wiki for public collaboration. Web 2.0 "is the world we're beginning to live in," said state Deputy Chief Information Officer Rico Singleton, speaking at an NYC tech conference. "We should be part of the movement."
Part of that movement means jacking in to the online services of all major consoles in the event of a disaster or other threat to national security. The program is intended to allow the Emergency Management Office to reach citizens who, according to Singleton, "spend more time on the Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii than with television or radio." The new initiative is still being tested on New Yorkers, and their opinions will determine whether or not gamers across the nation can expect similar treatment.
Government 2.0, coming to a console near you. (Image courtesy of Switched)
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- Nov 24 2009 at 11:29:51:AM PST
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This seems like a good idea. I know I would want to know if there was an emergency in my area while I was playing my ps3. The problem to me would seem the random testing that they do. Like on the radio or TV. Imagine playing a fps online and the test comes on. Plus people aren't online all the time.
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I see zero harm in this, as long as it pauses the game when the alarm comes up!
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UltimoFatty wrote:
I see zero harm in this, as long as it pauses the game when the alarm comes up!
I would be so pissed if the emergency test didn't pause my game. I like this idea.
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As long as I have the option to turn it off, there is no problem. Also they are talking about how they monitor facebook, don't monitor my PSN messages. If it is in PS HOME that is one thing but monitoring PSN messages is too far. I'm not saying they are going to do that, just that we should beware of it. I could see them making it where the game doesn't pause lol. Just to piss us gamers off...
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