Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications

Police ask teens to join crime fight

Posted: 04/27/10 by Hiram 'Art' Contreras

Pew released a new study looking at how teens use cell phones. While much of the findings are somewhat obvious, what is interesting is how different groups and constituencies can apply the technology to communicate and connect with teens about various issues, including public safety and crime prevention.

“Fully 72% of all teens — or 88% of teen cell phone users — send text messages, up from 51% in 2006. Among all teens, text messaging has now overtaken every other common form of interaction with their friends.”

The recent Pew study clearly shows why law enforcement should pursue a strategy that encourages teens to use their cell phones to report crime. Since their social activities move them into various venues, more often than not, these young adults are very aware of crime incidents. The fact that teens are comfortable in using their cell phones and  there is an assurance that their identity will be kept confidential can help law enforcement and the general public realize a great benefit. After all, it is only through an involved citizenry that government can assure a safe environment for its citizens.

You can read more of the report’s findings here.

 

New York state of mind

Posted: 12/02/08 by Hiram 'Art' Contreras

Thanks to mobile technology, personal safety on one college campus is taking a large step forward:

Next semester, college students in Oswego will be the first in the state university system to try out a new security tool that can connect them to university police with the touch of a button on their cell phones.

In November, the State University College at Oswego unveiled the first phase of Rave Guardian. Cynthia Adam, the chief of university police at Oswego State, said the response from students has been overwhelming. "Ninety-eight percent of our students and about the same number of faculty, carry cell phones, so, for us, it made much more sense to use that technology as a personal safety device."

The new system lets students input their photo, mobile phone number and other personal information on a secure website. That information is then immediately accessible to campus police when a student speeddials into the office.

Beginning next year, SUNY hopes to expand this system to include GPS data, which would help find the emergency location.

So, is your college or university doing something similar?  Drop us an email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or send us a link.  We're interested.

Staying in touch after Hurricane Ike

Posted: 09/17/08 by Hiram 'Art' Contreras

Well, I didn't think how much I would appreciate being connected to the outside world after our region was devastated by hurricane Ike. Having access to the internet has been a life saver. Not only can I keep up with safety alerts via the internet, I have been in ready contact with my extended family. Forget about "land lines". The cell sites withstood the 110 mile per hour winds. The devastation is awesome. One hundred year old oak and pine trees were uprooted and strewn about like kindling. Houston, our beautiful city looks like a war-zone. But even with the devastation we experienced, it is nothing of what happened along the coast. This area has literally been razed. Many once thriving communities are no more. With the start of the mountains of degree, the projections are that there will be a number of bodies recovered.

The one thing that really stands out is the basic human compassion of neighbors helping neighbors. With God's help and the perseverance of our citizens, this great city will recover. May God continue to bless our great country.

COWs and COLTs to the rescue

Posted: 09/04/08 by Hiram 'Art' Contreras

In an ideal world, public safety personnel would control all the variables in an emergency situation. But in reality, this just isn't possible. However, new mobile technology is drastically improving their efforts by transforming the way emergency responders communicate in times of crisis.

In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans , it became clear - to say the least - that our nation was ill-prepared to deal with such a disaster. Failed networks and communications problems only added to the many problems that plagued the region.  

Now, three years after Katrina, another hurricane has plowed through the Gulf region, but this time, COWs (Cells on wheels) and COLTs (Cells on Light Trucks) beat Gustav to the region, ensuring that first responders would not have to deal with communication challenges caused by network failures and power outages.

The tremendous impact this mobile equipment has had cannot be overstated. Not only does it provide real time information to strategically move personnel to critical locations, but most importantly, it has also dramatically enhanced the safety of emergency personnel by keeping them abreast of any possible changing dynamics. 

This equipment also is used for major public events including Super Bowl XXXVIII in my hometown of Houston , and most recently in Denver and Minneapolis as thousands of convention-goers flocked to the Democratic and Republican conventions.

Unfortunately, with the end of hurricane season still months away and two more storms headed our way, the COWs and COLTs will likely be in high demand this year.