Follow-up: Virgina Tech Shootings - “breakdown in communications”

Link: SMS Text News » Virgina Tech Shootings – ‘breakdown in communications”

I dropped a note over to Bryan at Omnilert (they do this kind of thing for quite a lot of Universities in America) to ask if they’d supplied any services to Virginia Tech. I should have an answer soon.

Bryan was at his computer when I emailed so he was quickly able to provide this informative reply. (e2campus is the name of their communications service aimed at educational institutions.)

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Bryan Crum of Omnilert writes:

Hi Ewan,

Although VT is not currently using e2Campus, I cannot disclose their plans with regards to the service.

Their neighbors, University of Virginia and Central Virginia Community College, currently have e2Campus in place, as do over 30 institutions across the country.

It is horrible to hear what happened today. Many of the interviews of student’s on VT campus expressed anxiety about not knowing what was going on. If VT had a mass notification system in place, then they would have been able to communicate news instantly to students, faculty, and staff no matter where they were at the time. A text message would reach them immediately- regardless of where they are.

To get the word out to everyone at once, nothing is faster and more effective than mass text messaging. During a crisis or emergency, many students do not have access to TV, radio, email or a Web site, but they do carry their cell phones with them wherever they go. And during a crisis, the relatively few bytes of data required for text messages usually get through, unlike voice calls that hear a busy signal because the network is jammed. Plus, some students may be off campus, and others may be on the commute in.

Let me know if you would like to talk further about this.

With deepest sorrow,
Bryan

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Bryan, thanks for taking the time to write — I’m a big believer in these types of systems.

Does anyone know of any companies providing such facilities in other countries? If so, please drop me the details?