Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway in NY

November 24, 2009

While it might not mean the end of the traditional air raid siren, New York State is currently testing a plan that uses networked videogame machines to send emergency alerts and warnings to the state’s population.

The alert system is just one component of New York State’s Empire 2.0 initiative, which is designed to make the state’s government more “transparent, participatory and collaborative,” reports Information Week.

New York State Deputy Chief Information Officer Rico Singleton thinks the plan to alert the populace via videogame consoles is a natural, “considering the amount of time our youth spend on video games.“

Other Empire 2.0 measures include monitoring Facebook in a bid to spot and stop potential suicidal behavior, using Second Life to train 700,000 Homeland Security first responders and publishing Senate bills online where members of the public can comment on and mark up proposed legislation.

Comments

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by sharpshooterbabe on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 09:50.

This is a really good idea.

 

 

 

"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry

"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by Neo_DrKefka on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 13:59.

Great, thats all I need to be in a middle of a game havent saved about to and then I hear King Daley of Chicago telling me this is just a test and I lose hours of play.

Or I log back on to find me as the tank who was D/C caused the entire party to wipe

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by CBell on Sun, 11/29/2009 - 01:29.

Ha, that's exactly what I was thinking.

 

"Oh man, I almost got this boss beat.  After 5 fucking tries, I'm two hits away from beating hi-"

~THIS IS A TEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM. DO NOT TURN YOUR CONSOLE OFF.  THIS IS ONLY A TEST.~

Screen comes back on to game. "WTF, I'm dead now. FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU"

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by Chamale on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 00:07.

 

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Tornado Warning - Southern Ohio - Category 4

 

 

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Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by Craig R. on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 19:25.

I would like more information on the implementation of such a system.

Considering how sirens currently work (ie, LOUD), I can easily imagine them piping in siren noise through your gaming console. And pity on the souls who are wearing headsets.

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by Arcanagos on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 21:47.

Would it really be much different from the screaming kids?  I'm already half deaf in my right ear thanks to them, I don't really think a siren would be much worse... :P

"Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, Jack Thompson'll justify it in the end." - nightwng2000

"Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, Jack Thompson'll justify it in the end." - nightwng2000

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by JustChris on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 16:48.

I vaguely remember an episode of Tiny Toons where Buster Bunny's video game was interrupted by breaking news and he goes "Wow, it must be really important for them to stop you in the middle of a video game."


GameSnooper

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by GrimCW on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 15:57.

and this is why i don't have facebook/myspace/any of that trash.

 

they just use it to paint whatever picture they want of you so if ya get outta line they can arrest you under false pretense of translating your words to fit their agenda.

as for this warning crap.. they'd better not, or i'm filing a complaint, TBH i don't give a shit if that damned city gets blown into a heaping pile of rubble, leave me out of it. I live in NY STATE not city, and i simpley could care less if anyone wants to trash that place as it juices every penny the rest of us pay in taxes while we rot under the promise of all this new shit from the gov and senator... yeeahhh.. not gonna happen.

Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 12:48.

What they don;t know playing 2nd life leads to higher suicid rates!!!


Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.

---

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Re: Console-based Emergency Alert System Testing Underway ...

Submitted by DarkSaber on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 12:44.

Most of these seem fairly reasonable, but "Other Empire 2.0 measures include monitoring Facebook in a bid to spot and stop potential suicidal behavior" this crosses a line.

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PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am
E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am
E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am
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MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am
E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm
E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm
Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am
E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am
MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am
E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am
Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am
Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm
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