Iphone Haiti relief 
Josh
Your surveys are relevant, though calling the application a PR stunt has run out of line, it can make it harder to possess a productive discourse downstream.
An apple iphone application could be helpful, simply since several people curently have them. Haitians might not, quite a few the relief workers will. The application may also likely rise in utility in the future along with a wider selection of workers enter into the nation from smaller sized organizations who don’t have centralized support or are volunteers.
I made use of my iPhone in Afghanistan this past year, the applying OffMaps can cache as much as 150 MB of OSM data. The OSM map of Kabul is detailed and functional. Very helpful to get it on-hands.
Shaun consulted me before the application being released, beginning the conversation with “Jeffrey: gotta sec to perform a sanity check up on something beside me?Inches Therefore we discussed the utility from the application and just what to set up it.
I encouraged him to assist using the application. I know it will likely be helpful. I am not envisioning it getting used within the first days following the disaster, and surely within the coming days.
In Afghanistan one thing I observed is the fact that in the future a broader selection of smaller sized organizations become involved. These generally do not have GIS support or costly technology. Efforts similar to this, coordinating imagery, mapping, and smartphone apps, might be very helpful within the ‘long-tail’ of renovation. Consumer technology must be introduced in as it’s less expensive and simpler to make use of compared to equipment utilized in the first response.
A Gps navigation unit able to color maps is several occasions more costly than an apple iphone, and so far as I understand the iPhone includes a greater resolution screen than any available on the market. Whether or not the cell service doesn’t work, a couple of hundred dollars to have an overhead view is a big help. I expect smartphones is going to be integrated further into disaster response.
Even when a specific iPhone application doesn’t achieve both your hands of the Haitian, the understanding and systems created within the last 24 hrs round the task were certainly worthwhile. Disasters take place in areas with iPhones too, and cell coverage goes to visit out, so having the ability to rapidly change projects like this is valuable later on.
I actually do possess some concerns with using iPhones and smartphones. For example in Afghanistan the Gps navigation was horrible, it might sometimes place me hundreds of miles off. I wouldn’t respond with *only* an apple iphone, it will need to be combined with caution before the technologies are validated, however that wont happen until starting while using tech within the field (very carefully).
I’d love to take part in further discussion and planning. My electronic mail is HuffmanTM@gmail.com
Resourse: http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/01/