Emergency Telecommunications

Since the United States has become more populated and full of assets (property, buildings, etc) a modern system of communication become both a need and a luxury. In the case of emergencies, a line of communication is absolutely necessary both face to face and remote access. It may mean the difference between life and death. Technology is ever evolving in this area especially with the creation of GPS devices and enhanced telecommunication systems. You may have used one or both in your life maybe without even knowing. Throughout history humans have used a variety of methods to communicate from visual signs, audible signals, to remote tools.

Modern Communications
The telephone invented by Alexander Bell in 1876 was a first - more modern approach - to communications. Earlier, Nikola Tesla, James Bowman Lindsay demonstrated telegraph concepts and the electrical telegraph was developed in the United States in 1837 by Samuel F. B. Morse along with "Morse Code". Since then, science and technology have come a long way. In 1897 Guglielmo Marconi started the first radio station in England soon to be even more modernized by Westinghouse and tube technology where in the 1930's radio became popular in the United States. Meanwhile, The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and directly resulted in organization, coordination, regulation, and enforcement of multiple communications industry. Television technology in its early roots - the 1920's, adapted again in 1940's (Vladimir Zworykin, Isaac Shoenberg et al.), eventually leading to color television by the 1950's - became a vital tool in modern communications as well as entertainment. By the 1960's Sony introduced transistor technology decreasing the size of radios, one could now fit in your pocket. Handheld two-way radios became popular along with mobile/base units (the early analog systems were used first and have now advanced into digital trunking systems that utilize multiple channels and talk groups allowing for more radio traffic and less bandwith resources). Soon after, by 1963 color television was being broadcasted, and the first radio communication satellite, "Telstar", was launched marking a new era of modern communications. Today, many earth and space satellite communications systems are being used which allow for instant contact between points providing a backbone to critical operations.

Cellular phone networks were originally first available in Japan in the late 1970's. Originally cellular phones started from the concept of radiotelephone or using radio waves to facilitate a telephone call. Motorola first installed DynaTac in 1983, the predecessor to modern cell phone communication in the United States. Then, in Finland new technology known as 2nd generation or (2g) allowed for modern cell phone functions such as text messaging, now one of the most popular activities in the United States.

Computing Technology
Some inventions were nothing short of spectacular especially since the idea of computers began. The computer plays an important role in modern communications. Originally developed in the 1940's, implementing integrated circuitry in the 1970's, and the invention of the Personal Computer (PC) in the 1980's, computers are everywhere now. New technology (2002, 2005, and 2009) is allowing computers to become smaller, faster, more portable, and enabling massive storage amounts. Since technology has exploded so much in the past 10 years, PC equipment has become more affordable, available, and reliable for nearly any user.

Invention of the Internet
The internet and email formulated over initial network protocols between 1950's and 1960's, the development and adaptation of TCP/IP protocol in 1981, Internet Service Providers in the late 1980's, user interface display systems (such as 1994 Netscape browser), instant messaging, and broadband technology (also known as high speed internet) to create one of the most popular forms of modern communications history. Today, a home user can experience internet connection speeds of well over 20mbps. At broadband speeds, music, pictures, files, and video can be transmitted smoothly and in real-time.

The 911 Telephone System
One of the most important tools in emergency operations was the development and implementation of the modern 9-1-1 calling system. This essentially is the first step in activating the emergency operations system. In 1968 AT&T partnering with the FCC developed the 9-1-1 call numbering system, a similar concept to what was being used in Canada and the United Kingdom. The first 9-1-1 call was made in Alabama on February 16, 1968 to test the system, which was a complete success. More developed modern dispatch centers called PSAP, or Public Safety Answering Point's use computer aided dispatching systems that display the caller identification details such as location plus any nearby emergency responders available. This computer aided dispatching has led to more efficient emergency operations and coordinating response efforts.

Emergency Alert System
Old alert systems once were used to respond to war-time attacks. Today several modern systems exist including Amber alerts, traffic alerting, Emergency Alert System, tickers, pagers, cell phones, and radios. Each have multiple purposes and are now widely used across the United States. They are important because they fill a gap that once existed where no timely route for disseminating important messages were in place. Even to this day there are new systems being developed. What matters in the end is if the technology is effective. Warning methods have also incorporated technology with the use of SAME, Weather Radio's, audible sirens, and radio communications such as pagers. Sirens such as outdoor tornado alert systems originally were set in place to warn of World War II era attacks. Today they are mainly used for severe weather warnings such as tornado warnings to alert the public outdoors of dangerous weather. Sirens are also being used on computers, security alarm systems, door chimes (to alert of entry), emergency vehicles, and fire alarms. Although a siren is great for those who can hear it, new techniques for warning call for a more specific target - thus creation of Specific Area Message Encoding was born.

The 1990's innovation of the modern pager allowed another method to warn or call out select personnel. Pagers could be used via a cellular phone company or monitor a single radio frequency such as a fire department's dispatch channel. While silently monitoring the traffic on the selected frequency, no audio is heard. When the pager receives a preprogrammed tone or alert message, it can sound an audio alarm or open the audio to where the traffic can be heard via the speaker of the pager. This concept is known as "toning" or "toning out."

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a technical national warning system in the U.S. implemented in 1997 replacing The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), another emergency warning system used from 1963 to 1997. The new system called EAS used new technology such as headers, signals, message codes, and more to deliver more comprehensive, accurate, timely, and standard messages. For example, during a weather warning (it used to be for an entire county) alert radios used to go off even for people well outside of the danger area. Now, with the EAS system and S.A.M.E. (specific area message encoding) codes, alert devices can be preprogrammed to only sound for the specific area affected by the danger. This cuts down on false alarms, unnecessary warnings, and makes the messages more specific, in essence a more accurate warning system. Modern television and radio also incorporate an EAS system into their regular programming.

Today a variety of technologies can be used for warning purposes including radio, television, satellite, email, internet, websites, pagers, two-way radios, lights, lasers, and instant messaging/texting.

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