is it time for an internet based 911 / 999 service - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:08:48 pm
content: With many more people spending time online is it now time to have an internet 911/999 based response unit, some say that it would be abused but I think if a warning that any abuse would result in you the owner of the IP being fined for wasting time would get rid of much of that. Such things as real time IP feed cameras that can be accessed by police on the premises / person being attacked would surely be useful if in place as well as the person being attacked etc being able to send help messages or such to the police at the time, even a pre recorded email or message asking for help at the press of a keystroke.What is your opinion

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:31:51 pm
content: You can already text 911 here in my area of the States, not sure if that is nationwide or not?Are you thinking a continuously monitored help@911.com email address or something?

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:45:57 pm
content: something like that yes, not that I want to set one up, here in the UK the police have facebook accounts but you will see they say it is not monitored and you are to ring 101 or 999 in case of an emergency, kind of a waste of resources to me.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:47:52 pm
content: You'll need to consider the new failure-modes. Start with spam, false return addresses, and DDoS attacks

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:54:47 pm
content: I meant is it time the police implemented such a thing not me, I dont think they would put up with DDoS attacks etc on this one

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:58:41 pm
content: Mobile phone turn on and dial 112. Works even if you are out of airtime. works so long as any carrier is available, even if you disable roaming to it. Gives reasonable geolocation or at least a good idea as to the general area you are when you need it, unlike a reverse DNS lookup.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:59:14 pm
content: Quote from: Deathwish on August 30, 2015, 02:54:47 pmMitigating a DDoS is not quite as simple as saying "Right, I've had enough of this now. Let's make it stop".Generally the interaction between a telephone provider and law enforcement is nicely coordinated and to a degree legislated. You have no where near that level of control once you expose it to the shitfight that is the "internet". It just won't end well.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:59:26 pm
content: I see them on TV shows watching monitors of street cameras etc so it cant be that hard for them to get someone to set up an internet system and sit doing the same thing

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 02:59:38 pm
content: Has anyone done a study? Is there currently a measurable issue with people attempting to get help without success?

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 03:03:38 pm
content: Video link direct to 911 would be very useful as evidence during certain situations. The actual means by which said video is transmitted is a different matter.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 03:05:36 pm
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on August 30, 2015, 02:59:38 pmI don't know, but I see people trying to report assaults online via facebook and racist attacks too, I have seen a whole facebook group trying to report one woman for assaulting a male as well and then some days later plod as we call them here arrest someone when a picture is posted online, then you have those who are unable to get to a phone and /or lots of other scenarios.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 03:14:08 pm
content: Well, in theory fast help sounds like a great idea! But, i'd bet the reason for turning to facebook for help is because that's all they know, in which case a centralized 911 unit wouldn't have helped anyhow.I know lots of people (mostly wife's friends) that only use FB, nothing else, are completely oblivious how to find utilize the web. Even Google escapes them,

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 03:41:23 pm
content: You can, if you have a disability, get access to a (sms) text service for the emergency lines. For deaf people for example.I think a lot of important context is lost in text communications.- Ambient noise.- Bystander talks.- Current status of the person in contact. Which humans can determine after 1 spoken sentence.I do not see a successful future for Whatsapp or Facebook type emergency services. They'd get swamped by fake conversations.Also, I think the overall conversation time gets longer. Resulting in help arriving later as well.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 05:01:59 pm
content: MagicJack (VOIP device) allows you to set your address for emergencies. But as far as I know it's US only.Cell phone calls to 911 the operator will ask you for the address, there was a neighbors fire years ago when I used my cell co call 911, not sure if they verified the address to my cell location but I guess they could verify it that way.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 08:14:00 pm
content: Some one hal inched my heating oil, I reported it to the police and ever since I have been spammed with police crime reports weekly texts and recorded message phone calls too. I cannot see why any one would wish to call the police in an emergency via an email, apart from anything else emails can take 20 minuets or more to arrive after sending depending on how busy the servers are, I have sent myself emails in the past to check delivery times and on one occasion it took over four hours for the message to arrive back.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 09:33:57 pm
content: Another reason why not just presented itself in the Netherlands.http://www.nu.nl/internet/4116043/website-politie-onbereikbaar-cyberaanval.html

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2015, 09:54:07 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on August 30, 2015, 08:14:00 pmWhere I live you're on your own anyhow. Either you fight your way out of the situation, or drive whoever/yourself to the hospital.You'd die of starvation waiting for help around here!

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 12:35:52 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on August 30, 2015, 08:14:00 pmRead the RFC for SMTP. It's not in any way, shape or form a real time service. Heck, you're supposed to retry for up to 4 days and provide periodic status reports.Sorry, one of my biggest bug-bears is muppets who phone up and say "I sent you an E-mail 10 minutes ago, why haven't you replied?".

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:11:37 am
content: Quote from: miguelvp on August 30, 2015, 05:01:59 pmThe Australian telecommunications regulator originally wanted VOIP to operate in the mobile telephone number range (and charge as such) but in the end VOIP terminates into normal landline connections and the regulator required (not sure if they still do) that all VOIP connections have an associated physical address which they would operate from to avoid confusing the emergency operators. Just protecting the incumbent telecommunications providers by preventing the use of new and more flexible technology.Also note this is the country where the emergency operators are still stuck with the idea of the nearest crossroads being the only way to locate somewhere:http://www.smh.com.au/national/triple0-review-urged-by-coroner-as-iredale-inquest-ends-20090507-aw1a.html

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:15:03 am
content: I think not. Rolling out such a system would have little benefit, considering emergency services are available off any working phone. In the case of mobile phones, you don't need a SIM and on landlines (if you still use them) the line simply needs to be connected at the exchange, it doesn't even need a service or dial tone to be able to dial 000 in Australia.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 12:16:54 pm
content: Quote from: BradC on August 31, 2015, 12:35:52 am"It's e-effing-mail not e-effing-instant-effing-messaging for effing sake!" is an oft heard rant of mine lol.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 12:58:27 pm
content: Quote from: Deathwish on August 30, 2015, 02:08:48 pmPost a pic of what happens on facebook, together with help + address.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 02:36:29 pm
content: Waaay too easy to abuse. Take a walk around your area and see how many insecure W-LAN routers you find. Then call them an ambulance...McBryce.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:29:03 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on August 31, 2015, 12:16:54 pmI have to actually be at the computer to get the mail, if I am out of my office I do not get it. If it is urgent use the phone, I might answer it.I do not answer the phone when I am in the toilet, when I am out of the building ( only the cellphone then) or when I am busy up a ladder or buried in some machine that has broken down for some reason or the other. I also rarely answer the phone after hours, and I do not sleep with it or take it into the shower. If i am asleep I might not wake up in time to walk to the next room to answer it either. I do not do Whatsapp, Farkbook or SMS. I might respond to SMS, though the most common one is "Your number has won $xxxxxx in the <insert comany name here> competition. Call Mr D Head on 0xxxxxxxxx to claim your prize".