USGS Develops Twitter-Based Earthquake Detection 95
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the whole-lotta-shaking-going-on dept.
from the whole-lotta-shaking-going-on dept.
sprinkletown writes "A team of seismologists at the US Geological Survey has found that Twitter is the fastest way to get information out of an earthquake area, especially in those less densely populated. Seeing the Twitter community as an untapped resource, the USGS has developed a new way to track earthquakes by clustering quake-centric tweets."
Re:First post! (Score:4, Insightful)
it's a web site and you can put small messages on it that other people can read. That's all it is and ever was.
I share your sentiment, but realize, HTTP is a method of transferring files. That's all it is and ever was.
HTML is a method of marking up content. That's all it is and ever was.
Instant Messaging is just email, but faster. That's all it is and ever was. ...until you realize that it's not the technology behind it, but how people use it, that make it what it is. When Twitter is used as a blog site, it's exactly as useless as you suggest. [penny-arcade.com] When it's used as a conversation, that's somewhat different.
So no, I don't use it, but I think I'm starting to get what it's about.
Re:you can die then, and do us all a favor (Score:4, Insightful)
The area concerned was heavily industrial, so it mattered to me what was on fire because of potiential fumes.
Twitter is fast and useful for that occasional use. Which is why the army of constant micro-bloggers needs to be encouraged. We can then tap into their otherwise pointless garbage about everything that happens every moment of their lives. Because when something does happen, they will tweet about that.
Faking the next San Fransisco earthquake, anyone? (Score:3, Insightful)
A real purpose to Twitter (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously. This is the sort of thing twitter is really good at.
It's not knowing what Britney is eating for breakfast. Or how much a SKANK Malinda next door is. Or how much a bastard Billy is, oh but he's such a hunk. Or what color Aston K's turds are.
Thank goodness twitter popularity is dying.
Re:First post! (Score:3, Insightful)
That reminds me of the oil light on a Lincoln Continental. It lights up, then a few seconds later, your engine seizes!
A few seconds warning sometimes just adds to the drama of the inevitable. In the relativity of time, that means if we got a few hours warning of an imminent asteroid impact, it would just be enough time maybe for a little mass-hysteria and to kiss your family good-bye. :)
Don't encourage this...Please. (Score:3, Insightful)
Twitter is fast and useful for that occasional use. Which is why the army of constant micro-bloggers needs to be encouraged. We can then tap into their otherwise pointless garbage about everything that happens every moment of their lives. Because when something does happen, they will tweet about that.
Please do me a favor and don't encourage micro-bloggers. The last thing I need is some dumb-ass walking into the IT field claiming to be a "professional" when the only thing on the resume is "Logged over 200,000 tweets" and "Level 233 Vampire"