ARC's Next Evolution

Obviously, I've been thinking a lot about systems to be used for a bit. So doodling around, I did this top level design.

As you can see, the affected people and the direct means that may be available to them for communication are outlined a bit. It's very high level, and doesn't take into account the various uses of the system - but basically, that's how a disaster communication system would work at the very beginning. As more order is created from the chaos, the dominant structures for the particular disaster would become apparent.

In the case of the unnamed tsunami, the dominant first level of communication was SMS. But post Hurricane Ivan, the dominant first level was actually HAM radio. Both systems were not used to maximum effect in these last two disasters, and that's something that we should probably file under 'Not Good'. There's a capacity to do that better.

Of course, word of mouth and other less technological solutions have been left out.

Under phone comes internet. But on a second look, some internet is done via satellite - which works well, and should be added. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) also is a technology that has been left out of the drawing, but that uses cellular/landline/internet, so the basics are there.

Of course, there's the new cell phones with cameras and so on. I imagine that would be useful.

UN ICT TASK FORCE and... Shareware?!

But here's the thing. I just got an email from one of the UN ICT Task Force email lists I'm on, and suddenly I'm seeing someone providing a solution similar to this - but doing it by shareware - not Free Software, not Open Source. So I responded that I would support the system if the source code was Free Software or Open Source, but I won't if the source code is privately held. There are claims that the system will be open, but... nothing tangible.

Why? Is it because I'm some incarnation of Richard Stallman? No. It's because the system should not be controlled by a private entity, and anyone and everyone should be able to adapt it to the specific needs of their region.

There are Free Software/Open Source projects out there that do a lot of this already, but simply haven't been integrated in this fashion.

GNU Bayonne - telephony.

A guy named Tex pointed me at PlaySMS - Mobile Portal System (MPS).

Groundstation for HAM Radio operators. HAM Radio Control Libraries that we can build more with.

hf - linux ham pactor soundcard program... the list goes ON.

All that needs to be done is integrate a lot of existing projects. That's all.

So I think that will be my focus for right now. Join in if you want.