Web alarms, mobile alerts aim to make you safer

From emergency networks to guarding homes via the Web, new security technologies have sprung up in the U.S. in response to disasters, crises.

The story "Web alarms, mobile alerts aim to make you safer" published May 5, 2007 at 10:00 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[wbenton]

So did firewalls!

Aims and goals are one thing.

Achievements are another.

Walt

[kerryp24]

Web Alarms are old news

I work for Honeywell Security & Custom Electronics. Over 20 years ago we developed a business called AlarmNet which delivered security system alarms via radio. About 8 years ago, we developed a secure, UL approved method for delivery of alarms over the Internet. We now offer video verification, alerts to your cell phone and remote access to your home as well. What you discuss in your article isn't new. It's just the typical situation that people don't want to spend more for what they perceive to be a low risk situation. How much is ONE persons life worth? Blame it on the bean counters.

[bobbydi]

Verginia Tech Bad Example

15 minutes after the 1st 2 shootings at Virginia Tech, the male anchor at cable CNN(news CNN) refused to say who did the saying because he(the shooter) was of a race(a result of being scared of people like Sharpton). Saying this led many at Virginia Tech to think that shooter was black.
But the shooter was asian- the real shooter could walk into any building because on tv the anchor had,they presumed, said the shooter was black(the anchor thought the first shooting wasa murder-suicide, the black being the shooter to the anchor. At first that anchor did not say the black was dead- leaving the viewers who only listened to him thinking that there was a black shooter loose on the Virginia Tech campus. In the Virginia Tech case the alert helped the shooter kill or wound all the others after the first two. After the 2nd round of shootings CNN
reported that somebody had seen who the shooter
was and had barricaded the room they were in.
If that had been reported by CNN, and others early, maybe the 2nd group of shootings could have been prevented.