The Fragility of Modern Communication Technologies

1. The Fragility of Modern Communication Technologies • Quake Area Residents Turn to Old Means of Communication to Keep Informed

2. The Fragility of Modern Communication Technologies • Orui (age 17): "I felt so isolated, you don't realize how much you rely on something until you lose it."

3. The Fragility of Modern Communication Technologies • Areas of Impact: People and Machines, Communication, Security and Reliability • Stakeholders: Refugees of disaster stricken areas and the general public

4. Technology Background Behind Cellular and Internet Networks • Cellular Networks transmit data from one client to the other through a series of satellite, cellular towers and seldom landlines.

5. Technology Background Behind Cellular and Internet Networks • For a cellular network to function, there are several hardware requirements: • 1. Two or more client ends, which includes the availability of coverage, battery and fees. • 2. Availability of hardware infrastructure, i.e. towers and satellites. • 3. Availability of service providers or equivalent coordinating party.

6. Technology Background Behind Cellular and Internet Networks • The Internet runs through several channels including large servers all around the world, peer to peer between computers also known as the cloud, and private servers around the globe.

7. Technology Background Behind Cellular and Internet Networks • Internet access requires: • 1. A terminal equipped with wireless or leased access to a modem and/or router • 2. Electricity, hardware and means of access to a terminal • 3. Available Internet Service Providers and corresponding wall sockets or remote access.

8. Positive Impacts of Modern Communication Networks Modern Communication Networks : • Enables easy global communication instantaneously through a number of different channels • Low cost or free easy access to modern communication networks for circulation of information • Provides the opportunity for multi-sourced and peer to peer information transfer between the public • Can be easily expanding geographically and virtually, i.e. cellphones in rural areas; Constant Internet expansion

9. Positive Impacts of Modern Communication Networks Modern Communication Networks : • Allows fast, easy and accessible transfer of multimedia information • Both synchronous and asynchronous communication are both available • Allow immediate feedback or response • Have become essential parts of social communication, business, infrastructure, information technology, politics etc. • Have become the favored mode of communication among the public

10. Negative Impacts of Modern Communication Networks Modern Communication Networks : • Are highly dependent on hardware infrastructure such as signal tower, servers etc. • Require a high amount of resources to enable access both initially and subsequently • Modern hardware facilities and basic social infrastructure are far too dependent on modern communication networks

11. Negative Impacts of Modern Communication Networks Modern Communication Networks : • Can be easily disrupted by natural disasters, hardware failures, terrorist attacks, hacker invasions etc. • The public is extremely reliant on modern communication networks, and any disruption could cause loss of money, important information and even social chaos. • Are not the safest place to disclose or store important or personal information

12. Solutions • Both physical and virtual guards • Emergency backup records: floppy diskettes, hard disks, cassettes, CD-ROMs, tapes, spreadsheets • Bulletin board systems: A computer and software providing a message database. Users log in and leave and read messages. Messages are often divided into topics. Some BBS provide archives of files or other services, e.g., e-mail. / chat rooms regarding disaster information • Evaluate and improve the physical and virtual reliability, security and hardware integrity of the required infrastructure • Develop emergency backup services in the case of natural disaster or attack • Conserve the more reliable old communication methods i.e. radio, newspaper etc.

13. Solutions Strengths • Guards: protection against physical and virtual threats • Emergency backup records(audio, written, etc.): loss of original records, still have others • Bulletin board systems / chat rooms: place to talk about common concerns, regarding after disaster (searching for missing people, refugee shelters, etc.) • Improve Infrastructure: effective and direct action to prevent aforementioned events from happening • Backup plan: foolproof plan B in case other alternatives fail • Old technology conservation: easily done as such technologies are still in service globally and provide a viable solution to disrupted communications during disasters

14. Solutions Weaknesses • Guards: Require either or both human and technological resources • Emergency backup records: could be stolen • Bulletin board systems/chat rooms: not as many older generation people use internet/not available to as many people, compared to radio • Improve Infrastructure: requires large amount of money and time investment to complete • Backup plan: requires development of communication technology alternatives assuming no available hardware infrastructure • Old technology conservation: Not as fast or efficient in disaster scenarios

15. Solutions Areas For Future Development • Guards: online threats:firewalls/barriers • Bulletin board systems / chat rooms: "made public only to" preferences (facebook, ning, twitter), password