[mantraxC]

Nice, we're evolving the same mechanisms for quick herd notification that animals have.

This is why humans and animals scream when we're in danger (not because screaming is a very effective danger mitigator), and this is why some animals jump in place when they detect danger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stotting).

We've had these two signals exploiting our vision medium, and our sound medium. And now increasingly, we're adding signals exploiting our digital network medium.

As those become more and more commonplace they have a very tangible effect on our society. Think Twitter riots and what not.

BTW, people in Japan get an instant smartphone warning when there's an earthquake.

[kalleboo]

> BTW, people in Japan get an instant smartphone warning when there's an earthquake.

To be specific, BEFORE there's an earthquake. Otherwise it wouldn't be very useful :) And it's not just smartphones, this system is in place on dumbphones well (using the GSM Cell Broadcast feature).

Americans get an instant smartphone warning when a child has been kidnapped http://www.imore.com/amber-alerts-your-iphone-what-they-are-...

[bodhi]

> To be specific, BEFORE there's an earthquake. Otherwise it wouldn't be very useful :)

To be even more specific, after the earthquake has been detected, but hopefully before the seismic waves reach their location. Otherwise it would be magic ;)

[mnw21cam]

> To be specific, BEFORE there's an earthquake.

Yes, it takes a little while for seismic waves to travel from the epicentre to locations a fair distance away. The high speed trains are programmed to start braking as soon as an alert is heard - it's usually enough to shed 100mph or so off the speed before getting in trouble.