Testing Technology in a Disaster Response

THIS IS ONLY A DRILL: IN CALIFORNIA, TESTING TECHNOLOGY IN A DISASTER RESPONSE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: John Markoff]
In San Diego, teams from the Pentagon, nongovernmental agencies and several dozen technology companies participated in a five-day simulation meant to showcase and test a new set of digital tools in responding to disaster. The limitations of even the latest technology were in evidence when an effort to restore communications by setting up ad hoc wireless networks resulted in a three-day data traffic jam. Yet the problems encountered in the training effort, named Strong Angel III, did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants, a diverse group of more than 800 “first responders,” military officers and software and wireless network experts -- some from rivals like Microsoft and Google, working side by side. More than $35 million in equipment was assembled as part of the event, aimed at preparing for natural disasters, epidemics, terrorist attacks or the aftermath of war.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/technology/28disaster.html
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