Word spreads quickly, far and wide
Not that these recent essays haven’t already been self-indulgent to some degree, but allow me to indulge in a little more: tech geekery and amazement about our ability to communicate with one another in real time at any time, anywhere on the planet.
The size, scope, and characteristics of the communications network that activated when I had my fall fascinates me.
It’s almost a case study in everything from culture to time zones to communications technologies and more. Much like the network of people that reached out, it was much larger than I’d realized.
Location
I only somewhat facetiously call it a “global” event.
Of course, it starts in North Bend, WA. News quickly travels to Woodinville, and then out to friends and family in the Seattle area, Whidbey Island, and Los Angeles.
Once the initial emergency has been handled, additional friends, acquaintances, and family members in South Korea, Florida, the Netherlands, and shipboard near Fiji (or thereabouts) get the news. Between the Netherlands and Fiji, we’ve almost hit the exact opposite sides of the planet.
I find that pretty amazing. In decades past, people wouldn’t have heard anything for days or even weeks. This all happens within minutes and hours.
Technology
Initial 911 calls were, of course, voice calls via mobile phones. After that, voice was relegated to only occasionally, or as needed for efficiency, or in some cases, individual preference.
SMS text messaging was used heavily between people coordinating various things with Kathy and amongst themselves, especially in the initial hours.
Facebook Messenger is the primary method I communicated with Kathy, and how she communicated with several of our friends throughout.
Not unlike much of the rest of the world, WhatsApp is Joo’s messenger of choice. That played a heavy role throughout, particularly as she communicated with her son and family back home.
Signal happens to be the messenger I use with my cousin’s widower in The Netherlands, and my shipboard friend at the near antipode thereof.
In a way, it’s unfortunate that there’s not as strong a standard for this. I know in much of the world, WhatsApp is the go-to messaging application, and perhaps would dominate the conversation. In part because of who I am, I’m more than willing to use whatever makes the other person comfortable. That means if they use WhatsApp, so will I. Signal? Sure. Is Facebook Messenger where you spend your day? I’ll see you there.
But that’s me. I can be flexible, and I know not everyone wants to install yet another messaging app.
Even amidst the chaos of the event, the chaos of communications technologies was a minor item and was handled cleanly by everyone involved.
Like I said, it was fun to watch.
As I often say to my kids “Whatever works”. I have friends & family who wouldn’t touch Facebutt with a barge pole. Many who are true Apple geeks and won’t touch Microsquish. Some who are on Instagram and many on WhatsApp. Some who abhor the Google. So, I run all of the above so that we can stay connected. When we were in Ireland, we used Signal. I’m constantly amazed at how it all seems to come together when needed. Heck, I still have a Hotmail account. Yes, it’s now an ‘Outlook’ account, but it sez Hotmail and I use it for some stuff I don’t want anywhere else. Fun & games. Hang in there. Steady as she goes.
*Waving from a ship in the South Pacific*
Indeed we had just docked in Suva, Fiji, when you messaged me, but even if we had been at sea, I would have received the message immediately since we’re constantly connected by satellite. The amazing part of this whole worldwide communication thing is the major paradigm shift from $25 phone overseas phone calls (in 1975 dollars; Seattle to Fiji would be around that much, per cGPT, or $147 today, per BLS Inflation Calculator) to — essentially — free.
We live in an amazing world.