The article describes one man's story after the quake and how he was able to notify his family in the U.S. almost directly after the disaster. The use of the low-tech radio was his only way of communicating with the outside world and was most likely extremely comforting.
Should people buy low-tech radios for their own homes? In the event of a disaster it is quite possible that the internet, phones, TV, and even being able to go from house to house could be quite impossible to use or do.
Allen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great article. Sometimes the more things change, the more we can appreciate a less complex way of accomplishing a similar task. Certainly cell phones are remarkably useful. But if the technology relies on a fragile infrastructure, then it is prudent to have an alternate or backup system. In this case, radio came to the rescue. In a time of ever-increasing use of the electromagnetic spectrum, it might be wise to retain a segment of that spectrum for less high-tech but proven-reliable devices. Not many people have a ham radio, but those who do seem to be dedicated to their use, especially in times of natural disaster.
So, hold on to your vinal LP records, key punch cards, and soon-to-be obsolete printed books. There is a justifiable need for new technologies, but having a wide variety of independent tools available can be very productive, and in this case, maybe life saving.