Google Person Finder.. Japan

[Synful*Luv]

Because Google is Amazing, To help out with missing persons in Japan after the Earthquake and Tsunami... Google created this:

Google Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake

If there's a god... it's Google.

Google's quickly launched a version of its Person Finder app to help people try and locate friends and family caught up in the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Available in both English and Japanese, the tool allows people to post details of their whereabouts or make enquiries about others. Typing in a name will deliver any information received about that person.

Within two hours, over 2,000 reports had been logged on the site, and the number's already up to nearly 4,000. Many reports are added by volunteers who collate information from Twitter and other sources and add it to the database.

Google has also made the code available to developers who wish to embed the tool on their website.

It's also set up a crisis response page linking to a wide range of information sources. These include up-to-date tsunami warnings and several disaster message boards.

The earthquake hit at around 2.45pm local time today. A tsunami has already struck Japan itself, and the whole Pacific is believed to be at risk; warnings have been issued as far afield as Chile and Hawaii.

Google launched a similar service after the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, which held about 11,500 reports. The company first offered a Person Finder service following the Haiti earthquake which struct in January 2010.

 

[Flipmo]

I was just about to post it. Great stuff from Google.

 

[masta247]

Well, yes if anyone actually used this. I can't find anyone, yet they are all alive and well. Not to mention that there are probably shitloads of people with the same name and I can't find anyone.

 

[Bobby Sands]

saw the footage of it earlier. thats just devestating.

 

[Synful*Luv]

Well, yes if anyone actually used this. I can't find anyone, yet they are all alive and well. Not to mention that there are probably shitloads of people with the same name and I can't find anyone.

Well, give it a bit of time. People are still recovering.. once things settle down more then there will be more of an opportunity to use the app.

 

[Flipmo]

saw the footage of it earlier. thats just devestating.

Compared to most nations - Japan is the best prepared country in the world to deal with earthquakes, for obvious reasons. Most of their infrastructure is built to take on strong natural disasters. Obviously, this is the strongest one they've ever received on record, so there will be damages, no doubt. I think the 2nd strongest one was in the early 20th century at 8.2, and it killed 100 000+ people. That being said, I've been reading about Vancouverites in Tokyo feeling aftershocks of 7.0 and people were relatively calm. Not to mention, the Japanese Red Cross is one of the best in the world as well, especially in terms of supplies available for these things. The nuclear reactors are somewhat of a concern though... but it should get fixed (the optimist in me talking).

Gotta give it up to Japan though, when these guys get hit by natural and man-made (WW2) disasters, they get organized and come back stronger. Always admired them for that.

 

[masta247]

Yeah Japan is a very specific nation and they always seem to be prepared for everything (so no wonder that they are prepared for things that tend to actually occur from time to time). Also their mentality is totally different. If something hits them in the balls they unite and spend days and nights to build the best ball protector known to men, using the occasion to also develop 100 different things. And Japanese determination usually means fucking awesome things. Just don't give them too much care-free time or they will record TV shows where men dressed up as sausages hit their heads against the wall or each others heads. Boredom I'd say. They need a goal to be sane.
However I'm almost 100% positive that if they had a major reactor malfunction they would keep it quiet, even if there were serious problems they would say that there are not.

 

[Flipmo]

Oh, for sure. Totally agree. If they started saying that there are huge malfunctions they'd keep it quiet to assure there isn't mass hysteria (added to the current hysteria that is). All we seem to know now is that the water cooling system is having trouble, they're working around the clock trying to fix it, and that the surrounding areas have been evacuated. For the rest, we'll see...

Edit: Death toll is at 300 now, expected to rise a lot more.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Japan PM has declared a nuclear emergency? i read that somewhere.

 

[Bobby Sands]

[video]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/[/video]

those poor people. fuck.

 

[Flipmo]

Imagine waking up, looking out your window and you see that tsunami heading for you. Bricks are shat.

Nuclear emergency? Haven't seen any of that, yet.

 

[Casey]

Just read about the nuclear thing. They are going to release radioactive steam into the atmosphere to try and stop the pressure build-up. Obviously not ideal but better than the alternative. They've evacuated residents in the area.

 

[S O F I]

Yeah Japan is a very specific nation and they always seem to be prepared for everything (so no wonder that they are prepared for things that tend to actually occur from time to time). Also their mentality is totally different. If something hits them in the balls they unite and spend days and nights to build the best ball protector known to men, using the occasion to also develop 100 different things. And Japanese determination usually means fucking awesome things. Just don't give them too much care-free time or they will record TV shows where men dressed up as sausages hit their heads against the wall or each others heads. Boredom I'd say. They need a goal to be sane.
However I'm almost 100% positive that if they had a major reactor malfunction they would keep it quiet, even if there were serious problems they would say that there are not.

yeah yeah. In the 80s. Japan still has trouble fighting off deflation and their tech companies are partnering with other firms because they're behind lol.

I give it to them for knowing how to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis though.

 

[masta247]

yeah yeah. In the 80s. Japan still has trouble fighting off deflation and their tech companies are partnering with other firms because they're behind lol.

I give it to them for knowing how to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis though.

Not only the 80s but I see your point. I mean - it's true that the traditional Japanese mentality is being replaced by that modern one. Back in the days they were influenced by the west and wanted to show how valuable they were by doing what they were good at - they stole an idea from Americans, they improved it and people knew that it will be done properly, with a lot of attention to details.
Now people in Japan want to be like Americans and do business like Americans. The Japanese way (which was a prime example of how to do business in an amazing way) is dying these days, the traditional Asian mentality is dying in the Japanese youth today so even casual workers don't work like they used to. They are not trying as hard. That contributes to the problem.

It's not like Japanese tech companies are that behind though, it's that some companies in other Asian countries are getting that awesome lately.
South Korea and China are taking over. For example Sony had to team up with Samsung because Sony was the no.1 TV maker yet Samsung creates the best LCD displays and the world has moved to LCD. Sony didn't even have their own LCD factory until they started the joint venture with Samsung. They contributed almost nothing but money and some electronics. Now let's not forget that Samsung started by selling cheap imitations of Sony TVs which is ironic. Now Samsung spends much more on R&D and thanks to the open minded Korean youth they are taking the lead. Koreans want to get big and they see the opportunity now. Same with the Chinese.

Still a lot of the most awesome technologies are developed in Japan though. They are not the undisputed leaders they were in the 80s but they are still up on top. The way they work still often puts westerners to shame.

 

[Pittsey]

The Japanese economy has been that way for as long as I can remember though.

As for the Earthquake and Tsunami. It's harsh. But their structural engineering is superb. As far as I can tell, most of the damage was done, and most of the lives lost when the Dam bust.

As for the nuclear reactor. Last I heard they were pumping water into the cooling system and all was under control.

 

[Stred]

2012.

 

[S O F I]

Not only the 80s but I see your point. I mean - it's true that the traditional Japanese mentality is being replaced by that modern one. Back in the days they were influenced by the west and wanted to show how valuable they were by doing what they were good at - they stole an idea from Americans, they improved it and people knew that it will be done properly, with a lot of attention to details.
Now people in Japan want to be like Americans and do business like Americans. The Japanese way (which was a prime example of how to do business in an amazing way) is dying these days, the traditional Asian mentality is dying in the Japanese youth today so even casual workers don't work like they used to. They are not trying as hard. That contributes to the problem.

It's not like Japanese tech companies are that behind though, it's that some companies in other Asian countries are getting that awesome lately.
South Korea and China are taking over. For example Sony had to team up with Samsung because Sony was the no.1 TV maker yet Samsung creates the best LCD displays and the world has moved to LCD. Sony didn't even have their own LCD factory until they started the joint venture with Samsung. They contributed almost nothing but money and some electronics. Now let's not forget that Samsung started by selling cheap imitations of Sony TVs which is ironic. Now Samsung spends much more on R&D and thanks to the open minded Korean youth they are taking the lead. Koreans want to get big and they see the opportunity now. Same with the Chinese.

Still a lot of the most awesome technologies are developed in Japan though. They are not the undisputed leaders they were in the 80s but they are still up on top. The way they work still often puts westerners to shame.

Agreed on most points. Not sure about on top since their economy has been sluggish lately and have been replaced by China (now they have 3rd biggest GDP). Basically, I'm just arguing cause I like to. And to show Pittsey that, no Pitts, the 90s were shit for Japan, hence the term "The Lost Decade" lol. So it's not like they've had a booming economy forever, maybe in the 60s, 70s, and 80s yeah.

 

[ARon]

Tight, I actually used this to find someone, luckily someone has reported they are alive. In other news, Jackie Chan is missing!

 

[Bobby Sands]

according to bbc news, two of the cooling reactors have failed

oh shit.

 

[Jokerman]

Japanese authorities declared a state of emergency Saturday for five nuclear reactors