September 3, 2008
Virginia Tech Adds LED Message Boards for Emergency Notification
Virginia Tech has installed electronic message boards in more than 100 classrooms and in other locations around campus to deliver information during emergencies.
The LED displays are about two feet wide, and at most times they display only the time and date. But officials are working to connect the displays to the campus’s other alert systems, which can dash out alerts to cell phones, e-mail accounts, and university Web pages, according to The Roanoke Times. Once the links have been completed, any message sent to those systems will appear on the LED displays, so that even people whose cell phones are off or not working can see it.
The university has taken many steps to prepare for emergencies since a student there went on a shooting rampage last year.
Colleges and universities are adding as many possible communications channels as possible to their alert systems. Many institutions, including Virginia Tech, have also installed sophisticated siren systems. And a few have started to use Facebook, MySpace, and other social networks for emergency communication as well. —Jeffrey R. Young
Posted on Wednesday September 3, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
Commenting is closed for this article.
Previous: Spam Is a Letters Game, a Study Finds
Next: Network Administrators Keep a Wary Eye on Increasing Demand for WiFi
Sounds like a great idea to me, and the technology required is nicely unexotic. One easily overlooked feature of this system is its effectiveness for deaf and hearing-impaired students. And faculty.
— Dan Sep 3, 08:13 AM #
Ken – FYI. SW
— Sally Walker Sep 3, 08:13 AM #
Will these message boards have any audio component to assist blind and visually-impaired community members in learning the contents of the message?
— Patrick Sep 3, 08:45 AM #
It sounds to me like VT is trying to work within existing systems that students, faculty and staff should already be adjusted to and have methods for responding, regardless of physical constraints. The message boards are visual, therefore hopefully effective for the hearing impaired, as long as they can read. As for the visually-impaired, the end of the article mentions the already installed siren system, which is in line with other warning systems that the visually impaired should already have plans in place to respond to (tornado sirens, smoke alarms, fire truck sirens, etc.) These two technologies together with alerts to cell phones, e-mail accounts, and a variety of web pages should cover the majority of people. What else is there?
— Kimberley Sep 3, 09:08 AM #
Well, Kimberley, perhaps I’ve been out of the classroom too long, but “as long as they can read”? We are talking about a college classroom here, right?
Maybe I really just don’t understand how bad things have gotten. Is outright illiteracy, not just ineptitude at written communication, truly that common a problem in your classes?
Just asking.
— Dan Sep 3, 02:05 PM #
Sorry – that was an attempt at sarcasm! My keyboard doesn’t have a symbol for that one!
— Kimberley Sep 3, 05:09 PM #
Oh, sorry. I seem to be irony-impaired today myself.
— Dan Sep 3, 05:13 PM #
XQ1PAf <a href=“http://zhxebzcgiuqo.com/”>zhxebzcgiuqo</a>, [url=http://wlerupbuhjjm.com/]wlerupbuhjjm[/url], [link=http://nhnipqvlnrph.com/]nhnipqvlnrph[/link], http://wfiqftuihdtf.com/
— foensiuzmz Sep 5, 04:37 AM #
LzjDiB <a href=“http://evyczznvfxwb.com/”>evyczznvfxwb</a>, [url=http://qwiobuednlyp.com/]qwiobuednlyp[/url], [link=http://zzieqtxligbb.com/]zzieqtxligbb[/link], http://wbopkceljnpd.com/
— aubskrlr Sep 8, 12:06 PM #
OSsn2D <a href=“http://vhzqymnffnrn.com/”>vhzqymnffnrn</a>, [url=http://oyvhreyvubhr.com/]oyvhreyvubhr[/url], [link=http://qvxbndwcaghz.com/]qvxbndwcaghz[/link], http://uozwqylodtej.com/
— mvudzsm Sep 8, 04:35 PM #
SxxFNI <a href=“http://bijjlsdolngv.com/”>bijjlsdolngv</a>, [url=http://wenhwhexdzkc.com/]wenhwhexdzkc[/url], [link=http://tkhcltikpvmu.com/]tkhcltikpvmu[/link], http://gmvaimhdyrbd.com/
— hfwaxzk Sep 8, 04:35 PM #
Macchp <a href=“http://tzczsccnvlep.com/”>tzczsccnvlep</a>, [url=http://rjujbkksimjh.com/]rjujbkksimjh[/url], [link=http://wzbcglollnmy.com/]wzbcglollnmy[/link], http://arjdpnliuygg.com/
— nhlsbaaw Sep 8, 07:24 PM #
JIpsdc <a href=“http://eeakjvjxlawr.com/”>eeakjvjxlawr</a>, [url=http://opalcwuyioey.com/]opalcwuyioey[/url], [link=http://wilguuvydyqt.com/]wilguuvydyqt[/link], http://dmbsdyxaapnk.com/
— mqxrexkdydl Sep 8, 07:24 PM #
AQLzqS <a href=“http://qbjzgfrkczrp.com/”>qbjzgfrkczrp</a>, [url=http://cpkrgdcauaat.com/]cpkrgdcauaat[/url], [link=http://dzqonzxpvxqr.com/]dzqonzxpvxqr[/link], http://ncoyebmeudbp.com/
— rctsmpjhy Sep 8, 07:24 PM #
hp1vGI <a href=“http://wucuuokpjhqp.com/”>wucuuokpjhqp</a>, [url=http://syxnzrpvwfyk.com/]syxnzrpvwfyk[/url], [link=http://niuesuvgnbtx.com/]niuesuvgnbtx[/link], http://fxqepkvjmyoc.com/
— bqbvbktjg Sep 8, 07:24 PM #
6Qg6O0 <a href=“http://fmdggpdsrrwq.com/”>fmdggpdsrrwq</a>, [url=http://zvuxbrazcigs.com/]zvuxbrazcigs[/url], [link=http://hykymkrptcjw.com/]hykymkrptcjw[/link], http://aeckgwqvhhkm.com/
— xzicxisezm Sep 8, 11:56 PM #
www.al-mas-tn.org
www.al-mas-tn.org/up
http://soft.al-mas-tn.org
— madani102 Sep 10, 09:11 AM #
Dear friends,
We learn from Internet that you are specializing in the business of LED.As these items fall within the business scope of our corporation,we would like to establish business relations with you.
Our company, Shenzhen XiYang Technolgoy CO,LTD was established in 2001. It specializes in the export of various LED,such as High power LED,LED bulbs,LED wall washer,SMD LED, LED Moudles,LED Spotlights,LED Lamp and so on.
We become premium member in Made-in-China.com
Website: www.made-in-china.com/showroom/xylight
We take equal and mutual benefit as our management principles.We are taking pride in our exceptional service,high quality and reliable deliver.It is a pleasure for us to work with those who are interested in LED.We wonder if we can work with you.
It is first time to do business with each other ,so would you have any questions, pls feel free to contact us via mail or fax .You are wamly welcome to visit our factory and negotiate business with us.We would like to be your supplier in China. Also we should be glad to send you quotations and samples upon receipt of your concrete enquiries.
Website:www.xylight.com
Looking forward to your early reply.
E-Mail:sales@xylight.com
MSN:vivikang2006@hotmail.com
TEL: 86-0755-86104617
FAX: 86-0755-86104859
Best Regards
Yours faithfully
Vivi
— kang wei Sep 16, 03:19 AM #