This New Earthquake App Could Save Your Life | ||
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A new smartphone app is being developed at the University of California that could revolutionise the way people respond to earthquakes, the Cal Alumni Association reports. MyShake is a mobile warning system in your pocket, a way of giving everyone the chance to detect earthquakes early and save precious minutes. It's the work of Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, which focuses on sensors and communication devices for train operators, nuclear power plants, and other crucial sectors. The technology was unveiled at the World Science Forum in 2013 — the team behind the project noting particularly how it could benefit those in countries that can't afford earthquake detection systems as well as those living in risky areas like California who simply want to be better equipped. The app works using something called the accelerometer, says SciDev, which is a sensor that measures the speed of smartphone movement, alongside GPS to identify tremors. At the moment, earthquake apps, such as the Red Cross', simply transfer alerts to smartphones after they've been picked up by the authorities. Allen told the forum the system has "enormous potential" and believes that with one billion smartphones worldwide, it will grant improved safety to the masses. Testing of MyShake, which will be free, is ongoing there's hope it'll be able to detect magnitude 3 quakes at 100 kilometres very soon. With California particularly at risk from earthquakes, mining data to trigger alerts to the public is a welcomed idea in the area. The Berkeley Science Review reports students on the university campus are trialling it and Qingkai Kong, who's working on the development, says it could “open up a whole new world in seismology.” Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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10 Things You Need To Know In Markets Today | ||
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Good morning! Here are some of the major news stories moving markets ahead of the market opening in London. A Senior Japanese Lawmaker Says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Has Decided To Call An Election. "It looks like Shinzo Abe has finally made up his mind and it's fair to consider that he decided to go to the people," said Tadamori Oshima, a former deputy chief of Abe's party. The Saudi Oil Minister Seems Comfortable With Lower Prices. Minister Ali Al-Naimi denied that the OPEC cartel nations were engaged in a price war, saying that the market set prices, according to the Financial Times. German Inflation Came In As Expected. Prices rose by 0.8% in the year to October, with more European inflation data out later this morning. India And The United States Have Resolved Some Of Their Trade Differences. Washington and New Delhi said Thursday they have resolved a row over Indian food subsidies that blocked a key WTO trade agreement earlier this year. Hasbro Is Reportedly In Talks About Buying Dreamworks Animation. Deadline reports that DreamWorks and Hasbro are in talks to create a combined family entertainment company that would be called DreamWorks-Hasbro, and says the deal is at least 60 days away from being finalised. Sony Just Unveiled Web-Based Service Playstation Vue. The new cloud-based TV service, PlayStation Vue, is expected to be commercially launched during the first quarter of 2015. The web-based television service allows users to access live TV and on-demand content without a cable or satellite service, the company said. China Is Set To Lift Its Aid to Pacific Nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping will offer a broad aid package to Pacific island nations at a summit in Fiji next week, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday, adding that there was also room to work with six island states not invited because of ties to Taiwan. It's A Quiet Day For Data. Confirmations of inflation in Spain, France and Italy are out before 9 a.m. GMT, and US initial jobless numbers are out at 1.30 p.m. GMT, with economists expecting 280,000 applications for unemployment assistance in the week to November 7. Asian Markets Rallied. The Nikkei closed up 1.14% in trading today and Hong Kong's Hang Seng is currently up 0.27% Keystone Pipeline May Finally Pass US Congress Next Week. The US Congress will vote in coming days on approving construction of the much-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline, a project Republicans claim is step one in their plan for enhanced US energy production. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
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