Use of Mobile Devices for Earthquake Response, Network Applications, and Diagnostics

Mobile, hand-held electronic devices such as Internet-enabled cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and similar tools are vastly expanding the potential to bring sophisticated Internet-based communications to a broader pool of users and workers than the traditional, wired Internet. In particular, such cellular devices are making possible a host of new mechanisms for remote interaction with seismic network hardware, seismic waveform data, and real-time seismic software systems in areas with reliable coverage. Many seismic network diagnostics and interactive processes can be extended to mobile devices, eliminating the need for personnel to be tethered to laptops and hard-wired Internet connections. With...