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PROPOSAL NAME: Emergency Alerts over LAN/WLAN #189

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upintheairsheep opened this issue Nov 28, 2024 · 7 comments
Open

PROPOSAL NAME: Emergency Alerts over LAN/WLAN #189

upintheairsheep opened this issue Nov 28, 2024 · 7 comments

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@upintheairsheep
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upintheairsheep commented Nov 28, 2024

Introduction

Hello, I would like to suggest a protocol to enable non-cellular internet connected devices to receive emergency alerts, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Emergency_Alerts

Today, only cellular devices like smartphones are required to have EAS, and radios and cable TV have as well. Unfortunately, if you do not have a phone nearby, you will not hear the message and potentially risk your life. This is especially important for places like California that receive Earthquakes, which are extremely urgent, seconds matter. There should be a protocol to enable wireless devices such as smart TVs and WiFi-only tablets to receive EAS messages and display them, preferably please make it use as less resources for the deamon as possible, so it does not impact the performance of low-end or antiquated devices, and can fit on small IoT devices, possibly a specific packet can send a request to the device, but it may open up a security hole. AMBER alerts will be exclusive to internet-connected vehicles, and the insides of certain large buildings like malls and airports (with a tone less urgent than a life-threatening emergency) to prevent desensitization/alert fatigue and to prevent a dislike towards a world with emergency alert points everywhere.

Use Cases (Recommended)

Every device from smart TVs (present to 10+ years old if possible), game consoles (all game consoles capable of multitasking). Future goals include having intercom companies, security system companies, and Voice-EVAC fire alarm companies adding EAS notification by default on all devices in the commercial space, so for example a school with all phones put away using exclusively iPadOS devices, ChromeOS devices, Windows devices in computer science classes, and intercom and fire alarm system all through the school will have emergency messages brodcasted through all fronts. Same goes with an office complex with mixed Windows, macOS, and Linux usage and intercom system. IoT companies will also be able to use any security camera, smart doorbell, smart speaker, smart fridge, and more to act as sirens in cities without sirens. Additionally, smart heating systems, industrial systems smart thermostats, and more can take special precautions like shutting themselves off. Earthquake support is a priority due to their nature.

Goals (Optional)

Be implemented in as many devices as possible, save lives

Non-goals (Optional)

N/A, obvious, it won't be able to access your location and send it to the authorities nor allow you to time travel.

Proposed Solution

Without being too prescriptive, articulate a specific way (procedurally, algorithmically, declaratively) that a new or current web technology solves an existing problem or challenge.

Examples (Recommended)

Share one or more examples of how your proposal would be used by developers.

Alternate Approaches (Optional)

Could this challenge be addressed another way? Including other options you considered can help others understand the limitations or adverse side effects of other approaches.

Privacy & Security Considerations

Security risks depends on the technical implementation, but privacy concerns will be none (it does not take data, only give data).

Let’s Discuss (Optional)

This is a great place to list out questions you'd like others to weigh in on or areas you need feedback on.

@MrBrain295
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I am all for the web being more capable but this seems like too specific of a use case to warrant a whole web api.

@MrBrain295
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Also would this require a tab constantly open?

@AdamSobieski
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AdamSobieski commented Dec 4, 2024

What if end-users could subscribe to securely receive alerts from one another (e.g., via ActivityPub/Fediverse) and there was some way for devices (e.g., smartphones, smart TVs) to initialize and configure themselves to automatically subscribe to some accounts per localization? It might, then, be opt-in, ordinarily, but opt-out for a locale-based set of accounts, e.g., emergency-alerts-related accounts. Then, there would need to a protocol to obtain this list of alerts-related accounts given a location.

@MrBrain295
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This just seems too specific for a web standard. I think it could work well as a an app to download but not for the web.

@upintheairsheep
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upintheairsheep commented Dec 4, 2024 via email

@MrBrain295
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Then why make a wicg propsal?

@AdamSobieski
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AdamSobieski commented Dec 5, 2024

@upintheairsheep , you might want to consider proposing a new Community Group around these ideas and goals.

I was exploring Wikipedia, learning more about these topics, and, in my opinion, there could be opportunities to: (1) develop an extensible schema or ontology for emergency messages and non-emergency notifications (e.g., to be relayed per decentralized social media from special, official accounts), and (2) perhaps to expand on existing taxonomies of both of these kinds of messages.

From the Specific Area Message Encoding article, here is a table listing event codes in use:

Event Code Event Description
ADR Administrative Message
AVA Avalanche Watch
AVW Avalanche Warning
BLU National Blue Alert Act of 2013
BZW Blizzard Warning
CAE AMBER Alert
CDW Civil Danger Warning
CEM Civil Emergency Message
CFA Coastal Flood
CFW Coastal Flood Warning
DMO Practice/Demo Warning
DSW Dust Storm Warning
EAN National Emergency Message
EAT Emergency Action Termination
EQW Earthquake Warning
EVI Evacuation Immediate
EWW Extreme Wind Warning
FFA Flash Flood Watch
FFS Flash Flood
FFW Flash Flood Warning
FLA Flood Watch
FLS Flood Statement
FLW Flood Warning
FRW Fire Warning
FSW Flash Freeze Warning
FZW Freeze Warning
HLS Hurricane Local Statement
HMW Hazardous Materials
HUA Tropical Cyclone Warnings and Watches
HUW Tropical Cyclone Warnings and Watches
HWA High Wind Watch
HWW High Wind Warning
LAE Local Area Emergency
LEW Law Enforcement Warning
NAT National Audible Test
NIC National Information Center
NMN Network Notification Message
NPT Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System
NST National Silent Test
NUW Nuclear Power Plant
RHW Radiological Hazard Warning
RMT Required Monthly Test
RWT Required Weekly Test
SMW Special Marine Warning
SPS Special Weather Statement
SPW Shelter In-Place
SQW Snowsquall Warning
SSA Storm Surge Watch
SSW Storm Surge Warning
SVA Severe Thunderstorm Watch
SVR Severe Thunderstorm Warning
SVS Severe Weather Statement
TOA Tornado Watch
TOE 911 Telephone Outage
TOR Tornado Warning
TRA Tropical Cyclone Warnings and Watches
TRW Tropical Cyclone Warnings and Watches
TSA Tsunami Watch
TSW Tsunami Warning
VOW Volcano Warning
WSA Winter Storm Watch
WSW Winter Storm Warning
??A Unrecognized Watch
??E Unrecognized Emergency
??S Unrecognized Statement
??W Unrecognized Warning

and some future or planned event codes:

Event Code Event Description
BHW Biological Hazard Warning
BWW Boil Water Warning
CHW Chemical Hazard Warning
CWW Contaminated Water Warning
DBA Dam Watch
DBW Dam Break Warning
DEW Contagious Disease Warning
EVA Evacuation Watch
FCW Food Contamination Warning
IBW Iceberg Warning
IFW Industrial Fire Warning
LSW Landslide Warning
POS Power Outage Advisory
WFA Wild Fire Watch
WFW Wild Fire Warning

Notice, for instance, that the entire category of cyber doesn't occur in those tables.

Also, beyond saving lives with emergency messages, there are providing other types of real-time important or helpful notifications to people, e.g., for people to adapt their plans and logistics, perhaps to convenience them in their daily lives. A notification might, for example, indicate that a road is temporarily closed so that people might reroute with respect to their driving plans.

At the very least, these emergency and otherwise important messages from special, official decentralized social-media accounts could result in a different audible chime on people's smartphones.

Any thoughts on these ideas?

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