Comments on: In the background http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/ Dr. Mike Blyth, pediatrician at Evangel Hospital in Jos, Nigeria Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:11:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mike http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26786 Mike Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:31:59 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26786 I have never heard of Twitter being used here, and I've never even used it myself. For that matter, I'm not sure I understand the whole point myself ... in any case, cell phones are extremely popular but few people have access to internet, and even fewer have frequent access, so phone-to-phone communication is by far the most useful form of communication. I should experiment with Twitter, I suppose, to get a better sense of its potential. The idea of using it in an emergency is intriguing, but doesn't it depend on internet access, the very first thing likely to be lost in an emergency, at least here? I have never heard of Twitter being used here, and I’ve never even used it myself. For that matter, I’m not sure I understand the whole point myself … in any case, cell phones are extremely popular but few people have access to internet, and even fewer have frequent access, so phone-to-phone communication is by far the most useful form of communication.

I should experiment with Twitter, I suppose, to get a better sense of its potential. The idea of using it in an emergency is intriguing, but doesn’t it depend on internet access, the very first thing likely to be lost in an emergency, at least here?

]]> By: Jonathan Blundell http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26631 Jonathan Blundell Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:29:50 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26631 Mike - I'm curious as to how services like Twitter are playing a role (if any) in Nigeria. I know cell phones are prevalent - but I can't recall if people were using txt messaging much for the brief time when I was there in 2006. I know I was, in sending messages back and forth the entire two weeks to keep people posted on what was going on - but don't recall if many others were. I wonder if using a service similar to Twitter could help improve communications during emergencies or just day to day operations. Or, would the increased "transparency" become a security risk? Mike -
I’m curious as to how services like Twitter are playing a role (if any) in Nigeria. I know cell phones are prevalent - but I can’t recall if people were using txt messaging much for the brief time when I was there in 2006.
I know I was, in sending messages back and forth the entire two weeks to keep people posted on what was going on - but don’t recall if many others were.
I wonder if using a service similar to Twitter could help improve communications during emergencies or just day to day operations.
Or, would the increased “transparency” become a security risk?

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