Text messaging more than just child's play

Rushing through the hustle and bustle in the busy District of Columbia streets, Nakiya Lee, a junior human resources generalist at Watson Wyatt, never takes her eyes off of her Blackberry during her commute to work. Her fingers are a blur as she taps a text message out. Then she glares at the small screen, waiting for the next "new message" alert.The 25-year-old DC resident doesn't consider herself a text messaging addict, but she might as well be. She, like many other text messaging addicts, depends on it to get, and stay in touch with friends or to get directions to a party.

"I'm very busy so I don't answer my phone often and I never check my voicemail," says Lee. "Text messaging works better for me because I can get straight forward information fast and I can refer to it whenever I want to."

Lee is not alone. A recent survey by writers for Ministry of Tech, a Web site designed to bring the latest in innovative, creative and cutting-edge technology, predicts that incoming and outgoing text messages to mobile phones will more than double over the next five years.

In the first quarter of 2008, nearly 58 billion text messages were sent over the Verizon wireless network from coast to coast. The number is predicted to reach 2.3 trillion by 2010.

"During emergencies, texting is much better because I would be much better reading a text rather than taking the time it takes to go through all my voicemails," added Courtney Battle, a 22-year-old Howard University student. "I need to know now."

Law enforcement agencies, like the DC Police Department and the Fairfield, Connecticut, police department, are also taking advantage of this new technology to inform residents of emergencies and to fight crime in their cities.

The District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) has implemented a community alert system, The Alert DC, which provides rapid text notification and update information during a major crisis or emergency. The system delivers the messages on a range of devices, including e-mail accounts, cell phones, pagers, Blackberries or wireless PDAs.

In Fairfield, the police is asking residents to provide anonymous crime fighting tips through text messaging from a mobile phone or online.

"The popularity of text messaging has created a significant opportunity for the public to help law enforcement agencies fight crime," said Fairfield Chief Dave Peck in a message he posted on the department's web site. "The ability for any citizen who owns a mobile phone to assist in crime solving is of great importance to communities globally and we are excited to pay such a pivotal role in the transmission of these crime fighting tips."

Fairfield Lt. Chris Lyddy, commander of the investigative division, is convinced text messaging dramatically increases police crime solving capabilities. "I have been a law enforcement officer for over 25 years and this is by far the most innovative, progressive tool I have ever seen in my career," said Lt. Lyddy.

Here in DC, residents must set up an account on Alert DC to receive the alerts. But each person is limited to two email addresses and two additional devices such as a cell phone, Blackberry or wireless PDA. The cost for the information alerts can range from free to only a few pennies, depending on cell phone carrier.

Text messaging users used last month's crash on Metro's Red Line as an example of how effectively this new technology can be used. "FYI - D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. officials will be conducting a televised news conference about the METRO accident within the next few minutes," appeared in the inbox of Alert DC users.

Shanie Graydon, DC resident for over 10 years, feels that this will benefit her kids more than anything. "I have three teenagers and they always use text messaging on their phone," said Graydon."I won't always be able to update my kids on what they need to be prepared for. I may not know."

Many colleges are also instituting student alert programs using text message technologies. For example, Howard University has one it uses to informs student of local incidents via text messaging and email.

Still, Graydon is skeptical that text message alert systems can be effective in large-scale emergencies, because network systems will not be able to deliver a high volume of emergency messages in a short time.

"I would feel more comfortable if I were to call my kids to alert them of possible crimes in the neighborhood, and for them to say 'I already got the text!'" said Graydon.

For more information on registration, visit the Alert DC website at www.textalert.ema.dc.gov.