This is an ONTP_P news item right here - GOOGLE WAVE being used to track down killer!
Another Google Wave Use: Manhunt
by MG Siegler on November 30, 2009
Apparently, like everyone else, the Seattle Times is very interested in trying to figure out what to actually use Google Wave for. But while most are trying to use it for either fun, realtime chats, movie reenactments, or inner-business workings, the Seattle Times have tasked Wave with a larger goal: Catching a killer.
This public Google Wave has been set up to involve the community by offering realtime information that anyone may know about the location of a man suspected of killing four Seattle police officers. A search of a Seattle-area home this morning turned up nothing, but various reports of sightings are coming in, and the Times is opening a Wave to help with the flow of information.
About 45 minutes ago, the Wave was opened with just a few people in it. Already, there are over 100 people in here now communicating quickly with updates. Included are Wave elements with links to police scanner audio, live video footage of the search, a suspect description, and information about local schools on lockdown. It’s actually quite amazing to watch this unfold and get updated before your very eyes.
That said, it will also be a bit overwhelming for many people to follow. In just the first Wave message in the thread, there are four people currently updating things, for example. As one users participating wrote, “distracting/annoying, mostly,” with regard to the live-typing element of Wave. Another simply wrote, “google wave is a mess… back to twitter.”
But others participating are amazed at the rapid flow of information coming in. And plenty are able to follow along. As someone else writes, “That last radio about the fresh blood was pretty chilling… hopefully they are close.”
The fact that this is a public Wave that anyone can join is also both a blessing and a curse. Right now, the comments are pretty much all on-point, but that’s only because many people on the web still don’t know about, or have access to Wave yet. If they did, undoubtedly forums like this would turn into a mess of spam. That’s something Google has to think very seriously about for Wave going forward.
Still, a use case like this is very interesting. A manhunt is all about gathering information. Could there be misinformation? Of course, but there could be on tip lines as well. If a police department had someone watching this Wave (I’m not sure if that’s the case right now), they could do their best to attempt to filter the good information from the bad. Something like this could also be potentially useful for a missing child.
Of course, for all of these types of cases, a solid mobile interface may be better than someone sitting at their computer using Wave. Presumably, the best tips will come from someone who is out and about and sees the suspect.
Google Responds to Google Wave being used in Manhunt.
Using Google Wave for a Manhunt
by Mickey on November 30, 2009
seattle-waveThe Seattle Times is trying a to use Google Wave for a pretty serious task - catching a killer.
They’ve created a public wave with information about the chase for the man suspected of killing four Seattle police officers a few days ago. There are over 100 people in the Wave that are adding video footage, suspect descriptions, police scanner audio, automobile details, etc. It’s neat to watch.
TechCrunch has a nice review of how well (or not) it is working. Some people love to see the flow of information, while others think it’s simply too chaotic. Spam will also be an issue for things like this, though this wave seems to be mostly on-task as of now.
This certainly adds a new item to the great ways to use Google Wave, and I expect we’ll see many other creative uses for it in the coming months.
I find this interesting because I just got my google wave. I wonder when Congress will try their hand at it. Might be interesting to see what their waves would look like.
For those not in the know about what GOOGLE WAVE is, http://wave.google.com/help/wave/about.html
P.S. word to the wise don't hit the playback button.
by MG Siegler on November 30, 2009
Apparently, like everyone else, the Seattle Times is very interested in trying to figure out what to actually use Google Wave for. But while most are trying to use it for either fun, realtime chats, movie reenactments, or inner-business workings, the Seattle Times have tasked Wave with a larger goal: Catching a killer.
This public Google Wave has been set up to involve the community by offering realtime information that anyone may know about the location of a man suspected of killing four Seattle police officers. A search of a Seattle-area home this morning turned up nothing, but various reports of sightings are coming in, and the Times is opening a Wave to help with the flow of information.
About 45 minutes ago, the Wave was opened with just a few people in it. Already, there are over 100 people in here now communicating quickly with updates. Included are Wave elements with links to police scanner audio, live video footage of the search, a suspect description, and information about local schools on lockdown. It’s actually quite amazing to watch this unfold and get updated before your very eyes.
That said, it will also be a bit overwhelming for many people to follow. In just the first Wave message in the thread, there are four people currently updating things, for example. As one users participating wrote, “distracting/annoying, mostly,” with regard to the live-typing element of Wave. Another simply wrote, “google wave is a mess… back to twitter.”
But others participating are amazed at the rapid flow of information coming in. And plenty are able to follow along. As someone else writes, “That last radio about the fresh blood was pretty chilling… hopefully they are close.”
The fact that this is a public Wave that anyone can join is also both a blessing and a curse. Right now, the comments are pretty much all on-point, but that’s only because many people on the web still don’t know about, or have access to Wave yet. If they did, undoubtedly forums like this would turn into a mess of spam. That’s something Google has to think very seriously about for Wave going forward.
Still, a use case like this is very interesting. A manhunt is all about gathering information. Could there be misinformation? Of course, but there could be on tip lines as well. If a police department had someone watching this Wave (I’m not sure if that’s the case right now), they could do their best to attempt to filter the good information from the bad. Something like this could also be potentially useful for a missing child.
Of course, for all of these types of cases, a solid mobile interface may be better than someone sitting at their computer using Wave. Presumably, the best tips will come from someone who is out and about and sees the suspect.
Google Responds to Google Wave being used in Manhunt.
Using Google Wave for a Manhunt
by Mickey on November 30, 2009
seattle-waveThe Seattle Times is trying a to use Google Wave for a pretty serious task - catching a killer.
They’ve created a public wave with information about the chase for the man suspected of killing four Seattle police officers a few days ago. There are over 100 people in the Wave that are adding video footage, suspect descriptions, police scanner audio, automobile details, etc. It’s neat to watch.
TechCrunch has a nice review of how well (or not) it is working. Some people love to see the flow of information, while others think it’s simply too chaotic. Spam will also be an issue for things like this, though this wave seems to be mostly on-task as of now.
This certainly adds a new item to the great ways to use Google Wave, and I expect we’ll see many other creative uses for it in the coming months.
I find this interesting because I just got my google wave. I wonder when Congress will try their hand at it. Might be interesting to see what their waves would look like.
For those not in the know about what GOOGLE WAVE is, http://wave.google.com/help/wave/about.html
P.S. word to the wise don't hit the playback button.