mishmap

Roaming Messenger is a mobile messaging platform used to track down recipients and interact with them. David Stephenson’s homeland security blog discusses a hybrid workflow/messenger application that uses the platform to organize just-in-time emergency teams (see ISERA Crew Scheduler demo video)

When an emergency needs to be addressed, the software attempts to contact team leaders using multiple devices (desktop, wireless notebook, PDA, cellphone) as defined in a priority queue. First responders are then contacted strategically, using rules such as closest location, as described in the press release:

..retrieve global positioning system (GPS) information for mobile devices, and also execute commands based on GPS location of users and devices…GPS location is no longer a separate process; it is now part of the messenger paradigm

As evidenced by Katrina, it is crucial to have capabilities for an ad-hoc response strategy that spans multiple organizations. This kind of location-aware rules-based IM technology could be used by average citizens for anything from neighborhood watch groups (alarm system goes off and neighbors are contacted to look out their windows) to picnic outings ("We forgot the mustard and you’re closest to the deli!")