Japanese hotels to alert guests of imminent fire via SMS
As much as we love SMSing (ok, not as much as this guy) and all the oddities surrounding this now essential part of 21st century life, it often enters our lives in really ridiculous ways. According to Japan Today, the national Fire and Disaster Management Agency is giving software to the nation's hotels so each establishment can alert its guests by SMS or email when there's a fire on the premesis. Apparently the logic goes that elderly hotel guests who leave their phone on vibrate won't hear a normal ring, not to mention a fire alarm klaxon, but will have the presence of mind to check for incoming SMSes. We haven't heard yet if you can text the fire department or the FDMA for help, though.
[Via Techdirt]
