April 10, 2005

Modern communications

One of the most striking things for me about the pope's death was the use of modern technologies to communicate with the people.

Firstly, news of his death was sent via text message to journalists. Secondly, the Roman authorities sent texts to everyone in Italy with a mobile, telling them they'd stopped traffic going into Rome:

X enorme afflusso, da mercoledi h.22 chiuso accesso code x saluto Papa. Venerdi x funerali stop traffico Roma; area S. Pietro piena:schermi in piazze e Torvergata.

I wonder what other countries have the ability to send messages to all their citizens, and what countries have used it?

Posted by savs at April 10, 2005 12:21 PM
Comments

Hong Kong can and has done so several times. Most recently with regard to the SARS epidemic, I believe.

Posted by: JamesC at April 11, 2005 2:01 PM

China. They've called for demonstration all around the place, and trashed Japanese-related buildings.

Posted by: Tatsuhiko Maekawa at April 19, 2005 11:33 AM