A world truly connected

Ingrid Riley

LAST TUESDAY'S attacks and the days that ensued are certainly a testimony of a world deeply connected.

Connected yes by the fact that we are all human and share in the shock, anger and grief of such an unpredictable and horrifying event; connected yes, as individual nations who understand the realities of having enemies and the realisation that no nation can stand alone in solving all its problems; but also unprecedentedly, connected by technologies that enabled a sharing on so many levels underscoring the advances in our communications globally.

It was wireless and air phone technology that allowed passengers and crew on planes to alert the authorities that they too were hi-jacked. These technologies also allowed relatives to abruptly but nonetheless thankfully, say their last goodbyes to their loved ones, that will no doubt facilitate necessary closure by relatives who may not get the bodies of their lost loved ones.

It was technology that allowed people in the United States and over the world to use their credit cards online and donate to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Fire Man's Fund, Save the Children Fund and other such organisations.

It was technology that allowed relatives abroad who couldn't get through overwhelmed long distance phone networks, to go online and send e-mail, chat live, post to message boards, send e-mail to radio stations to let them know what's happening, how they are feeling and most importantly that they are indeed safe.

It was technology that allowed people to seek and secure support in their grieving process. Chatrooms online filled with people sharing their personal stories of narrow escapes, lost friends and colleagues, hopes of finding their missing loved ones; sharing their fears of the future.

Online greeting card sites were also used to send Thinking of You, I love you e-cards.

It has been technology that has allowed people to create online memorial sites in memory of their moms, dads, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters, colleagues and friends.

And you can find online I'm Okay Message Centers and Check in Registries, Relief Information, friends and family status databases, People Finder services and Missing Persons databases. And unfortunately it was technology that sent further fear and panic to some vulnerable individuals when they received the fake Nostradamus doomsday predictions from idle, unfeeling people.

I personally got four different versions. And of course it was technology that kept the world-by cable, via the Internet, by cell phone, connected and minute by minute updated on what's happening now, what may happen next, what world leaders, pundits, citizens, eyewitnesses were saying now.

Ingrid Riley is a writer, and chief executive officer of MiND FULL Press a Caribbean Media and Publishing Company, that is the premier source for Caribbean Tech News and Information. She is active in the Caribbean's hi-tech and business communities. Send comments to her at ingridriley@ yahoo.com.

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