For a guy trapped in earthquake rubble, there was an app for that

[nbs2]

Summary: Guy is in Haiti documenting poverty; gets trapped in the earthquake. Uses his iPhone (http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Earthquake-Survivor-Says-iPhone-a-Life-Saver--82081602.html) to self-diagnose, perform first aid, get to safety, and write a message to his family.

My kind of embarrassing first thought - how did the battery last so long?:o

Honestly, though, it is impressive to think about how much utility technology provides for us on a daily basis, and yet we just take it for granted and complain about the little features.

[jessica.]

I'm glad I read your post before I commented on your title because it comes off as insensitive and inane. However, the story is nice.

[Disc Golfer]

My first thought is that I can't type on the touch screen under the best of conditions, I can't imagine trying to do it in earthquake aftermath.

[notjustjay]

For what it's worth, I didn't read the title as being offensive. The story was exactly what I expected: someone trapped using his iPhone to summon help or communicate with the outside.

[Foreign Feeling]

what a great story!

[NeuralControl]

That is a great story. I'm glad he made it out safely.

[nbs2]

For what it's worth, I didn't read the title as being offensive. The story was exactly what I expected: someone trapped using his iPhone to summon help or communicate with the outside.

I had changed it. While I didn't think of it as offensive, it may have been Too Soon.

[jav6454]

Just wow, I never knew the iPhone had come this far ever since it was first unveiled back in 2007...

Click me for link (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/haiti-survivor-iphone/)

[NorrisKillsKids]

Crazy story.

[Jason-Houghton]

Just wow, I never knew the iPhone had come this far ever since it was first unveiled back in 2007...

Click me for link (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/haiti-survivor-iphone/)

im supprised they got signal, haha

[Revelation78]

He used an app, not the internet.

[instaxgirl]

I'm surprised the battery lasted 65 hours with an alarm set every 20 minutes.

*downloads first aid app*

[eplchamps0305]

So, the app saved him not the iphone. Kudos to the developers. Title should have been iphone app.

[jav6454]

I'm surprised the battery lasted 65 hours with an alarm set every 20 minutes.

*downloads first aid app*

Turn off all radios and leave it at low lighting settings and you can well go over 65 hours. Remember, the iPhone has ~300hrs standby with radios on, much more with them off.

[sinsin07]

Thanks for the post OP. I am not a die hard fan of any company, however I will use this link to needle my co-worker who just got a new HTC Tilt 2 just for fun:D

[NDimichino]

So, the app saved him not the iphone. Kudos to the developers. Title should have been iphone app.

Well without the iPhone, how does the iPhone app save him?

[icyfire]

Well without the iPhone, how does the iPhone app save him?

Not to mention, I doubt the app developers would have released anything on a Windows mobile phone had the iPhone and the App Store not existed.

[Ke1ington]

It's an interesting article but I always seem to find the comments following this type of thing so much more interesting.

[greygray]

Surprising the battery lasted that long. I wonder if any fool would be playing Tap Tap to avoid boredom and thinking of the pain. :rolleyes: :D

[sinsin07]

Not to mention, I doubt the app developers would have released anything on a Windows mobile phone had the iPhone and the App Store not existed.

Not sure what you mean by this. Are you new to PDAs? I have been buying apps from apps stores since at least 2002. Ever heard of Handango? Apple did not invent the app store. They became best because they own the store and the device, well thats only one of the reasons

[jav6454]

Not sure what you mean by this. Are you new to PDAs? I have been buying apps from apps stores since at least 2002. Ever heard of Handango? Apple did not invent the app store. They became best because they own the store and the device, well thats only one of the reasons

Yet the point still is, without the iPhone, said app would not exist.

[kdarling]

Yet the point still is, without the iPhone, said app would not exist.

Medical, first-aid and timer apps have been available on other smartphones for years.

Don't you recall all the medical students who were upset that the iPhone didn't have apps like ePocrates and Merck Medicus available for the first year or two, like other phones?

[sinsin07]

Yet the point still is, without the iPhone, said app would not exist.

No that's not the point. The point is the popularity of the iphone, having a app other than ifart that actually did some good.

Secondly your statement about "without the iPhone, said app would not exist." is BS. Try checking something called the internet before you make sweeping statements. Here I'll help you:

http://www.handango.com/catalog/SearchResults.jsp

[jav6454]

No that's not the point. The point is the popularity of the iphone, having a app other than ifart that actually did some good.

Secondly your statement about "without the iPhone, said app would not exist." is BS. Try checking something called the internet before you make sweeping statements. Here I'll help you:

http://www.handango.com/catalog/SearchResults.jsp

Wow, I never knew you had time after being trapped by a Quake to do all that!

[sinsin07]

Wow, I never knew you had time after being trapped by a Quake to do all that!

OP I gave you props for posting a good link. I am not sure what you mean by the above statement. The MSNBC article does say the trapped person downloaded the app, it does not say when he downloaded. The app could have been downloaded anytime b4 the quake. My statement to the other poster was to point out that other App stores do exist and have so for a long time. First Aid apps exist for WinMob and BB.

The question here is, if this had been a WinMob or BB, would there have been mention of this? Probably not. This statement from the Wired link pretty much sums it up: Say what you will about the iPhone. This story is incredible.

As soon as I get the chance to, I will rib my WinMob loving tech friends for a good laugh.

Oh by the way, a WinMob or BB user might have been able to accomplish the same feat with Handango's mobile store app. I can't vouch for how well it works compared to App store on the Iphone, but it does exist.

And again, thanks for the post.

[chstr]

apparently haiti doesnt use att :rolleyes:

[dankybear]

yeah i thought you were going to be poking fun at Haiti...

[rdowns]

Very cool.


I had changed it. While I didn't think of it as offensive, it may have been Too Soon.

Never too soon. Damn PC people. :rolleyes:

[kdarling]

The guy said that he had downloaded the first aid app a while ago. Smart planning. I think I'll do the same tonight.

(If he'd had internet connectivity, he'd have emailed someone to tell them where he was, instead of waiting to get found a day or two later. Even after that it took another few days to get dug out.)

He also said that when he got down to 20% battery, he shut off the phone so the constant alarm wouldn't run it down. So no, the phone didn't last the whole five days. He didn't say how long it did. Betcha he was wishing he had some way to swap or charge the battery ;)

As for other devices like say, WM phones, they've had first aid apps since at least 2002. And yes, of course you could buy and download apps on the fly from app stores like Handango all that time.

[Abstract]

I heard Al Gore invented the first aid app immediately after he invented the internet.

[That-Is-Bull]

I heard Al Gore invented the first aid app immediately after he invented the internet.

Al Gore never claimed to have invented the Internet, and either way, randomly mentioning a meme isn't how you make a joke. YOU DISAPPOINT ME!

Edit: I'm sorry I freaked back there. It's just, I just, I get so frustrated sometimes and I say things I don't really mean, you know. I never meant to hurt you. Because we're no strangers to love - you know the rules and so do I. I'm never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down.

[Pika]

I declare this nerd the hero of every nerd for at least a year.

[Pika]

I'd also like to point out that the man would be dead if he'd bought a Zune.

[GFLPraxis]

Does anyone know the name of the actual app he used?

I want it now. xD

Also, they definitely need to work this into a commercial.