Google has launched interactive maps to
track the path of Hurricane Sandy and provide localised support information as
it approaches the US east coast.
A
New York map includes the locations of evacuation centres and emergency
shelters set up by the Red Cross.
The
tech giant also cancelled an event today at which it planned to launch the
Nexus 4 smartphone and a new version of its Jelly Bean operating system.
It
was due to take place on a pier which is now in an evacuation zone.
The
"crisis maps"
are using data from the US Naval Research Laboratory,
the National
Hurricane Center, US weather websiteweather.com and the US
Geological Survey.
"The
Google crisis response team has assembled a Hurricane Sandy map to help you
track the storm's progress and provide updated emergency information,"
wrote Google software engineer Ka-Ping Yee on the firm's blog:
http://manunewsindia.blogspot.com/.
"We
hope that you get the information you need to make preparations and stay safe
if you are in the area."
"We
will let you know our plans as soon as we know more," Google's Android
team said in a statement announcing the cancellation of the event because of
the hurricane.
Facebook
has also cancelled two New York-based events due to take place this week - an
engineering open-house day planned for Tuesday (30 October) and the
announcement of an update to its fledgling "Facebook Gifts" service.
Raju
Narisetti, managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, announced on
Twitter that the newspaper would remove its online paywall today (29 October).
The
organisation usually charges subscribers $4.99 (£3.11) per week for access to
its website.
The New York Times disabled its paywall on Sunday
afternoon.
Thousands
of people are also sharing updates via social networks Twitter and Facebook.
"I've
found the most up-to-date information on Facebook and Twitter rather than the
more traditional news sites, albeit the Facebook/Twitter accounts of certain
news sites in some cases," said Timo Rissanen, assistant professor at
Parsons The New School for Design.
"The Consulate
General of Finland in New York was doing a sterling job last night providing
information on Facebook."
Article
Source http://manunewsindia.blogspot.com/
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