Lost in Wilderness? Text Messages to the Rescue

01/30/2011 14:49

 

 

In one of the most high-profile films of the past year, James Franco depicts a hiker trapped by a falling boulder in 127 Hours. If anything, the story embodies the risks of extreme danger and unforeseen hazards when adventurers journey out into the wilderness.

 

Now, with satellite technology that enable the transmission of text messages from virtually anywhere on Earth, that risk – of suffering an injury without access to medical help – nearby might be somewhat reduced. A company named Spot has launched a new device that enables customers to send text messages for seeking help. In contrast to generic telephone calls, which often rely on spotty coverage when in remote locations, the text messaging system offered by Spot work even in the deepest jungles or valleys. At $99.99 a year for coverage, and $150 for the transmitter device itself, Spot offers an innovative solution that may just about resolve the hidden worries of many hikers and campers.

 

-Janice Chen