[pct-l] SPOT and the Search for Censor

[Daniel Cohen]

Please keep the discussion a philosophical one and not get into any
specifics Thanks in advance 

 

I followed the Censor situation with great interest.  Besides concern for a
fellow hiker I was interested in the impact SPOT had on the Hiker community
locating her and/or potential assistance to SAR authorities and the family.
There seemed to be some confusion as to when the last OK signals were
transmitted vs HELP vs. any 911 signal.    Most know that SPOT has 4
functions, OFF, OK, HELP and 911.   OK and HELP send a notice to a list of
up to 10 e-mails and/or SMS text message recipients.  HELP is a
non-emergency function.  911 is an emergency function and the signal is
direct to the SPOT response center and the emergency contact listed on the
user's subscription.  Currently there is functionality that allows the
viewing of OK signals by the hiking community at larger.  For those that
wish some level of privacy, this functionality has a user selectable delay
feature.  

 

The question now arises as to whether to added functionality regarding the
HELP signal and whether displaying a HELP signal on a Google-type of map
that was publicly viewable represented an invasion of privacy?  And if that
HELP signal was accepted and viewable should it be in real time or a
selectable delay?  Would viewing the HELP location, time and coordinates
have minimized the confusion in Censor's situation?  Would viewing a HELP
signal have the potential to unnecessarily alarming the hiking community?   

 

SO what are the PCT-L membership's thoughts on this subject?

 

Again, please keep the discussion a philosophical one and not get into any
specifics Thanks again,  

 

dofdear aka Thumper