Integrated emergency communications nearing fruition.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Putting the word out in an emergency to the people who need it the most always has been a challenge for local authorities. Technologies are now available to make their job easier. A partnership between Northrop Grumman Corp. and Global Security Systems will allow rapid communication via cell phones, GPS platforms, music players and comparable machines.

Northrop Grumman now manages the emergency information technology infrastructure in 80 cities. The GSS Alert FM system, meanwhile, relies on a frequency modulated chip that can be inserted in most consumer...