It is heartening to see that between creating awesome Nexus devices, a solid mobile platform, pointing zillions of people who are searching for something online in the right direction, and politely fielding questions from press and customers alike, a giant like Google still manages to keep its focus on public service initiatives. +1 to you Google.
Google has announced a new initiative called the Amber Alerts project, in collaboration with the National Center for Missing And Exploited Children or NCMEC. Google would be integrating Amber Alert Information provided by the NCEMC into its search results. So when someone uses Google search or Google Maps on a desktop, or on a mobile device, he will see an Amber Alert, if there is one in the area. Just like in the screenshot above. An Amber Alert is like a public notification to let you know that a child has gone missing, and gives you all the pertinent details so that you can keep an eye out, or can report it immediately to the authorities if you have seen something that is relevant to the alert.
Quoting Google’s statement on the Amber Alerts initiative:
If you’re using Google Search or Maps on desktop and mobile you’ll see an AMBER Alert if you search for related information in a particular location where a child has recently been abducted and an alert was issued. You’ll also see an alert if you conduct a targeted search for the situation. By increasing the availability of these alerts through our services, we hope that more people will assist in the search for children featured in AMBER Alerts and that the rates of safe recovery will rise.
AMBER Alerts will provide information about the abducted child and any other details about the case as they become available. Additional details could include the make and model of the vehicle he/she was abducted in or information about the alleged abductor.
The Amber alerts will be shown as part of Google’s Public alerts platform, which currently shows emergency updates concerning weather, public safety, and other natural disasters and emergency situations. Google search and Google Maps integration would essentially ensure a much higher visibility for the average person than used to be the case, and is likely to help increase the location rate of missing kids. For now, the initiative is limited to the United States, but knowing Google, it won’t be too long before it expands to more territories and countries.
Technology being used for the good of the people. Way to go, Google!
