New York testing console-based emergency alert system

The state of New York is not only thinking outside the box but also inside the game console with a plan that would send the Emergency Management Office send alerts over gaming networks.

This plan is in the testing phase but network feeds on the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 already contain news items about everything from the latest games to sports scores. It seems a natural fit to receive important local news feeds while gaming online.

It is currently being tested as part of the Empire 2.0 program that looks for ways to integrate the latest technology into the way it does business. That includes social media and video game consoles.

Other parts of Empire 2.0 include the Department of Mental Health monitoring Facebook posts to spot potential suicidal behavior and employees joining LinkedIn to improve communication between agencies.

Read [Information Week] Also Read[Game Politics]