Interoperability

Interoperability is the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together (inter-operate). The term is often used in a technical systems or in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to system performance.

In disasters interoperability is the linchpin. It was one of the most critical issues in the 9/11 response. So many jurisdictions were involved and unfortunately they were on totally different radio frequencies. Interoperability is not just having the equipment to send and receive but is the ability for people talk to one another in a common language. The lack of interoperability between silos was the logic in creating the Department of Homeland Security. Trying to create conduits of intel between various agencies such as the FBI, CIA, TSA, DOD, CBP, FEMA, ETC.

Interoperability is the easiest problem to identify but the hardest and most expensive to correct. No matter how much UASI funding is thrown at the problem most cities will always have gaps between it's jurisdictions. Some police are on 400 MHz while others are on 800 MHz. This is not just a police issue, it is faced by the fire departments as well as other essential government services too.

We are moving at a breakneck pace into a 140 characters or less multimedia world and so much is being driven to facebook, twitter and alike. More people today own a smartphone than still own a landline (I for one left the landline leash long ago.) I have a facebook, twitter, skype, blogger, flicker, tumblr and linkedin accounts (and now a google+) not to mention a work email and 3 private email accounts. In addition to having an iphone with all the apps that chime when they feel it's necessary that I know what is going on in the world or my world (i.e. CNN, AP, NPR, local news affiliates and my bank app).

I can email, text, skype, Facetime, IM, fb, tweet, and even make a phone call, shit I can watch Netflix or my DVR from my phone. But not everyone has an iPhone. I can't Facetime my friends that have Droids. There again is the lack of interoperability. The internet has yet to be the great equalizer for humanity.

With all of this connectivity we have, have we lost the "Reach out and touch someone" experience. I have an expectation that certain types of correspondence should be answered in a timely fashion for example emails within a day or 2, phone calls same day and texts within minutes. I try to abide by these unwritten rules. There are exceptions... Now if I am in a middle of a giving a presentation, I not going to stop and look at my phone, let alone respond but I will asap. It drives me bat shit crazy when I am trying to contact someone and I can't get them to respond. Especially, when it is my mother, father, ex-husband, girlfriends and particularly my boyfriend. I am so uberpugged in to the preverbal "skynet" but have no real contact with those who really matter. Have we as a society become so inundated with information that communications with others has just become part of the background noise that is now the pursuit of interoperability?

Stupid hot

Have ya seen the current visible satellite image of TS Emily. She's very pretty, I know I'm weird but she's nestled perfectly in the arc of the Lesser Antilles, just say'n.

Houston is under a heat advisory till Thursday night and ERCOT wants us to conserve our power usage. The feel like temps will be pushing 110 degrees due to the humidity hovering at 45%. Ah Houston in August. Hell, it's been feeling like August since June. I asked my buddy Bill Read, Director over at NHC, when he thought the drought was going to break. His answer was, "it takes a flood to end a drought & it take a drought to end a flood." thanks Bill, must be why you get paid the big bucks.

The heat usually never bothers me that much but this year it has sucked my will to live. It's just too stupid hot to do anything fun or think about doing anything fun.This Saturday is "White Linens Night in the Height". I plan on attending after picking up my best friend from IAH, we will meet up with my boyfriend and his 14 year old daughter in the Heights for some fun, but not till the wicked, hot, burning disk in the sky set below the horizon.

I have never dated someone with a kid, let alone a teenager. This week will be our first introduction. I'm a little freaked out to be honest with you. She is from a suburb near Pittsburgh, PA. I hear she is very active in theater and the preforming arts. Not much for me to talk with her on that subject. Don't get me wrong, I love the theater, I just don't go much due to the cost of tickets however I was in theater in high school, I never preformed on stage. I preferred being a stage hand. I do love our Miller Outdoor Theater and it's FREE. The Shakespeare Festival is going on this weekend at the MOT FTW! How do I even try to relate to a 14 year old. I don't want to come off as a nerd (but I am), or a redneck (which I'm not) but

when I get nervous my East Texas twang rears it's head, making me sound like I just drove in from the Big Sandy trailer park.