Earthquake Detector is one big technology that has been finding its roots in many places and now scientists have developed an Android phone app known as MyShake that can detect earthquakes at a distance of 10 kilometers or less. The app, which can differentiate between everyday shaking and quakes, takes advantage of the accelerometers integrated into modern smartphones, as such sensors are capable of detecting seismic activity.
Once a phone running the app detects a quake, the data is forwarded to a central site where an algorithm processes the data in an attempt to confirm its authenticity while also determining its location and magnitude — all of which is accomplished in real time.
According to the scientists behind its creation, whose findings were published in the journal Science Advances, the system could find application in boosting earthquake early warning (EEW) systems in regions with traditional networks in place. And in regions where no such networks exist, it could provide the only detection network.
This is an app that provides information, education, motivation — to the people who’ve downloaded it — to get ready for earthquakes. Those same people are contributing to our further understanding of earthquakes, because they’re collecting data that will help us better understand the earthquake process. Now android users get your copy of the earthquake detector and start getting safe!!!
