Disaster Message Board is a useful Android app that allows you to communicate with friends and family during times of emergency. The app has been developed by SoftBank Corp., and it is available for free on Google Play Store. The app's user-interface is easy to navigate, and it offers a range of features that make it an indispensable tool.
Features
Real-time messaging
Disaster Message Board allows you to send and receive real-time messages with your contacts who are using the app. This feature enables you to keep in touch with your loved ones during a disaster, even when telephone lines are down or congested.
Multiple message formats
This app supports different formats for sending messages, including texts, images, and voice notes. It means that if you cannot type a message, you can use the microphone to speak out or send a quick shot of a problematic area by taking a picture with your device camera.
Auto-translation
The app automatically translates messages in different languages, allowing people who speak different languages to communicate effectively. This feature comes in handy during emergency situations when evacuees come from different areas with varying tongue-in-cheek languages.
Map integration
The disaster message board also integrates Maps, which helps you locate critical areas such as evacuation sites, hospitals, and police stations during disaster times.
Pros
Easy to set up
Setting up an account in Disaster Message Board is quick and easy, so you can start communicating with your contacts immediately.
No internet connection needed
The app works via Bluetooth and doesn't need an internet connection, meaning you can still communicate even when there's no internet service.
Free to download
The app is free to download and use, making it an affordable way to stay connected during disasters.
Cons
May not be useful in areas without smartphone users
Disaster Message Board is a great app when you're with people who have smartphones and have installed it on their devices. In the absence of such users, the app is useless, and alternative communication methods have to be employed.
Location-based services need to be turned on all the time
To use the Map Integration feature effectively, your phone needs to be configured to have the Location Services running at all times. This requirement can lead to quick battery drain and compromise your privacy.
Comparison
Devices with iOS come pre-installed with Emergency SOS alert and features, which accomplish similar tasks as Disaster Message Board. Still, they lack the translation feature and map integration that makes Disaster Message Board stand out from the rest.
Tips for using the app
Make sure that your contacts have downloaded the Disaster Message Board app so that communication is possible.
The app works via Bluetooth and doesn't require the internet; however, activating your phone's Bluetooth requires battery power, meaning that you would have to limit its usage.
Ensure that your device's location services are turned on and keep in mind that this feature can affect your battery's lifespan.
Conclusion
If you're looking for an effective way to communicate with friends and family during a disaster, Disaster Message Board is an excellent option. It is easy to set up, free to download, and features such as real-time messaging, message forwarding, and automatic translations make it worth having on your Android device. Despite some of its limitations such as needing Bluetooth enabled for use and being only effective where other smartphones are also installed with the app, the app provides a reliable alternative to traditional forms of communication and is highly recommended.
Updated 10-06-2022
Overview
Disaster Message Board is a useful Android app that allows you to communicate with friends and family during times of emergency. The app has been developed by SoftBank Corp., and it is available for free on Google Play Store. The app's user-interface is easy to navigate, and it offers a range of features that make it an indispensable tool.
Features
Real-time messaging
Disaster Message Board allows you to send and receive real-time messages with your contacts who are using the app. This feature enables you to keep in touch with your loved ones during a disaster, even when telephone lines are down or congested.
Multiple message formats
This app supports different formats for sending messages, including texts, images, and voice notes. It means that if you cannot type a message, you can use the microphone to speak out or send a quick shot of a problematic area by taking a picture with your device camera.
Auto-translation
The app automatically translates messages in different languages, allowing people who speak different languages to communicate effectively. This feature comes in handy during emergency situations when evacuees come from different areas with varying tongue-in-cheek languages.
Map integration
The disaster message board also integrates Maps, which helps you locate critical areas such as evacuation sites, hospitals, and police stations during disaster times.
Pros
Easy to set up
Setting up an account in Disaster Message Board is quick and easy, so you can start communicating with your contacts immediately.
No internet connection needed
The app works via Bluetooth and doesn't need an internet connection, meaning you can still communicate even when there's no internet service.
Free to download
The app is free to download and use, making it an affordable way to stay connected during disasters.
Cons
May not be useful in areas without smartphone users
Disaster Message Board is a great app when you're with people who have smartphones and have installed it on their devices. In the absence of such users, the app is useless, and alternative communication methods have to be employed.
Location-based services need to be turned on all the time
To use the Map Integration feature effectively, your phone needs to be configured to have the Location Services running at all times. This requirement can lead to quick battery drain and compromise your privacy.
Comparison
Devices with iOS come pre-installed with Emergency SOS alert and features, which accomplish similar tasks as Disaster Message Board. Still, they lack the translation feature and map integration that makes Disaster Message Board stand out from the rest.
Tips for using the app
Conclusion
If you're looking for an effective way to communicate with friends and family during a disaster, Disaster Message Board is an excellent option. It is easy to set up, free to download, and features such as real-time messaging, message forwarding, and automatic translations make it worth having on your Android device. Despite some of its limitations such as needing Bluetooth enabled for use and being only effective where other smartphones are also installed with the app, the app provides a reliable alternative to traditional forms of communication and is highly recommended.