SA> Victoria to get emergency calls  
  
SA> A NEW early-warning system for emergencies using automated phone  
SA> calls will be trialed in Victoria from July.  
  
What?  Computers that talk?  What will they think of next?    
  
I hope you don't see anything sinister in this development, Steve.  
It merely represents the application of technology in addressing  
a need.  A similar approach involving automated phone calls is  
being used by schools to alert parents about their children  
being absent from classes.  The underlying technology for many of  
these automated phone calling systems is the Voice Brick.  
  
Consult your favorite oracle for information about the Voice Brick. ;-)  
Ask Jeeves.  Or Google.  Or Yahoo.  :-)    
Tell the dog at Dogpile to fetch.  
  
Voice Brick... another brick in the wall?   
  
Give your golem a voice... today!    
  
I've got one of those systems from US Netcom.  
It's called PhoneMaster for Windows.  
  
It comes in handy for alerting a large group of associates about  
upcoming events, like monthly meetings, or a pending election.  
It can also be used to conduct opinion surveys.  And, like your  
article reports, it automatically compiles information about   
the number of successful calls, the number of answering machines  
it reaches, the number of incomplete calls, and so on.    
  
SA> The system is intended for emergencies such as floods, fires,  
  
Or tsunamis?  Think about it.  
  
SA> For years there have been problems in many areas of Australia  
SA> because radio and television stations are often networked  
SA> and even automated, and at times have no local input.  
  
Even worse, they don't work unless you plug them in and turn them on.  
The automated phone call system is a bit more proactive.  It reaches  
out to the people you want to contact.  It gets all of those phones  
ringing... sort of like Jobe in the Lawnmower Man.  ;-)  
  
Ride the wave,  
  
Me  
  
  
P.S.  These automated phone call systems can be used for lots of tasks.  
Check out http://www.usnetcomcorp.com for a few ideas.  
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