Verizon at Home

[#1]

On Fridays, I’m often blogging about how technology is changing the world.  There are times, however, when world events change technology. 

The terrorist attack on American on Sept. 11, 2001, was an event that has pushed forward the boundaries of technology.  Several news stories appeared this week that give unique insight into these 9/11-driven technology advancements that emerged from the shadows of tragedy. 

The Los Angeles Times carried a feature that examines how the rise of homeland security in the wake of 9/11 has revitalized certain colleges, college classes and some post-graduate students’ careers in a down economy.    Once-flagging college microbiology programs now are flourishing with classes and career-development focusing on studying anthrax and the Ebola virus.  At Texas A&M researchers have discovered how to put tiny sensors inside equally tiny backpacks on cockroaches to search out dirty bombs.  Even agricultural science is getting new followers with students researchers finding innovative ways to detect pathogens in food.  Kansas State now has a National Bio and Agro-Defense facility that helps guard the nation’s agricultural economy and food supply. 

New technology also is being spawned from the need to protect commercial airliners.  National Geographic recently unveiled six amazing technology advancements that aim to prevent future terrorist attacks in the air.  These include remote lock-down and control of cockpits, bio-monitoring of travelers to detect physiological signs of dishonesty or aggression, light guns to temporarily blind attackers, super-thin armor for flight crews and equipment that could intercept missile launches at aircraft from the outskirts of airports.  This story is particularly interesting for its view on how terrorists might abandon their previous methods of attacks in the sky in favor of different kinds of surprise operations.

Although technology is evolving to keep us all safer, it’s also helping the 9/11 victims’ loved ones to find bits of comfort.    

Since the attacks 10 years ago, just 60 percent of the nearly 2,800 World Trade Center victims have been identified, with over 21,000 pieces of human remains recovered from Ground Zero.  Now scientists at New York City’s Medical Examiners office have acquired state of the art technology that’s helping to extract DNA from remains that were too small to previously examine.  New victim-identifications now are being made about every six months, the latest being New Yorker Ernest James, a 40-year-old insurance-firm worker whose office was in the North Tower. 

As it has so many times in the past, our nation banded together in the aftermath of the attacks, An outgrowth of that reliance has been nearly a generation’s worth of innovation. We join with all of you this weekend in remembering all the 9/11 victims – including Verizon employees Donna Bowen, Derrick Washington and Leonard White -- and in wishing continued comfort and peace to all the victims’ loved ones.

[#2]

I feel Verizon is one of the worst set ups for consumers. I have been on the phone 7 times in the last 2 days, wait, 20/30 minutes for a tech person and nothing gets solved. Pricing out cablevision who do a better job, service is better, picture quality is equal. Good bye  Verizon/FioS

[#3]

@mrsoks,

I have sent you a private message to offer help with your service. Please reply back so we can assist you.

Thanks,

Frank_VZ