Scientists at the Berkeley-based University of California have developed a new Android app called MyShake that can help smartphones to detect earthquakes. (Photo : Twitter/ Tamara Dull)
Scientists at the Berkeley-based University of California have developed a new Android app that can help smartphones to detect earthquakes. Dubbed as MyShake, the earthquake-detector app is currently available in the Google Play Store.
MyShake utilizes the motion sensors of a smartphone to identify indications of tremors and merge the signs with the data collected from other users. Basically, the smartphone user is connected to a crowdsourced seismic station network and they are able to substantiate an earthquake simply by keeping their phone turned on.
The discovery may turn out to be a major advancement in detecting earthquakes, as currently there is a lack of adequate fixed stations to set off an alert via conventional apps, Engadget reported.
Scientists at UC have devised MyShake in a manner that it possesses the aptitude to analyze the different vibrations levels picked up by the in-built accelerometer of a smartphone to find out the size as well as threat of earthquakes. This way, the app intends to alerts the potential victims in the region of the areas affected by tremors.
When an area is hit by an earthquake, the in-built sensors of the phone will record the extent of the tremors, while GPS will coordinate and send the data to a lab. When a large number of smartphone users start sending such data, scientists are able to use the collective information and work on a different app. The new app would then transmit notifications to all smartphone users regarding an earthquake, thereby alerting people residing several miles from the epicenter.
In addition, MyShake may also provide information in advance about a potential earthquake. The software may even send forewarnings to nearby areas and also provide a countdown and grant them enough time to locate a safe area. The new app works on a very sophisticated algorithm developed to differentiate between movements by humans and earthquakes, ruling out the possibility of false alarms.
During tests undertaken with MyShake, the app has been 93 percent accurate in detecting vibrations caused by earthquakes, IB Times reported. "The system triggered rapidly and accurately, and that's really given us the confidence to now take MyShake out to the public for its big, real test," Richard Allen, director of Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, said.
Already MyShake has been rolled out to Android smartphones and there are plans for an iOS compatible version too. It is expected to be released soon.
Watch a clipping of MyShake earthquake app below:
