Web 2 has always been about communication, not technology. About using all different methods of getting accurate information, collaboration, dissemination. What better time to put it to the test in an organic, non-rational, human situation: the california fires.
Mashups of maps, microblogging and user-generated video are some of the uses. Remember the London bombings 2 years ag, where mobile phone images where the first used? Virginia Tech bloggers? This is not mall-meetup technology.
I’ve written before about the LAFD and their despatcher-like use of Twitter before. What foresight by them.