Yure Kuru, which means 'shaking coming' was developed by RC Solution Co., a Tokyo company that specializes in providing disaster-related information services.
While it has not yet created a Godzilla-warning app, the Yure Kuru app has proven to be quite popular, with some 1.5 million subscribers--in fact, it's more than that, as the company stopped counting... though this Blog suspects they are still counting their yen. Prior to March 11, 2011, there were only 100,000 subscribers.
How does it work? Based on technology developed by Japan's Meteorological Agency and its many railway companies, when an earthquake is imminent, an alarm on the phone is triggered (The Rife blog hopes the phones are not set to vibrate) and a window on the subscribers phone pops up telling them that in approximately 10 seconds an earthquake of a certain strength will hit. Subscribers can set the level on the app themselves at what minimum magnitude of earthquake they can be warned for.
Not only does the app give subscriber's a warning of an earthquake and its strength, but it notes where the epicenter will be located.
The app's icon is symbolized by a cartoon catfish (see image above) which is - according to Japanese legends - supposed to be the cause of earthquakes. You can read all about that HERE.
At this time, I don not believe there is a Yure Kuru app available outside of Japanese - however... there may be something similar... Check THIS out as just one example. There must be more.
Somewhere this Luddite has a catfish,
Andrew Joseph
PS: It's true... I don't have a cellphone. No one calls anyway.
PPS: Ten second warning? Is that enough time to kiss your ass goodbye?
PPPS: Rather than purchase your own earthquake warning app - you could just listen for those with the app to suddenly start screaming in panic. You may have less time to react - but keep in mind... by the time the Yure Kuru subscriber manages to get their phone out of their purse or coat pocket, you probably already know there's an earthquake.
PPPPS: Of course - this Yure Kuru app is pretty cool. It's not just to warn you that there is an earthquake directly underneath you - it's to warn you that somewhere in the country there is an earthquake about to hit. It's fair warning to make sure you check in on your loved ones. Or your family. Hey... it's not always the same thing.
