The new age of 911

By HOLLY HUFFMAN Eagle Staff Writer The evolution of 911 service ultimately will allow callers to bypass traditional land lines and cell phones and instead use text messaging and even video phones to report emergencies, a Texas A&M University researcher announced Wednesday. The projection is the result of Next Generation 911, a two-year and nearly $3 million study funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, said project Director Walt Magnussen, who also serves as the director of the Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center at A&M. "It's been an exciting ride here," Magnussen said as he kicked off the presentation and demonstration of the project's findings. Led by Virginia-based global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, project researchers were responsible for developing a framework and deployment plan for a new 911... [read full story]