Emerge is
one of several technologies the University of Waterloo will use to distribute
messages in the event of an emergency.
The emerge
client program runs on client computers and keeps in contact with central
servers. In the event of an emergency, an authorized person submits a
message to be displayed on clients screens. In
seconds, emerge servers distribute that message to emerge clients and the
client systems automatically pop up a web browser to display the message.
A client
version is available for Macintoshes.
The latest
version of the client can be found on the web, you will need this file:
Open the
zip file to create the package, then open the package to install the necessary
files.
The next
step is to tell your Mac to start the program every time you log in. Pick
apple icon | System Preferences | Accounts | Login Items and add /Applications/emergestart.app
Press the
lock icon to save the settings.
Log out
then log back in. You may spot the program running for an instant, but it
disappears in less than a second and goes into the background.
Open a web
browser and go to http://emerge.uwaterloo.ca
You will have to supply some login credentials.
Then send a test message to yourself. After pressing send, your
preferred web browser should start up and the test message will be displayed.
If that
worked, your system is installed correctly and it will display emergency
messages as they are released.
If
the test failed, emerge is not installed correctly.