Andrew Lefler

Mrs. Thomas
3/30/2016
UWRT 1102 004
Smart Phones and Storms
Smartphones and Storms. New York, N.Y: Films Media Group, 2013. Internet resource.

This video by Films Media Group in New York, goes into detail how smartphones could
possibly be able to track storms for meteorologists. According to the video, smart phones all
give off a barometric pressure reading to the user, similar to that of temperatures. This is
according to from an atmospheric scientist named Cliff Mass says that cell phones can help
improve weather predictions. The media group discusses that if hundreds of thousands or
millions of people downloaded this application called pressureNet. This would allow
information to be uploaded from phones across the country. Also this would allow for other

meteorologists and the National Weather Center to be able to have basic information from on the
ground sources to better predict storms; since thunderstorms are recognized for their barometric
pressure of how strong they are.
In the video, the media group opened up the video with a statement and followed by a
question about smart phones. In the video, Cliff Mass discusses, They help us stay connected,
but could your smartphone also help weather forecasters predict something like this (shows
weather storm on radar) (Smartphones). This introduction is used fairly often in the ways of
informational videos as this allows the for the program to connect with the listener quickly in
order for that person to continue watching the video.

Other Quotes:

We could possibly have a hundred or thousand times more surface reports than we are

getting today (Smartphones).

Every hour weather information is uploaded from phones around the country

(Smartphones)

It could be a successful tool with more users (Smartphones).

Analysis:
This video shows how much the use of smart phones can be used and how they are not
just for the user themselves. They can help others in the same area or in other areas with the help

of pressures for thunderstorms and the development of them. Since storms can sometimes pop
up in minutes, the use of this technology can help meteorologist predict what a storm could do
next via an application on peoples phones.
I think this was an interesting video as it shows the power of smart phones. I think the
video was fairly easy to understand and follow along, however, I do not know completely the
importance of the application usage, as even weather meteorologists data is getting better and
faster each year. I think I can still use this information as a different view point of the use of
smartphones in todays society in America.