Code Amber | Adding it to SMF Front Page?

[swtdivalove]

Hey all...

With as many visitors and member this site has, have you considered adding a Code Amber widget to the site?

If you do not know what Code Amber is, visit Code Amber News Service.

It's for helping parents, children and the law enforcement agencies find missing children.

There aren't many websites out there that have this, and adding it to such a big site as this could possibly help reunite children with their families.

[H]

Considering the international nature of the site, I think it would make our site appear oriented only to the US.

Is there not a dynamic image provided by someone that you can just use in your signature?

[swtdivalove]

No... it's all Javascript, and without the ability to add HTML to signatures, it won't work.

They do have one for Canada also, but not sure if there is an equivalent for Europe?  Maybe someone across the pond knows for sure?

[Fustrate]

It might be possible to make a dynamic image through PHP that could be put in signatures... anyone who has worked with the GD functions before would know how to do it and if you have hosting, then you'd be all set to host it on your site (like my avatar, which changes on each page load).

[kai920]

and if you have hosting, then you'd be all set to host it on your site (like my avatar, which changes on each page load).

that's nifty , I reloaded a few times just to see the different avatars. 

how many do you have?

[Fustrate]

As I recall, 8. They're all landmarks from a Gameboy Color game, Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX. Just a simple script that says it's a GIF, and spits out the contents of a random image

[swtdivalove]

Aren't we getting off topic some?

[Arantor]

Yes and no. The idea being got at here is that you could write a script to put it into an image and add it to a signature, or avatar.

[swtdivalove]

The only problem with Code Amber widget is that it is dynamically updated in the case of a Code Amber Alert, and then displays the information within the script.

It also displays the Code Amber Alerts from across America and Canada, again I'm not sure if Europe has something like this or not.

[Arantor]

Yes, so what you do is you have the script regenerate every 5 minutes or so.

[swtdivalove]

I still think, other than a signature, that it could be something on the front page of SMF.  The only time someone would see it in say your or my signature is if someone reads the thread and sees it.  But, if someone comes to the front page of SMF, it would have much greater exposure.

The reason I am suggesting this is for the children, parents and law enforcement agencies.  What if, by some chance, that someone sees it, and they are out for the day they may spot the child because they saw it here.

Putting this on the front page of the site, and with so many visitors coming here, it can improve the chances of child being returned to their family.

[Arantor]

While I see where you're coming from, I would note that, as already mentioned, that would skew the site to have a strong US/Canada bias - which it doesn't.

This site has to cater to users all around the world - the language board alone demonstrates the variations.

[swtdivalove]

That's why I am also asking if there is a European equivalent to Code Amber?

[Arantor]

As far as I know there isn't. At least, there's nothing I can bring to mind for it in the United Kingdom.

[swtdivalove]

Hopefully they do have something over there like it.  If not, they should!

[H]

Most notices of this nature are relayed using the local media/press. Another issue with putting external javascript on the site, is that is causes the entire page to hang if the external server goes down. For me Google Analytics is slow enough, I had to ban it in my hosts file

[swtdivalove]

I've never had an issue with it not loading.  Since it is so important and so critical, I am sure that they have it set on many backup servers.

Still it would be nice to know if they have something like this in Europe?

[Arantor]

Well, both H and I come from the United Kingdom and there is nothing unified like this here as we've indicated, but all done through local media/press.

[swtdivalove]

Code Amber alerts go out through Radio/TV here too, plus we have roadside signs that also display Amber Alerts for missing children.  It's a unified way of dispersing information for motorists.

So far, in my area, I've seen 2 Amber Alerts on roadside signs, and a brief information since you are moving down the road.