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Ask HN: How to be reachable only for emergencies

by esac on 6/18/18, 7:13 AM with 10 comments

I'm reading deep work by cal newport and I'm trying to implement his advice on allocating times of unreliability for deeper style of work.

The problem is that I need to be reachable at any time by 2 persons, no matter what.

My first idea was to use SMS only but alas, my ISP shares my number with the whole world and I get one SMS message every other day, another option was to use an external software IM (e.g. Signal) and ask those persons to join the platform to reach me. This would work wonders for me since I would add a flashy notification to my desktop and achieve my peace of mind but one of the two is not really internet/computer savvy and I can't be sure he'll be able to signup/install AND operate a telephone app in the time of need.

For now top bet would be to have a webpage they can navigate to and press a big red button to summon me on normal IMs, do you have better ideas?

  • by schappim on 6/18/18, 7:57 AM

    Why don't you whitelist the important contacts on your phone and set your phone into do not disturb mode?

    For iPhone see: https://www.imore.com/how-receive-messages-specific-contacts...

    For Android see: https://www.greenbot.com/article/2995581/android/take-contro...

    If I recall correctly HN User Patio11 used Twilio when he was in Japan to filter messages/calls from his contacts. See: https://www.twilio.com/blog/2015/01/how-patrick-mckenzie-bui...

    Edit: Of course http://ifttt.com/ could be your friend and relay SMS to your app of choice ;-)

  • by borplk on 6/18/18, 8:10 AM

    I don't have all the answers but I'll just say keep it dead simple and reliable. The last thing you want is an unreliable emergency solution.

  • by nautical on 6/18/18, 7:49 AM

    SMS number on Twilio => Your webhook => Telegram API to forward message to you and you can reply via same (he receives SMS)

    Another person can simply install Telegram

    This way you can communicate to both using Telegram, one can talk to you via SMS and another via Telegram.

    (Telegram or any other IM supporting API access)

  • by smt88 on 6/18/18, 7:36 AM

    Why not have a physical button? Several companies have released programmable buttons.

    You could also have an emergency-only prepaid cell phone and only give the number to those people.

    There's also the traditional Life Alert type options that would summon first responders.