SECONDS FROM DISASTER.

The article addresses Japan's possible implementation of a national earthquake detector, the first such system in the world. It would coordinate a network of seismometers throughout the country which would be monitored by a Japan Meteorological Agency computer. The computer would be able to assess collected data in time to provide a warning. The warning could then be produced in broadcast alerts as well as be beamed into individual homes. Authorities worry false alarms might cause panic.