Given the technologies available, why have those in the public safety space largely failed to capitalize on the opportunities available? Investments have been made, with over half (56%) of public safety organizations stating they have had mobile solutions in place for longer than five years. However, the level of adoption varies largely, and many organizations pursue a reactive rather than proactive approach to mobility for a number of reasons. Perhaps most notably, the fragmented nature of the American public safety system, with agencies varying in size, location, and access to resources impedes cohesive technology adoption and policies. The needs of agencies vary significantly so there is no one size fits all solution. Moreover, many in the
…show more content…
This information-centric strategy coincides with a move to devices and communications technologies capable of processing, displaying, and distributing this information in the most reliable and efficient manner. Obstacles to modernization—technical, cultural, and financial--remain substantial however, even as the costs associated with these technologies continue to fall. Nonetheless, recent events, such as the launch of the White House Police Data Initiative (PDI), highlight the importance of capturing, analyzing and capitalizing on data and information. By emphasizing smart policing, the federal government places pressure on communities to acquire new technologies that enable first-responders to make difficult decisions with as much information as possible. Modernization will inevitably be a slow and uneven process given the characteristics of the public safety industry, but the benefits to citizens and first-responders alike will be immense. In particular, smartphones and supplementary technologies—cloud, video, GPS—will play a prominent role in the future by facilitating workflows through computation and data collection. While mission critical voice communications currently lies outside of the purview of smartphones, the pace of wireless communication evolution and standard creation could have these devices playing a more central role in the
This information-centric strategy coincides with a move to devices and communications technologies capable of processing, displaying, and distributing this information in the most reliable and efficient manner. Obstacles to modernization—technical, cultural, and financial--remain substantial however, even as the costs associated with these technologies continue to fall. Nonetheless, recent events, such as the launch of the White House Police Data Initiative (PDI), highlight the importance of capturing, analyzing and capitalizing on data and information. By emphasizing smart policing, the federal government places pressure on communities to acquire new technologies that enable first-responders to make difficult decisions with as much information as possible. Modernization will inevitably be a slow and uneven process given the characteristics of the public safety industry, but the benefits to citizens and first-responders alike will be immense. In particular, smartphones and supplementary technologies—cloud, video, GPS—will play a prominent role in the future by facilitating workflows through computation and data collection. While mission critical voice communications currently lies outside of the purview of smartphones, the pace of wireless communication evolution and standard creation could have these devices playing a more central role in the