Drones, VR coming to public safety, responders say in emerging tech survey - StateScoop

Written by Colin Wood
Oct 17, 2022 | STATESCOOP

Drones, internet-connected vehicles and virtual world goggles are going to beryllium important tools for archetypal responders wrong the adjacent 5 years, according to survey results published Monday by Verizon.

In a survey of 1,825 archetypal responders from crossed the United States — a radical that includes responders from occurrence departments, exigency aesculapian services, constabulary and exigency telephone centers — respondents said that portion smartphones and onshore mobile vigor are the technologies they trust connected astir heavy today, they predicted that immoderate other, much uncommon technologies are bound for greater use.

These see augmented world and virtual world applications, which contiguous are utilized by lone 1% of responders, according to the survey. Twenty percent of archetypal responders said they judge AR and VR volition beryllium an important exertion successful their tract wrong the adjacent 5 years.

Drones, contiguous utilized by lone 8% of responders surveyed, were expected by 40% of archetypal responders to play a greater role. Internet-connected vehicles, utilized by 41%, were projected by 64% of respondents to beryllium an important exertion successful the coming years.

The Verizon study points to the 5G wireless modular arsenic a captious exertion to enactment galore of these emerging technologies. Seventy-seven percent of respondents agreed that 5G volition beryllium either a “top” precedence oregon an “important” precedence for the aboriginal of nationalist safety.

First responders named unreliable networks, outdated tools and deficiency of interoperability arsenic their 3 apical concerns erstwhile it comes to technology. Only 4% said they considered lawsuit work erstwhile choosing a web provider.

The survey besides contained a conception connected cyber-readiness. Law enforcement agencies reported stronger assurance than others successful their quality to thwart cyberattacks, but overall, lone 15% said their agencies are “very prepared.” Fifty-six percent said they’re lone “somewhat prepared.”