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Personal Alert and Safety System. CS 410 Blue Group Ray Bland, Daniel Cox, Brittany Dufort, Braden Gibson, Marcus Henry, Jon Szewczak. Societal Problem Statement .
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Personal Alert and Safety System CS 410 Blue Group Ray Bland, Daniel Cox, Brittany Dufort, Braden Gibson, Marcus Henry, Jon Szewczak
Societal Problem Statement • In the event of a personal emergency, security professionals at higher education, business and civil complexes need an effective way to allow individuals to quickly and silently communicate their location to first responders.
Background • In times of need people call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. • Personal Crimes (i.e. Robberies, Assaults) • Accidents • Injuries • On many campuses and other organized complexes, security professionals (public and private) have instituted first response paradigms.
Background • Existing security paradigms rely on verbal communication with people in need. • Verbal communication usually comes after the event has taken place. • Average response time is 8-11 minutes after first call.
Solution • To develop a way of sending a silent signal to security dispatch in the event of a personal emergency. • Solution would make use of radio frequency based key fob devices carried by individuals. • When a fob button(s) were pushed a signal would be sent out. • Through a series of transceivers that signal would be translated to dispatch.
Solution • The dispatch station will have an easy-to-use graphic user interface that maps the location of the emergency beacon. • Once activated the fob would automatically repeat its broadcast until reset by responders.
Benefits of the Proposed Solution • First responders do not need location information from victims. • Victims do not have to fumble around for a cell phone and dial a number; a button push is all that is required to summon aid. • Aids in locating, in the event the victim is moving along the grid. • Allows dispatch to know that an alert is still active.
Benefits of Proposed Solution • Based on proven technology. • If a victim is not near an emergency phone location (blue tower), they don't have to scramble aimlessly to find one. • Would help alleviate students' fear of safety on campus and possibly raise incoming student interest in the school. • Could act as a deterrent.
Technological Components • Hardware • Radio Based Key Fobs • Radio Transceivers • Radio Control Hub (connected to dispatch station) • Software • Fob controller • Transceiver controller • Control Hub controller and Driver • GUI based on a mapping API (Google® Maps)
Determining Customer Base • Many possible customers: • Universities or Colleges • Business complexes (i.e. Google, Microsoft, Intel, Trump Tower) • Civil complexes (i.e. the Capitol Building) • Scoping Issues • Due to time constraints the focus will be on Universities. • Old Dominion University to be specific
Old Dominion University • Old Dominion University, whose growing number of students continues the projection of future victims and offenders, represents a suitable client for this solution. • Their adoption of new technology in the past indicates a high probability of willingness to use funds to secure the safety of their facility and students.
Potential Issues with Solution • High cost of implementation • Large front-end cost of development • Slightly limited market (i.e. facilities large enough to have their own security professionals) • No financial return on investment • FCC regulations • Radio broadcasting ranges • Abuse/Misuse
Similar Solutions • The Guardian system by TTI is a solution that is based on the 802.15 short range networking protocol. • Appears to have a maximum area it can protect. • http://www.ttiguardian.com • Uses key fobs, repeaters and a central hub • The Centurion system by StopTech broadcasts a voice message to radio capable devices when an alarm is triggered. • Has a very long range • Alert messages are pre-programmed • http://www.stopstick.com/centurion.html
Similar Solutions • Personal Safety Alarms • Small devices that emit a loud noise and a bright flashing light. Used as a way to scare off a perpetrator. • Medical alert remotes • Uses a device connected to a phone line to initiate a phone call to predetermined number. • (i.e. “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”)