The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) https://www.nist.gov, has built a low cost computer system to connect older public safety radios with the latest wireless communications networks so first responders can use voice, text, do instant messaging, use video, and have data capabilities.
NIST researchers are continuing to work on the prototype, with plans to improve the interface to the broadband network and link to additional types of radios. To promote technology transfer, they intend to publicly release all capabilities on an open source basis for use by anyone.
Another effort to help first responders has been recently reported by the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate https://www.dhs,gov/science-and-technology, has partnered with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) https://www.jhuapl.edu, and their sub-contractor Think-A-Move to develop Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) Technology.
This innovative technology known as the Direct Artificial Intelligence System Interface (DAISI) enables voice-activated capabilities in noisy operational environments. Current speech recognition systems work reasonably well in quiet conditions but fail when the surrounding background noise increases which can be common in first responder situations. DAISI should be ready for transition to commercial availability in the next couple of years.
An important next step is to do the final evaluation of the noise cancelling hardware. The system has been applied to firefighter use cases so far but there is great potential for paramedics, police, and the military to benefit from this capability. ASR represents the future of emergency response that could enable future technologies such as wireless biometric sensors.