Location-based services have become so pervasive that consumers take them for granted. Yet emergency services in the USA are often unable to detect the precise location of an individual calling from a mobile phone – a technology gap that risks lives.
As a result, state and local governments, with assistance from standards setting bodies, are transitioning 9-1-1 calling systems to ‘Next Generation’ IP-based solutions. Requests for help (and situational information) from traditional sources such as the telephone, are now augmented with information from a wide variety of other sources including social media, mobile apps, and global information systems.
Of course, the transition is not without challenges such as:
- Educating and raising the awareness of elected officials.
- Creating clear policy directives and guidelines that contribute to solutions.
- Applying appropriate and secure technological solutions that enable response providers.
- Advancing emergency response operational capabilities.
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