This year's Consumer Electronics Show ushered in a new term that is destined to become as common as "Google" in the near future: wearables. The term "wearable" refers to technology devices that have been transformed into something that can be worn by a user. Examples include shirts that monitor heart rate and breathing, wristbands that monitor activity, or more commonly, cameras that record the point-of-view of the wearer.
In the technology world, there are rarely new things. More appropriately, there are new versions of old things. Wearable technology is not a 21st-century invention, but rather a concept that has been available and in daily use since 1975, when Pulsar introduced the first calculator watches. For many years, in-car video cameras have been equipped with body-worn microphones, which are yet another example of a wearable technology. Similarly, the U.S. military has been using body-worn computers on the battlefield for almost a decade.
In just the past few years, the introduction of wearable cameras for law enforcement officers has begun to shape the public safety wearable marketplace. Examples of both body-worn and point-of-view video devices are offered by companies like Taser, with its AXON Flex eyewear-mounted video device, and the LE-series body-worn devices from VIEVU.
One of the most common consumer applications of wearable technology is Google Glass, a futuristic-looking eyewear device, but without lenses. Google Glass pairs with a smartphone via Bluetooth and responds to voice commands from the user. Current applications include video conferencing, turn-by-turn directions, language translation, hands-free text messaging and many others. Recent reports surfaced that the New York City Police Department had acquired two pairs of Google Glass, which prompted a statement from Deputy Commissioner Stephen Davis: "In December of 2013, the Department obtained two pairs of Google Glass and has been evaluating these devices in an attempt to determine any possible useful applications. The devices have not been deployed in any actual field or patrol operations, but rather are being assessed as to how they may be appropriately utilized or incorporated into any existing technology-based functions."
NYPD isn't the only agency considering wearables for law enforcement, though. In its "Connected Law Enforcement Officer" campaign, Motorola envisions not only body-worn video for the future of law enforcement, but many other technology advances. Some of these devices include integrated display glasses, personal video integrated within a portable radio speaker microphone, clothing to monitor officers' vital signs, gun holster sensors and environmental sensors that can detect hazardous conditions.
The international financial firm Credit Suisse estimates that within the next five years, purchases and investments in wearable technology will be $50 billion annually. This growth will be fueled by the "Internet of Everything" movement, which proposes to connect all of the smart devices in our lives together—whether we like it or not.
The Intersection of Technology & Legislation
Wearables not only bring new solutions and innovative options, they also create new challenges and questions about their use. In October 2013, Cecilia Abadie was cited by the California Highway Patrol for wearing her Google Glass while driving. The officer cited Abadie for operating the vehicle with a monitor visible to the driver, specifically the eyepiece screen that is viewable to the wearer. Abadie challenged the citation in what was viewed as an historic case for the future of wearable technology, and she prevailed. In January of this year, a California traffic commissioner dismissed the charge, saying there was not enough evidence to prove that the Google Glass was turned on at the time. The commissioner also said that Google Glass "falls within the purview and intent of California's law banning the use of such devices while driving," leaving the question of using the device open for debate.
Meanwhile, legislators in at least three states—Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia—are introducing bills that would specifically ban wearing devices such as Google Glass while operating a motor vehicle. How does your jurisdiction address wearable technologies and their effects on drivers—if at all?
What to Consider
The wave of wearable technologies has only just begun. Manufacturers of these devices recognize that to gain the acceptance of the marketplace—the law enforcement community—devices must be simply and intuitively designed, priced reasonably and able to withstand the demands of the public safety environment.
Wearable devices are typically small and often feature a miniature display or other interactive panel. Ultimately, wearables are not intended to replace the full-size screens of smartphones, tablets or even laptops, but rather are meant to augment the senses of the user and provide an enhanced awareness of the environment. Given the size of the wearable marketplace, the next few years will open up a wide variety of different wearables to address various applications. In this new environment, critical and thorough research and evaluation of potential devices should be considered carefully before a department-wide purchase is made.
When evaluating a new device for use in your agency, consider the following key areas to focus on initially. Many manufacturers will also offer a "test and evaluation" period, sometimes referred to as a "T&E," for you to use one of the devices in your application. Be sure to ask the manufacturer if they would provide a unit for your short-term use, often 30 days. Commit to providing your direct feedback to the manufacturer about what you liked or disliked, what worked well and what did not. Honest feedback, from actual users and in real environments, is valued by device manufacturers.
1. Intuitiveness. One of the key design concepts that make a product user-friendly is how intuitive it is. Focus on wearables that can be learned quickly, with minimal training and interpretation of instructions. An average officer should be able to grasp the basic functions of a device within just a few minutes. More than that and it may sit in a locker or on a charging stand. Think about the first time you used an iPad or iPhone—very few people sat down to read the instruction manual. Intuitive design is the cornerstone of Apple's design philosophy.
2. Environment. Wearable devices that are built for the extreme environments in law enforcement are still rare. Verify that the device is rated for, or has at least been tested successfully in harsh, wet environments with temperature extremes. How would the device function if dropped from a height of six feet?
3. Battery Life. Law enforcement officers have long dealt with the realities—and the improvements—in battery technologies over the last two decades. Still, battery life is a primary concern for wearable devices, as most do not feature a battery that can be quickly replaced like those on a portable radio. Be sure to verify the useful life of the device after a full charge, and with typical use.
4. Charging. In addition to battery life, how the device is charged should be considered. Look for devices that use standard USB charging cords rather than proprietary wall adapters and specialized connectors. Consider the durability of the charging connection because officers will be doing this day in and day out and they can be tough on equipment. Some newer wearable devices feature wireless chargers and the latest advances in lightweight, long-lasting power: solid-state batteries.
5. Display Type. Coupled with environment, the type of display on a wearable device should be an important consideration. Determine how well the device can be viewed in bright, direct sunlight. Does it become unreadable unless viewed directly? Further, consider if the display can be manually dimmed or turned completely off for nighttime or covert situations.
6. Updateable. The wearable technology marketplace is not on the cutting edge, but rather the bleeding edge. Advances in devices and capabilities are occurring on a daily basis, and for many of these devices, features are being added at an astonishing pace. Look for devices that can be updated quickly and easily, without the help of a computer expert, and without special tools or software. Make sure that the device manufacturer provides "release notes" or a "revision history" for the new software to help in identifying what has been changed, fixed or added. How often new software or firmware updates are being released can also be an indication of how strongly the product is supported by the manufacturer. Devices with infrequent or rare updates, especially for wearable devices, should be avoided.
7. Feedback. Is it easy to determine if the device is operating properly? For wearable video devices, can the recorded video be played back simply from the device to verify that an event was captured, or that the device is even recording at all? Does the device provide any feedback to the user to indicate that it is performing as designed?
8. Usability. Many smartphones and tablets use capacitive displays that rely on your finger to conduct a tiny current in order to operate the screen. If you use a smartphone, you're likely familiar with the challenges posed by using it with gloved hands. Wearable technologies are no different. When a device includes an interactive, touch-screen display, look for those that use resistive or infrared displays, which react to gloved hands.
9. Connectivity. We live in a wireless world, and devices should be able to connect to and communicate with other devices without special cables or cradles. Look for devices that can receive and transmit data, images and files with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Devices that allow you to connect intuitively to your network or smartphone should be given high marks.
10. Security and Privacy. Last, but certainly not least, are the concerns of data security and privacy. Wearable devices are small, light and not firmly attached to our bodies by their very nature. The downside, though, is that this makes them easy to dislodge, fall off and ultimately lose. This can be particularly devastating if the device contained or has access to law enforcement sensitive information.
Look for devices that provide strong encryption of stored data, particularly those that are compliant with the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Security policies. Similarly, devices that communicate back to a smartphone via Bluetooth or a network with Wi-Fi should have strong encryption. Video devices should include mechanisms to verify the evidentiary integrity of the video, too. Evidentiary video should not be easily editable, and should contain an embedded timestamp in the frames to show that recordings are continuous. If you already have systems such as in-car video, consider how these new devices will (or will not) integrate with your existing infrastructure.
The Future
Over the next three years, we will see many "beta" releases of wearable devices, pilot programs and testing of prototypes by law enforcement agencies. In three to five years, manufacturers will be developing and marketing applications and software for commercial, daily use. Within 10 years, the wearable marketplace will be mature, with devices being viewed not as futuristic or out of the ordinary, but rather common, everyday additions to our wardrobe. The future of the wearable marketplace will be exciting, and has the potential to change both our professional and personal lives on a scale similar to the introduction of the cellular phone. Progressive law enforcement agencies will start evaluating and incorporating such technologies now.