Google is working to improve the nationwide 911 system by testing new technology that will better pinpoint the location of callers.
Digital Trends reported that the tech giant gave several 911 centers in Texas, Tennessee and Florida access to their data to locate callers in a two-month trial.
According to the data collected, 80 percent of callers detected with Google’s technology were located within an average radius of 121 feet, compared to an average of 522 feet provided by wireless carriers.
The system locates a caller’s location using Wi-Fi, GPS and cell tower data. The current 911 system locates callers with only cell tower location and assisted GPS.
These tests were done in collaboration with two companies West Corp. and RapidSOS, these companies have tie-ups with 911 emergency service as they provide caller’s location information. According to The Verge report, “RapidSOS says that using Google’s technology, about 80 percent of the 911 calls had more accurate location data within the first 30 seconds.” Google’s data has been efficient in these tests and has shrunk the radius of call’s location from 522 feet to 121 feet, which is normally faster than carrier data’s respective data.
According to The Wall Street Journal report, saving a minute in response times can save up to 10,000 lives a year. Improved location data can also help dispatchers in instances where the caller might not speak English, or in a state of panic, gives the wrong address. “We can validate what the caller is saying,” says Bob Finney III, director of communications for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in South Florida. “We’ve never been able to do that because it’s never been good enough.”
Google has already launched the system in several other countries, and said plans are in the works to incorporate the technology into more 911 centers around the United States.
This Google’s efficient new technology is targeted to enter the US, this year and is already available in 14 countries.
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