New Trends

NEW TRENDS
In Mobile Data Technology

A 9-1-1 Magazine Special Report

Back to Contents

Back to Annual Index

This article can be found on
page 28 of the Mar/Apr 1997
issue of 9-1-1 Magazine.

As computers become smaller and remote interfaces more varied, law enforcement, fire, and EMS officers are taking computers into the field, giving their field resources more tools at their disposal and relieving the dispatch center of the burden of handling many tasks which field units are now able to handle on their own. From remote status reporting devices to fully-functional laptop computers connected via RF modem to an agency's CAD system, more information is now directly available to field units that ever before.

Benefits of Mobile Data Technology

Routine status changes such as "on scene" or "available on radio" can be made electronically without the need to use up valuable air time. "Voice transmission is subject to being garbled or drowned out by other sounds," said Brent Freer, Vice President, Sales, for Mentor Engineering. "This can lead to errors or simply wasted time and frayed nerves. Data transmission is clear and on the screen. Encrypted data allows for secure transmission so that confidential information is not picked up on scanners."

"Mobile data technology provides agencies with quick, accurate information in the vehicle," said Leslie Brell, Director of Public Relations for Data911. "It also greatly decreases the workload of the dispatchers by allowing officers to directly interact with both CAD and law enforcement databases. It provides officers the opportunity to enter case reports and field interviews information once and have that data carried throughout CAD and RMS systems without duplication of effort."

"Utilizing mobile data technology, public safety organizations can leverage their resources, intelligently dispatching when and where they are needed," said Stephanie Smith, Marketing Administrator for Cerulean Technologies, creators of PacketCluster Patrol. "With the benefit of mobile data communications, closest-vehicle dispatching, AVL, and GPS-based systems aid public safety efforts."

Recent Advances

The first mobile data systems sold during the 1970s were first-generation systems based on large-proprietary computers controlling networks of non-intelligent data terminals. "The past 10 years have evidenced dramatic improvement in the price-performance ratio of a notebook computer, which could be purchased for less than the price of an MDT," said Cerulean's Stephanie Smith. "This gave way for open-architected, standards-based solutions, modeled after client/server models that not only improve performance but establish interoperability with other applications."

"Perhaps the most important advance during the past ten years has been the increase in data transmission rates, maximizing the capacity on each radio channel," said David Nairn, director of Worldwide Business Management for the Worldwide Data Solutions Division of Motorola's Land Mobile Products Sector. "The typical system ten years ago ran at 4.8 kilobytes per second. Today, Motorola's mobile data systems operate at 19.2 kilobytes a second in the same channel spacing allotted as a decade ago."

"Instead of limited function MDTs, we now have fully PC-compatible computers which are designed explicitly for the vehicular environment," said Data911's Leslie Brell. "Another important advance has been the introduction of additional data transport technologies which provide alternatives to the costly private radio networks utilized by the MDT systems. For example, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), RAM, Artis, Metricom all provide decreased cost and/or increased throughput."

Obstacles Along the Way

What have been some of the biggest challenges in developing mobile data technology? "Providing computers which can withstand the rigors of the vehicular environment, especially temperature range, shock, and vibration," said Brell. "In addition, providing for the ergonomic needs of the officer who needs a computer which will allow him to concentrate on his job as opposed to concentrating on the computer."

"A major challenge has been providing the integration between the hardware and software," said Mentor's Brent Freer. "The change from main frame-based computer systems to affordable PC-based systems has facilitated this change, making mobile data systems more reasonably priced and accessible. A second challenge has been establishing secure, national wireless data networks."

"Many mobile data vendors have designed their systems on closed, proprietary structures that are not able to effectively communicate with other mobile information applications," said Cerulean's Stephanie Smith. "Once installed, the upgrade path for those vendors' customers is limited to that vendor's offerings, not the latest technological enhancements."

Major advances in technology have come in response to these challenges. Such things as daylight viewability, touch screen, detached keyboard and other enhancements have come about. "Integration has improved, software offers increased functionality at more accessible costs," said Freer. "GPS technology and corresponding applications are growing at an exponential rate. Improved data transmission capabilities and new public data wireless networks have made mobile data technology crucial to more and more vertical markets."

Future Advances

The next five to ten years will undoubtedly bring about further advances in mobile data technology and increased versatility. "We should expect greater functionality and reduced costs, both on the software and hardware sides," said Mentor's Freer. "We should see greater amounts of information being generated while, at the same time, being used in a more focused manner to improve public safety service. The level of integration between all the elements that make up the mobile data system should also improve. Increasing difficulties in securing private radio channels in large urban areas combined with availability of public data networks is leading more and more public safety operators to look at mobile data."

"New wireless network technologies will allow great increases in data transmission speed and therefore provide true client/server between the computer and the station," said Leslie Brell of Data911.

"We are concentrating on creating even faster data rates that will eventually allow our users to send things like fingerprints and mugshots over the air to further assist them in the identification of suspects," said Motorola's David Nairn.

"With the speed and complexity of technological improvements in hand-held computing devices, I assess that the market will see quite a few applications via this medium," said Stephanie Smith. "Mobility is the key, and transmitting real-time information wirelessly will be demanded by many more users."

	NEW TRENDS In Mobile Data Technology A 9-1-1 Magazine Special Report


Back to Contents Back to Annual Index This article can be found on page 28 of the Mar/Apr 1997 issue of 9-1-1 Magazine.	As computers become smaller and remote interfaces more varied, law enforcement, fire, and EMS officers are taking computers into the field, giving their field resources more tools at their disposal and relieving the dispatch center of the burden of handling many tasks which field units are now able to handle on their own. From remote status reporting devices to fully-functional laptop computers connected via RF modem to an agency's CAD system, more information is now directly available to field units that ever before. Benefits of Mobile Data Technology Routine status changes such as "on scene" or "available on radio" can be made electronically without the need to use up valuable air time. "Voice transmission is subject to being garbled or drowned out by other sounds," said Brent Freer, Vice President, Sales, for Mentor Engineering. "This can lead to errors or simply wasted time and frayed nerves. Data transmission is clear and on the screen. Encrypted data allows for secure transmission so that confidential information is not picked up on scanners." "Mobile data technology provides agencies with quick, accurate information in the vehicle," said Leslie Brell, Director of Public Relations for Data911. "It also greatly decreases the workload of the dispatchers by allowing officers to directly interact with both CAD and law enforcement databases. It provides officers the opportunity to enter case reports and field interviews information once and have that data carried throughout CAD and RMS systems without duplication of effort." "Utilizing mobile data technology, public safety organizations can leverage their resources, intelligently dispatching when and where they are needed," said Stephanie Smith, Marketing Administrator for Cerulean Technologies, creators of PacketCluster Patrol. "With the benefit of mobile data communications, closest-vehicle dispatching, AVL, and GPS-based systems aid public safety efforts." Recent Advances The first mobile data systems sold during the 1970s were first-generation systems based on large-proprietary computers controlling networks of non-intelligent data terminals. "The past 10 years have evidenced dramatic improvement in the price-performance ratio of a notebook computer, which could be purchased for less than the price of an MDT," said Cerulean's Stephanie Smith. "This gave way for open-architected, standards-based solutions, modeled after client/server models that not only improve performance but establish interoperability with other applications." "Perhaps the most important advance during the past ten years has been the increase in data transmission rates, maximizing the capacity on each radio channel," said David Nairn, director of Worldwide Business Management for the Worldwide Data Solutions Division of Motorola's Land Mobile Products Sector. "The typical system ten years ago ran at 4.8 kilobytes per second. Today, Motorola's mobile data systems operate at 19.2 kilobytes a second in the same channel spacing allotted as a decade ago." "Instead of limited function MDTs, we now have fully PC-compatible computers which are designed explicitly for the vehicular environment," said Data911's Leslie Brell. "Another important advance has been the introduction of additional data transport technologies which provide alternatives to the costly private radio networks utilized by the MDT systems. For example, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), RAM, Artis, Metricom all provide decreased cost and/or increased throughput." Obstacles Along the Way What have been some of the biggest challenges in developing mobile data technology? "Providing computers which can withstand the rigors of the vehicular environment, especially temperature range, shock, and vibration," said Brell. "In addition, providing for the ergonomic needs of the officer who needs a computer which will allow him to concentrate on his job as opposed to concentrating on the computer." "A major challenge has been providing the integration between the hardware and software," said Mentor's Brent Freer. "The change from main frame-based computer systems to affordable PC-based systems has facilitated this change, making mobile data systems more reasonably priced and accessible. A second challenge has been establishing secure, national wireless data networks." "Many mobile data vendors have designed their systems on closed, proprietary structures that are not able to effectively communicate with other mobile information applications," said Cerulean's Stephanie Smith. "Once installed, the upgrade path for those vendors' customers is limited to that vendor's offerings, not the latest technological enhancements." Major advances in technology have come in response to these challenges. Such things as daylight viewability, touch screen, detached keyboard and other enhancements have come about. "Integration has improved, software offers increased functionality at more accessible costs," said Freer. "GPS technology and corresponding applications are growing at an exponential rate. Improved data transmission capabilities and new public data wireless networks have made mobile data technology crucial to more and more vertical markets." Future Advances The next five to ten years will undoubtedly bring about further advances in mobile data technology and increased versatility. "We should expect greater functionality and reduced costs, both on the software and hardware sides," said Mentor's Freer. "We should see greater amounts of information being generated while, at the same time, being used in a more focused manner to improve public safety service. The level of integration between all the elements that make up the mobile data system should also improve. Increasing difficulties in securing private radio channels in large urban areas combined with availability of public data networks is leading more and more public safety operators to look at mobile data." "New wireless network technologies will allow great increases in data transmission speed and therefore provide true client/server between the computer and the station," said Leslie Brell of Data911. "We are concentrating on creating even faster data rates that will eventually allow our users to send things like fingerprints and mugshots over the air to further assist them in the identification of suspects," said Motorola's David Nairn. "With the speed and complexity of technological improvements in hand-held computing devices, I assess that the market will see quite a few applications via this medium," said Stephanie Smith. "Mobility is the key, and transmitting real-time information wirelessly will be demanded by many more users."