Google Glass in Firefighting
Every firefighter has his or her own strategies of extinguishing fires. Throughout the years, from bucket brigades to the introduction of the first fire truck in the 1700’s, firefighting tactics have changed to make fighting fires safer and more effective.
The same can be said in the fire service today. For example, [link url=”http://www.fastcompany.com/3026559/this-firefighter-built-his-own-google-glass-app-and-its-saving-lives” title=”Patrick Jackson of Rocky Mount, NC”] has designed an app that can change firefighting for the foreseeable future.
Jackson’s Google Glass app can show maps of where firefighters are responding, hydrant locations and even cut points on vehicles that can make vehicle extrication quicker and safer.
Another key function of the app is the ability to display a floor plan of different structures. Having the ability to go into a smoke filled building where visibility is often poor with a floor plan can help a firefighter know exactly how the building is laid out. Having valid floor plan information can prevent firefighters from getting disoriented and lost, helping to save lives – both victims and fire personnel
How It Works
Once an emergency dispatcher receives a 9-1-1 call, the information inputted by the dispatcher goes into a database, which, in turn, is then transmitted to the Google Glass device. This allows for a firefighter to get information about the call in real time, in as little as 30 to 60 seconds, which can ultimately make the difference between life and death.
With saying the simple words, “Ok, Glass,” the device can be ready to immediately begin transmitting relevant information to a firefighter’s glasses.
Gaining Steam
Jackson introduced his vision to numerous departments across the United States by attending conferences like SMART firefighting, a tech conference for firefighting.
According to [link url=”http://www.fastcompany.com/3026559/this-firefighter-built-his-own-google-glass-app-and-its-saving-lives” title=”FastCompany”], Jackson’s hope is to one day make the app a standard service tool for all firefighters, a tool that will make firefighting [link url=”https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/” title=”safer”].
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