Head-mounted cameras are being used in a pilot project in San Jose. This is the first use of the AXON technology in a major U.S. city.
(San Jose Police Department officer Michael Ceballos
Officers will activate the cameras, about the size of a Bluetooth device and attached by a headband above the ear, every time they respond or make contact with a person. At the end of the officer's shift, the recording will be downloaded to a central server.
Chief Rob Davis said the devices, to be tested by 18 patrol officers, are a technological advance comparable to the advent of police cars, two-way radios and the 911 emergency system.
The full cost of the trial is being borne by Taser International, maker of the AXON system. The cost? About $1,700 per system and a $99 per officer per month fee.
Science fiction fans may recall the head-mounted cameras used by the Colonial marines in the movie Aliens.
Via Mercury News; extra special holiday thanks to Moira [ ;-) ] and thanks again to all of the readers who contributed tips on articles and technovelgy items this year.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/24/2009)
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Gaia - Why Stop With Just The Earth?
'But the stars are only atoms in larger space, and in that larger space the star-atoms could combine to form living matter, thinking matter, couldn't they?'
Microsoft VASA-1 Creates Personal Video From A Photo
'...to build up a video picture would require, say, ten million decisions every second. Mike, you're so fast I can't even think about it. But you aren't that fast.'