The body-worn revolution

Article

3 min. read

mayo 15, 2020

When talking about body-worn cameras (BWC), most people picture little cameras clipped onto the uniform of a policeman or a security guard. Cameras that serve as eyewitnesses and capture evidence enhance the effectiveness of any authority, and video surveillance generally plays a crucial role as a deterrent and investigative tool. But looking forward, the BWC technology will actually revolutionize business, benefitting and developing many areas of business and public engagement.

Proven Benefits in Crime Prevention

The benefits of body-worn cameras within security and law enforcement are many. The most obvious benefit is the capturing of evidence to be used in an investigation –in terms of the actions of both the perpetrator and the law enforcement officer or private security professional. Here, the body-worn camera can show what the wearer saw, but it can also fill in any blind spots that other surveillance cameras may have missed. Another significant benefit is the body-worn camera’s power to deter inappropriate behavior. Often, the mere presence of a body-worn camera will reduce the number or severity of incidents, as well as providing the wearer with an increased sense of safety. Finally, footage captured on body-worn cameras is well suited for training purposes as it shows first-hand the types of episodes that can occur.

Triggers and Actions

Depending on the setup, a body-worn camera can respond to various triggers. If the camera contains a GPS, it can send real-time information on where help, service or backup is needed, so the needed personnel can be dispatched. If the camera contains a gyro, it can sense if a person falls down and is in need of assistance, be it crime- or health-related.

Going Far Beyond Security

The benefits of body-worn cameras are in no way limited to law enforcement and private security. There is a world of opportunities just waiting to be seized and developed to make a real difference for people and businesses, alike. Customer service, field service, health functions, and research are just some of the business areas where the implementation and use of body-worn cameras can have a significant and positive impact. And with the implementation of 5G comes the possibility of live streaming on a scale that can completely change triggers and response time in any given situation.

Facing the Future Beyond the Camera

Every setup needs its own unique solution. And to that end, it is important to think not only about the camera, but also about the platform, which should enable flexible, customized solutions and processing of collected data – independent of hardware manufacturers. This is where Milestone’s Open VMS Platform, Milestone XProtect^®, comes into play.

From Stand-Alone System to Future-Proof Open Platform

Whereas many body-worn camera solutions work as stand-alone systems, integration with Milestone’s open platform allows video data to be seamlessly linked to other technologies provided by the Milestone Community. A VMS that is open to data from other devices allows ongoing inclusion of new state-of-the-art hardware, making your system future-proof. It also makes it possible to run data through a multitude of analytics software solutions, thus increasing the knowledge gained, the access to that knowledge and the ability to identify exactly what is needed, which can ultimately reduce investigation times. Running your body-worn camera solution with Milestone XProtect® also means you can have fixed and mobile cameras with the same user experience, so you can streamline operations with the convenience of a single, intuitive interface.

With an open solution, body-worn cameras can serve as eyes in the world to strengthen first-line service functions across industries, empowering people, improving lives, and enhancing interactions up close and across the globe.

Explore our body-worn universe here.

Learn about the power of open-platform when building your body-worn solution.
Read more here.

Understand the value of bringing fixed and mobile cameras into the same VMS.
Read more here.

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The body-worn revolution