EMERGE program focuses on wearable technology for first responders

This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) held a demonstration day in San Francisco to showcase a wide range of innovative technologies discovered through its first accelerator program, EMERGE. EMERGE, announced in March, is designed to target entrepreneurs with innovative ideas on wearable technology.

"EMERGE is unique because it brings together - for the first time - innovators, public safety and the investment community to find ingenious ways of solving the complex challenges that, as a nation, we face every day to keep our homeland safe and secure," said DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Reginald Brothers. "The demonstration of technology prototypes at the EMERGE Demo Day will help put creative solutions into the hands of first responders."

Throughout the day, EMERGE participants demonstrated their technology concepts and prototypes to members of the investor and industry liaison communities. Featured innovative technologies included mouth guards that use bone conduction technology for communication, devices for sensory impaired users that can help first responders locate people in challenging environments, a triage language translator for patients to communicate with first responders, and protective gloves with embedded equipment controls to remotely operate devices.

Dr. Brothers also hosted a panel which included the Chiefs of the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments, as well as the accelerators to discuss in the importance of linking the needs of first responders to innovative startups that can develop new solutions.

"This is a one-of-a-kind public-private partnership that has developed between the Department of Homeland Security and the innovation and entrepreneurial community," said Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) Chief Executive Officer Peter Jobse. "EMERGE participants will next work on the rigorous test and evaluation process by first responders to see how their technology stands up to such things as grueling rough usage and extremes of weather. After that, the technology needs to comply with first responders' standards."

Many of the technologies demonstrated throughout the day have dual uses for athletics or health care, and can be adapted for first responders. Now that the technology has been put in front of investors, S&T is hopeful that new and improved technological solutions can end up in the hands of first responders.

Source: Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate