The Department of Homeland Security does more than patrol borders and run airport checkpoints. It’s also busy in the world of technology.
Through the Security Science and Technology Directorate’s EMERGE 2016 program, DHS supports wearable technology research for first responders. The program matches strategic partners, startups, and accelerators to expedite research and development.
Ten startups are taking part in EMERGE 2016: Augmate, CommandWear Systems, HAAS Alert, Human Systems Integration, Lumenus, LuminAid, Pear Sports, Six15 Technologies, Vault RMS, and Visual Semantics. Among the devices and systems they provide are management, biometric, and location systems; solar lamps; video streaming; and wearable cameras and heads-up displays.
Dr. Reginald Brothers, under secretary for science and technology, said in a press release that the department was trying to find technology that integrates into first responders’ existing gear.