Mobile Device that Scan for Weapons, Trespassers
St. Mary’s Public Schools’ safety and security office will soon begin testing a mobile scanning kit that uses radio waves to detect weapons and has facial recognition capabilities.
St. Mary’s Public Schools’ safety and security office will soon begin testing a mobile scanning kit that uses radio waves to detect weapons and has facial recognition capabilities.
“The unique piece about this technology is that it gives us capability to scan groups of people with a handheld device,” said Mike Wyant, safety and security director for county schools.
The scanning device is called SWORD and looks like a case that can be attached to an iPhone 8 Plus, iPad or Google Pixel 2XL. Security staff can aim the SWORD at a group of people as far as 40 feet away, and it will indicate if any of them are in possession of firearms, knives or explosives on their person or in their bags. Wyant said this is more effective than using a metal detector.
The school system’s safety coordinator, Charles Eible, said the SWORD kit includes a tripod, which security could potentially use with the device at events with large crowds.
“The challenge is monitoring large groups … this technology, potentially, is gonna help us accomplish that,” Wyant said.
The SWORD scanning device also features facial recognition capabilities. School officials can upload the photo of a “person of interest,” and scan the face of potential suspects to see if they match the photo. If a photo and face match, school security is notified and a school official will verify the person’s identity.
Mobile Security Technology, New England Security is dedicated to trying testing and using this equipment to help improve on security protocol and procedures.
Call us today to learn more about our commitment to safety:
617.322.6372
Boston Ma Security Service Company
