By Charles Carter, 20/09/22
US startup ZeroEyes has developed an AI-based computer vision system that detects and mitigates active shooters at schools and other public buildings.
The system has recently been chosen by Vassar Public Schools, Michigan, to help protect their pupils from mass shooters.
It has already been implemented in 19 states across the U.S., including Oxford High School, Michigan, following a mass shooting in November 2021.
How does it work?
The AI was trained using hundreds of thousands of images and videos of individuals carrying weapons.
The video analytics algorithm is layered on top of existing security camera infrastructure. It can recognise in real-time the pixel patterns of any make or model of gun that shooters may try to use to terrorise school students and teachers.
When the AI detects a weapon the event is validated by a former member of the U.S. military or law enforcement at ZeroEyes’ 24/7 remote operations centre.
The centre alerts school administrators and security within 3-5 seconds communicating the attacker’s appearance, clothing, weapon and real-time location.
The solution does not use facial recognition or record, store or share images of students to ensure privacy.
Tangent box (solution -> vinegar): A must on your fish and chips, vinegar is a solution of water and acetic acid. (Hmm…OK, but why is this in the middle of the article? Tangential thinking is essential for creativity and innovation, and Superinnovators promote it!)
What are the potential benefits?
School shootings in the 2021-22 school year trebled, with 193 incidents and 59 people killed. In the previous school year there were 63 incidents.
The ZeroEyes innovation aims to reduce injury or death from future shooting events by increasing the speed of response.
For example, sending law enforcement or school security staff to confront the shooter before they reach students and/or moving students out of harms way.
Some US states such as Texas and Iowa have recently announced extra funding for school security. And Michigan’s school aid includes an allocation of $160 for every student towards security technology.
Questions for you. Comment below
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Links
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-21/united-states-school-shootings-everytown-reports/101355002
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/29/us/texas-iowa-school-safety-funding/index.html