Talking cars a thing of the present for Mahwah P.D.

[JM15 386]

Talking cars a thing of the present for Mahwah P.D.

(11/28/08) MAHWAH - The Mahwah Police Department has a new crime-fighting weapon in its arsenal that comes right out of a 1980s TV show.

For the first time in Bergen County, officers can command computers in their vehicles to search motor vehicle and criminal databases for feedback with the simple voice command “records check.”

Voice commands also activate emergency lights, sirens, the radar gun, a video camera and can change radio frequencies. Microsoft Mary, whose computer-generated voice comes through a 12-inch screen in the car, delivers results instantly.

"There's a lot going on in the car,” Officer William Hunt, a 10-year veteran of the Mahwah Police Department says. “Not having to look down and take your eyes off the road is a big advantage.”

The cruiser was developed by engineers at the University of New Hampshire, who began working on "Project54" with the goal of integrating all of the electronic devices in police cars.

The system will also be installed in several of the Mahwah Fire Department’s emergency vehicles.

From News12 New Jersey http://www.news12.com/NJ/topstories/article?id=221536

Interesting concept but I would be anxious to completely rely on the computer. Any thoughts?

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Interesting concept...I hope it translates to increased safety for the officers.

[JM15 386]

Hopefully it will prevent accidents, because two hands can be kept on the wheel.

[ny10570 745]

sounds like the system whelen has been pushing for a while.

If you're worried about computers running everything you're a few years too late. The vast majority of the time we push a button or flip a switch we're activating a circuit.