The First Ever IoT-enabled Firefighter Helmet Provides 'Superpowers' Through Augmented Reality
March 30 2021 - 10:05AM
Rackspace Technology™ (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading end-to-end
multicloud technology solutions company, today announced it has
worked with Qwake Technologies, a provider of
revolutionary visual communication technology for
firefighters, to accelerate Qwake’s cloud native approach. The
company’s product allows firefighters to more effectively
navigate and communicate in low visibility environments through its
local and connected platform which leverages the use
of an Internet of Things (IoT) architecture. In addition,
Qwake secured a government contract with DHS to commercialize the
C-THRU Visual Communication integrated hardware and software
solution.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fires claim
over 180,000 lives each year. The long-term impacts of fires also
include property damage, lost productivity, and disruption to the
environment. To help minimize danger and damage, Qwake Technologies
set out to develop the world’s first IoT-enabled, wearable
solution, to support the C-THRU breakthrough Visual
Communication technology.
“Most of the technologies introduced to the fire service only
incrementally improve what we already do. C-THRU is one of the
first technologies that could literally change the game for us by
giving our crew the ability to navigate significantly faster while
visually communicating over a shared operating picture and
providing a tremendous impact in our performance and ability to
save lives and property,” said Chief Marty McCormack, Boston Fire
Department. “Firefighters are understandably practical when it
comes to new tools and our members were very impressed with the
technology as our guys immediately saw the value in being able to
navigate, communicate and coordinate visually. Bottom line, C-THRU
will help our crews get the job done safer, faster and with less
resources so it is a clear no brainer for us.”
Qwake piloted the C-THRU Visual Communication with the Boston
Fire Department, Menlo Park Fire Department, and several other
forward leading fire departments.
The augmented reality (AR), helmet-worn
device includes cellular and WiFi connected technology that
helps firefighters navigate and maintain awareness of their
surroundings. Data is transmitted to a tablet application that
provides the incident commander real-time video feeds and
accountability tools to coordinate their efforts. Finally, a
cloud archive provides real-time incident analytics, damage
assessment, and training forensics to better understand the
incident, both during and after it has concluded.
To make this technology a reality, the company partnered with
Onica, a Rackspace Technology company and AWS Premier Consulting
Partner, to implement the cloud-native ecosystem required to
support this cutting-edge IoT and augmented reality device.
“Working with the experts at Rackspace Technology allowed us to
leverage cloud native with confidence,” said, Sam Cossman, CEO at
Qwake Technologies. “We had the idea, vision, and overall augmented
reality solutions in place, but Rackspace Technology took us to the
next level with their deep IoT and cloud native expertise.”
Qwake Technologies’ AR Navigation and Visual Communication
platform is the first and only cloud-enabled firefighting
solution of its kind and represents a significant
technological advancement for a segment that hasn’t seen much
technology innovation. The device, which enables two-way
visual communication and personal navigation, allows an otherwise
smoke-filled house to appear clear and direction able. It has
already been piloted by the Department of Homeland Security and the
Boston Fire Department.
“Qwake Technologies is creating life-saving devices that are
transforming the way firefighters do their jobs,” said Jeff
DeVerter, CTO Solutions at Rackspace Technology. “With so much on
the line, a tech failure simply isn’t an option. In working with
Qwake, the Rackspace Technology team knew cloud native and top-tier
IoT connectivity was pivotal to the project’s success. We’re proud
to support Qwake in its journey to improve the lives of both
firefighters and citizens.”
About Rackspace TechnologyRackspace Technology
is a leading end-to-end multicloud technology services company. We
can design, build and operate our customers’ cloud environments
across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology
stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every
stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize
applications, build new products and adopt innovative
technologies.
About Qwake Technologies
(qwake.tech)"Reducing
Chaos & Improving Performance through Visual
Communication” San Francisco based startup focused on public
safety innovation, providing revolutionary connected technology to
improve individual performance and team coordination in high
stress, time-critical environments.
Media ContactNatalie SilvaRackspace Corporate
Communicationspublicrelations@rackspace.com
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