APX Next All Band Smart Radio 2018-2019

Designers: Innovation Design Team, Motorola Solutions, USA
Manufacturer: Motorola Solutions, USA 

Description 

The APX NEXT All Band Smart Radio brings advanced usability and performance to every aspect of the Public Safety two- way radio experience. It combines touch screen and intelligent voice interfaces with Mission- critical performance to assure a communications lifeline for emergency responders. It brings new applications and services such as LTE back up and intelligent voice query to assure uninterrupted information flow. Cloud based provisioning and update cycles reduce servicing downtime from months to minutes. New capabilities—such as video, data analytics, and AI applications—are added as needs evolve. APX NEXT embodies a purpose built form factor designed for the rigors of mission critical conditions. Police officers are no longer vehicle-bound as the information traditionally found in large mobile data terminals is now delivered to a compact, portable device. 

Benefit to User 

The APX NEXT solution starts with extensive end user research and involvement. Developers worked and lived with users in mission critical environments to understand context and identify needs. Insights enabled the APX NEXT solution to move beyond incremental improvements and embrace new interaction methods (voice, touch) and new software delivery methods (remote provisioning and updates) in a new form factor positioned to allow public safety professionals to keep their focus on the mission. APX NEXT unifies much of an officer’s workflow. It builds on the tradition of two- way voice communication and adds the convenience of VIQI, a voice controlled database lookup (Driver's license, vehicle license, etc) based on AI technology. 

Benefit to Client/Brand 

APX NEXT continues the client’s 90+ year tradition of creating mission critical devices with class leading size, performance, and features. This mission critical, purpose- built theme is integral to the client’s brand message and reputation. The client's new emphasis and commitment to a software and services business strategy is supported by this device as it establishes a robust platform for continually expanding features and services. Two- way Land Mobile radio is seen by some as a mature, even dated, technology but it's inherent reliability in the high velocity moments of police activity make it a cornerstone for mission critical voice communication. By combining this expected reliability with the LTE delivered information access afforded by cloud based tools the client is seen as an integrator of the best that each world has to offer. Voice interaction, voice database lookup, and the ability to offer new apps and services delivered by APX NEXT gives the client expansive opportunities to build upon. 

Benefit to Society 

Any effort to make mission critical communication an intuitive and transparent process is a benefit to society at large. This solution simplifies communication and enables greater community security by keeping officers focused on their work and not their equipment. Simplified features such as Voice controlled database lookup and an intuitive touch screen information display enable officers to leave their vehicles and be more engaged in the community. 

APX NEXT enables more accurate, actionable information and situational awareness as users seek to assure public order and safety. 

Appropriate Aesthetics 

Two- way radio hardware is expected to last ten or more years in the field and therefore it requires a timeless aesthetic that transcends typical consumer Design cycles. The police user group targeted by APX NEXT has a high regard for tradition and consistency. This reflects the training and procedural drilling and analysis inherent in the profession. However there is also an awareness of new technologies and willingness to accept them as they are proven to improve safety and productivity. This drives reductions in size, weight, and complexity. The introduction of new interaction modalities such as voice and touch also inform the design as large format displays and voice "wake" buttons are incorporated into the aesthetic. APX NEXT Design language communicates the heritage of the client's portfolio while introducing the promise of a modern user experience and capabilities. This is accomplished by locating the "traditional” or two- way radio/voice functionality on one side of the device and locating the large format touch screen on the opposite side. This assures that the two- way radio "lifeline" is always accessible for high stress mission critical moments while data and "smart" features are allowed to recede into the Design 

Materials Used 

Engineered Polycarbonate, Glass filled Nylon, Cast aluminum, Gorilla glass III, Lithium Ion battery cells. 

Dimensions 

5.4 x 2.5 x 1.7 in (138 x 63 x 43mm) 

18.5 oz (525 g)