APX Smart Apps | 2021

Designers: Innovation Design Team, Motorola Solutions, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA
Manufacturer: Motorola Solutions, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA

Design Innovation
Sharing text, images, video, and location information is a well established function of consumer smartphone devices. This capability is recognized as a valuable way to extend limited police resources but users in the field are often saddled with multiple, incompatible consumer grade devices and applications in order to leverage such technology. Data security issues can also pose challenges when consumer grade solutions are deployed in the law enforcement space.

APX Smart Application developers were challenged to introduce functional mapping and messaging solutions that could run on the two-way radio device that is already a requisite part of the officer’s equipment. They ultimately imagined and developed a solution that delivers an interface designed to present information in a simplified manner while letting the user communicate in a method most appropriate for the situation (voice, silent, picture, map, etc.).

Designers leveraged simple texting and image sharing with the APX SmartMessaging application. This allows texting across multiple agencies, automatically integrating messages into an incident timeline   record, and issuing a voice command to read out or send a message in order to maintain attention in a tense situation.
Designers enhanced situational awareness with the APX SmartMapping application. It reimagines static maps by graphically presenting users with the position of other personnel or vehicles arriving on scene and even the location of other first responders in distress. Users are also able to contact others by locating their icon on the map and simply tapping to send an alert or voice call.