Most firefighters and other emergency services professionals will agree :
their most needed security tool is a reliable and simple means to
communicate !
Professionals in confined or extreme environments, transport, energy, or those who simply must keep
their hands free during their mission to accomplish it, do not always have an effective means of
communicating verbally. With walkie-talkies and similar devices you always need to press a button
just to talk to another, then wait for a response, and so on continue the conversation !
This usually involves stopping the manual activity during this phase of a conversation which leads
not only to interrupting the work-flow, but actually distracting the user from a potentially very important task.
To direct a fire-hose, or hold parts carefully in place to be welded or hammered, or just using heavy
tools during work, all this at the same time as using a walkie-talkie is almost impossible,
if not downright dangerous !
The audio reception/transmission quality is also another problem for existing systems, especially in noisy environments.
Using a walkie-talkie while wearing a full-helmet, a gas-mask, a respirator, or an SCBA, you often have
to shout to be almost heard and actually yell to be actually understood !
Finally, the procedures for initiating the communication are binding: channel selection, communication protocols
to respect etc. because of the large number of participants and ever increasing channel overcrowding ...
All this frustration is not really necessary ! In fact one only needs a local, wireless micro-network
to communicate instantly and freely between 2 or 3 team mates ! This network being wireless, local,
and instantly deployable, would serve very well the same functions as the cumbersome walkie-talkies that we all know.
The solution proposed : The APPICom
(Active Personal Protection
Instrument).
The APPICom wireless voice-com system is
hands-free & full-duplex for up to 3 users, enabling an almost “natural”, hands-free and private conversation
in a team of up to 3 personnel engaged a critical mission !
In fact the APPI system comprises of two independent and complementary products :
APPICom and
APPIPhy. One is the full-duplex voice-com system,
the other is a wireless system for remote monitoring of vital signs during a critical mission.
The APPICom terminal in its standard
configuration is pocket size and is worn clipped to a shirt or a belt, or even around the neck as
it weighs less than 70 grams. Communication becomes natural and hands-free even with a protective
or breathing facial mask or whilst wearing a full body, protective chemical suit !
The APPICom in its “firefighter” configuration
is integrated into a fireproof hood normally worn by firefighting professionals or in another type of garment
designed to be worn on the head (such as a headband, hood, etc…).
When APPICom terminals are activated,
the encrypted digital autonomous radio network between them deploys within seconds using one of the four channels,
all inside the license free ISM radio band and fully CE certified without restrictions. APPICom allows up to four teams to work simultaneously
and independently, in the same local proximity : it is ideal for police forces and civil security always
on the move; for professional workers in the building or construction industry, who operate in urban areas,
in remote and isolated areas without usual communication infrastructure; and for those on offshore oil platforms
or working in tunnels and confined areas !
For hostile environments, APPICom can also be used
for personnel safety to maintain a continuous “life line” such as the firefighting case :
• The support officer has a better understanding of the situation on the ground and can take and instruct the right
decisions to other team members already working hard and often too engaged physically and mentally.
• The support officer can give an instruction or an order to withdraw if the mission becomes dangerous,
this situation being, for example, detected by the APPIPhy system.
