The Evolution of “Interoperable Communications”: Given Today’s Emerging Technologies, What Does Interoperability Mean, And What Are We Doing About it?

Available On Demand.

Years ago, “interoperability” among emergency communications referred to voice interoperability on land mobile radios alone.  And while this is still important, the public safety community has come to rely on an ever-growing number of connected devices, applications, and systems.  Three key areas where DHS and its partners are focusing on interoperability of solutions and conformance to standards are 1) Next Generation 911 systems, 2) sensors interoperability and 3) interoperability of mission critical applications in the first responder environment.

This session will highlight the need to address a common set of protocols and data standards to ensure end user data and systems can be securely shared across a host of applications while maintaining interoperability of data. Discussions will center around the importance of standards conformance and interoperability and roll out of Conformance assessment programs, and its relevance to users, manufacturers (vendors) and the standards community.

Audience Takeaways:

1. A better understanding of interoperability challenges in today’s data driven ecosystem and how it might affect mission operations for first responders
2. An understanding of the importance and role of standards and compliance assessment programs based on those standards
3. An understanding of current priority research areas where S&T and its partners (Federal, academic, association) are tackling interoperability issues at the forefront of end user missions

The Office for Interoperability and Compatibility Technology Center within DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate evaluates and assesses new technology in real-world environments to achieve interoperable emergency communications capabilities.

Sponsored by

Ravi Subramaniam
Director, IEEE Conformity Assessment Program
IEEE Standards Association

Jason Kahn
Research Engineer, Federal Program Officer Communication Technology Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Sridhar Kowdley
Technical Manager, Science & Technology Directorate
Department of Homeland Security

Donny Jackson – Moderator
Director, Content
IWCE’s Urgent Communications