https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

APCO


So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say

  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 22nd August 2014
A commonly stated concern about text-to-911 service is that the messages will be so packed with text abbreviations that they will be rendered unintelligible to call-takers in PSAPs. But early returns indicate the text messages haven’t been as indecipherable as feared.

What is in this article?

  • So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say
  • So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say

So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the rules for it. The four major wireless carriers already support it. The manufacturers are fine-tuning the technologies to enable it.

But, when more public-safety answering points (PSAPs) start accepting text-to-911 calls, will call-takers be able to understand the content of the messages?

A commonly stated concern about text-to-911 service is that the messages will be so packed with text abbreviations that they will be rendered unintelligible to call-takers in PSAPs.

But many of the text messages, including ones crafted by teenagers, haven’t been as indecipherable as feared, says Bob Gojanovich, next-generation 911 sales director for TeleCommunication Systems (TCS).

Gojanovich attributes that to the autocorrect function on smartphones—not because the feature forces people into using better spelling and grammar, but because autocorrect has proven too annoying to resist.

“People have wrestled with autocorrect because it changes the word that you started to type in. If you go in and start typing ‘My BFF is OMG,’ it does amazing things with it,” Gojanovich said during a session at APCO 2014 in New Orleans.

“The trend has been to stop using those abbreviations entirely, and kids are texting in plain English language, because it’s easier than fighting with the autocorrect function and their message gets through faster.”

It’s unclear what the collective experience for early adopters has been so far with text messages received from teenagers—and others who regularly use text abbreviations in regular conversation—when texting 911. One APCO attendee commented that his experiences texting with his son and nephew have left him believing that the younger generation’s language for texting actually has deteriorated further.

John Rennie of NICE Systems, who was also on the panel, noted that, while the text abbreviations and other creative spellings used for texting represent a challenge for PSAPs, they’re also just a part of the evolution of language.

For many of the PSAPs that have already started providing the service, this is an issue they have tried to address through public-education campaigns.

“Text abbreviations or slang should never be used so that the intent of the dialogue can be as clear as possible,” the city of Rochester, N.Y., says on its website.

Interestingly, an incident in Chicago last January may be an indication that teens know when to use the abbreviations and when to use plain English.

Last January, a 15-year-old helped stop a robbery when he texted his father this message while locked in a café bathroom with his mom and sister: “Don’t come, robber in here, call 911.” The dad, who had walked down the street, said in news reports at the time that he knew his son was serious because he wasn’t using “that teenage abbreviated approach to texting.”

Another text-to-911 fear that hasn’t materialized is that PSAPs would be overwhelmed with text messages once the service was available, according to Gojanovich and David Hopkins, director of the Steuben County, N.Y., 911.

1 | 2 |
So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say
Tags: PSAP Regulation APCO Dispatch/Call-taking FCC News NG-911 Policy Public Safety News

3 comments

  1. Avatar Anonymous 23rd August 2014 @ 12:48 am
    Reply

    Of course, the lack of a
    Of course, the lack of a “flood” of text messages to 9-1-1 could also mean the service is much less valuable than indicated by the hype and urgency generated by politicians (Congress) and regulators (FCC). Hearing-impaired 911 users aside, how many incidents a month will actually be expedited by this text-to-911 service when it’s adopted by each individual agency?

    • Avatar Anonymous 12th February 2015 @ 3:41 pm
      Reply

      The only thing it has allowed
      The only thing it has allowed is kids to swat eachother anonymously

  2. Avatar Mark Schroeder 26th August 2014 @ 4:27 pm
    Reply

    There are several concerns
    There are several concerns about how this technology is still to loose to apply against the standards of current E911 dispatch centers. It is not adversion to something new, it is knowing how difficult it is to provide the highest standards possible to ensure that all calls for assistance are handled properly. While smaller PSAP locations may be able to begin to digest this mode at this time, it gets a lot more complicated when you have multiple PSAP’s in a region, and secondary PSAP’s that they have to transfer to. There is a huge variance in CAD / end user equipment, and call handling procedures for text is not yet or well defined. At one time, 911 was a number that could have been easily enabled by the phone companies, but the police and fire departments were not ready, did not have capable equipment, funding etc. to handle it. This new mode is the same thing. A new capability is being enabled by the telecom providers, but there has not been serious review and planning with the public safety agencies on how to design the network, the procedures, and how to provide fair and effective services to the public. Public Safety agencies and organizations need to push back a little harder to help make sure standards of care are not being comprimised before taking on a potential great new service.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say
  • So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say
  • So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say
  • So far, text-to-911 messages not as cryptic as feared, panelists say

Commentary


How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023

3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024

18th January 2023

Do smart cities make safer cities?

  • 1
6th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Public-safety coalition renews efforts to secure federal NG911 funding dlvr.it/ShwGfn

4th February 2023
UrgentComm

Newscan: Cyberattacks on DoE national labs draw lawmaker scrutiny dlvr.it/Shvpw3

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

The shine begins to wear off 5G private wireless dlvr.it/Shth0P

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

Phishers trick Microsoft into granting them ‘verified’ Cloud Partner status dlvr.it/Shqngn

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Shapeshifting robot can morph from a liquid to a solid dlvr.it/Shqk9K

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Automakers against stampede to BEV dominance dlvr.it/ShpX08

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

FCC nominee Gigi Sohn headed for third Senate hearing dlvr.it/ShpDcZ

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

Sign up to learn how to successfully manage your Motorola ASTRO® 25 System: spr.ly/60143j8fp https://t.co/XcxiUwzN27

1st February 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.