N.H. State Police Sgt. Mark Liebel, right, with Rochester Police Capt. Michael Allen, goes over the voice-activated technology installed in a Chevrolet Tahoe by the University of New Hampshire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences during a demonstration of Project 54 on the Durham campus Monday. Mike Ross/Chief photographer
By EMILY ZIMMERMAN
Democrat Staff Writer
DURHAM -- Technology in police cruisers is catching on throughout New Hampshire.
A wave of interest was evident Monday when the University of New Hampshire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences hosted an informational session on Project 54, a voice-activated and touch-screen computer system for police cars. The event attracted about 50 local police and state police curious about the program.
So far, about 90 police cruisers in New Hampshire have the system, compared to only five a year ago. The technology is supposed to improve police safety and efficiency. Engineers of the high-tech program want it to become a nationwide phenomenon.
University of New Hampshire research engineer Brett Vinciguerra said he hopes Project 54 catches on in other states. Project 54 is named for the 1950s television show "Car 54, Where are You?" because most police departments are locked into the 1950s when there was no technology.
Police from throughout the state had the opportunity Monday to try it for the first time. Durham, Madbury, Lee, Madison, Middleton, Newington, UNH, and New Hampshire State Police already have the program in some patrol cars.
A year ago the system was only running as a prototype in five state police cruisers. Since then, about 15 local police departments across the state have become equipped with the state-of-the-art technology as the next phase of the project.
Police cruisers are equipped with a microphone on the driver's sun visor and a touch-screen computer between the two front seats.
The police officer can control the sirens, radio, and lights, for example, by holding down a "talk" button on the steering wheel and giving a command.
If an officer spots a speeder, he or she could simply say "sirens," then "lights" and they will turn on without flipping a switch, removing hands from the steering wheel or taking eyes off the road.
If police officers don't want to use the voice command system, they could use the touch screen to turn on sirens or lights. If they don't want to use either, the "old fashioned" control are still available.
Police can run license plate checks in seconds by simply reciting the license plate number before getting out of the car. Eventually officers will be able to scan a license and fingerprint for more instantaneous information. Vinciguerra said UNH researchers are still working the kinks out of the scanner and fingerprint system.
"We are very excited about it," said Durham Deputy Police Chief Rene H. Kelley, whose department has used the system since the spring. "It's cutting-edge technology."
New Hampshire is the only state that uses the touch screen and voice-activated system designed by UNH engineers and researchers. The technology designed by the Consolidated Advanced Technologies Laboratory (CATlab) at UNH can be installed in any police cruiser. The CATlab engineers and students have been developing the software for the past seven years.
Local police departments can get the system installed as part of the $17 million grant the laboratory received in 1999 at no cost to taxpayers. U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., initiated federal funding for the program. Police departments are allowed a maximum of six systems and any additional are at the cost of the department. It costs about $4,000 for the system.
Alton, Barrington, Conway, Kensington, Laconia, Moultonborough, Newfields, New Ipswich, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Rochester, Swanzey, Strafford, and the New Hampshire Highway Patrol are expected to get Project 54 this summer.
During the session on Monday, police officers were able to get into UNH and state police cruisers to test the device.
Rochester Capt. Mike Allen said he hopes the Rochester Police Department installs the system because they are currently using laptops, which he said are less efficient.
"It's phenomenal," Allen said. "This technology is amazing. It's going to improve officer safety tremendously. We have laptops now, but the ability to be hands-free through voice commands is great."
He added that officers are having to pull over to the side of the road to punch a license plate number on the keypad.
Kelley said six Durham cruisers have been using the program for about a year and have reaped the benefits.
"We've been extremely impressed with the technology," Kelley said. "I'm looking forward to the changes that are anticipated (use of license scanners and fingerprinting)."