With the devastating news of yet another fatal shooting, this time at Apalachee High School in Georgia, school safety concerns are escalating, and traditional security measures often fall short. The monitoring platform OpticSense, owned by Huvr, employs cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) merged with patented fiber optic ring interferometer (FoRI) technology to address this gap. It creates a proactive layer of security in schools that offers real-time threat detection and analysis.
How Huvr’s OpticSense equips schools with real-time intelligence and AI analysis
OpticSense employs two groundbreaking technologies. A FoRI works in tandem with sophisticated AI algorithms to identify potential threats in real time.
“A fiber optic ring interferometer is a highly sensitive fiber-optic loop capable of detecting even minute disturbances like falling snowflakes,” explains Herman DeBoard, CEO of Huvr. “Once we install the system, it turns the entire school facility into a microphone and captures any audio anomaly inside the perimeter.”
The strength of OpticSense’s fiber optic ring interferometer technology lies in its integration with sophisticated AI. When an anomaly is detected, the fiber-optic loop triggers the nearest surveillance cameras. These cameras then capture a 60-second video clip and promptly send it to a centralized server.
Upon capturing the footage, the OpticSense system processes it through advanced AI algorithms that analyze and interpret the data quickly and accurately. The AI component provides a detailed real-time report, letting security teams know how many people are involved, what they look like, and where they are going. This rapid analysis includes descriptive information such as the height, weight, race, and gender of individuals involved and suspicious vehicles’ color and license plate number.
“That server takes only seconds to analyze all of the audio and video it captures,” DeBoard notes. “It’s extremely fast and efficient.”
OpticSense’s Adaptive learning means enhanced security in schools
The OpticSense AI categorizes each detected anomaly based on the level of threat it poses and adapts to become familiar with the noise profile of the school where it is located. Over time, the system becomes increasingly adept at assessing risks.
“Each time the system detects and assesses an audio anomaly, it learns and refines its analytical approach,” explains DeBoard. “Its continuous improvement model ensures that it is always getting smarter, more efficient, and more effective in identifying potential threats.”
For example, if the system detects a gunshot in one school, it stores and cross-references the acoustic signature across all its units worldwide. This global interconnectivity enables every system to benefit from collective learning, enhancing accuracy and reliability everywhere.
Though OpticSense benefits from what systems around the world are learning, Each system adapts to the unique security needs of its own school.
“We start the system with all the data we can,” says DeBoard. “From there, each school works with OpticSense to define actions and keywords their particular system should monitor. It can be trained to trigger alerts for specific scenarios ranging from verbal threats to unauthorized access attempts.”
School safety vs. data security and privacy concerns
Especially in school settings, privacy concerns are paramount. OpticSense is designed with rigorous data security protocols to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information it gathers.
While the system collects detailed descriptions of threats, it refrains from linking this data to specific individuals, maintaining a respectful balance between security and privacy. “OpticSense stores data to become smarter, but it does not tie that information to a specific person,” DeBoard clarifies. “We only collect general descriptions, such as ‘a 36-year-old male with dark brown hair wearing a blue sweatshirt.”
The practical implementation of OpticSense in schools
OpticSense is designed for easy installation and integration into any school’s existing security infrastructure. “The system’s hardware amounts to the size of a shoe box. We can install that into any out-of-the-way location, such as a server closet,” says DeBoard. The system can tap into existing cameras, or OpticSense can provide new installments as needed.
One of the key advantages of OpticSense is its reliability. The system includes battery backup and, in some cases, solar power and Starlink connectivity to ensure continuous operation, even in adverse conditions. This multi-layered redundancy guarantees that the system remains functional under any circumstances.
The system’s fiber optic loops can be laid along walls, ceilings, and entry points, creating a dense sensory network that covers the entire school premises. Because they are impervious to weather, the fiber optics can secure the entire school perimeter, both indoors and outdoors. Whether it’s a small private school or a sprawling university campus, the modular nature of fiber optic loops and AI’s ability to learn and adapt make this system a versatile solution.
The advantage of predictive security
Once installed, OpticSense operates silently and continuously, providing real-time updates to security personnel and allowing them to monitor the school premises more effectively. Its detailed, AI-generated reports give first responders crucial information, enabling them to act swiftly and accurately.
The major advantage of OpticSense lies in its predictive capabilities. Unlike conventional security systems that essentially function reactively, OpticSense anticipates threats by interpreting subtle disturbances and anomalous activities before they escalate. This real-time, predictive intelligence allows security teams to intervene at the earliest stage possible, potentially averting crises before they unfold.
Security personnel no longer need to be inundated with raw data or waste valuable time scrubbing through hours of footage to locate the moments they need. Instead, they receive synthesized, actionable intelligence so they can focus on real threats and respond quickly.
“We now have technology that can identify threats in school settings and alert security personnel faster,” concludes DeBoard. “In a context where seconds make the difference between safety and disaster, this technology is a game changer, mitigating risk and increasing peace of mind for students, staff, and parents.”