Denyce Amberly was a 21 year old mother of two living in South Florida when she
of two living in South Florida when she
of two living in South Florida when she was kidnapped from her home over the
was kidnapped from her home over the
was kidnapped from her home over the course of the next six hours five
course of the next six hours five
course of the next six hours five separate 9-1-1 calls were made including
separate 9-1-1 calls were made including
separate 9-1-1 calls were made including remarkably one by miss lee herself when
remarkably one by miss lee herself when
remarkably one by miss lee herself when she was tied up in the back of her
she was tied up in the back of her
she was tied up in the back of her captors green Camaro and yet on that
captors green Camaro and yet on that
captors green Camaro and yet on that call she pleads for life 17 times and
call she pleads for life 17 times and
call she pleads for life 17 times and yet no one could locate her and
yet no one could locate her and
yet no one could locate her and ultimately this was a story that ended
ultimately this was a story that ended
ultimately this was a story that ended in tragedy every day across the United
in tragedy every day across the United
in tragedy every day across the United States 650,000 Americans call 9-1-1
States 650,000 Americans call 9-1-1
States 650,000 Americans call 9-1-1 facing some of the most challenging
facing some of the most challenging
facing some of the most challenging circumstances of their lives most of
circumstances of their lives most of
circumstances of their lives most of those calls transverse and
those calls transverse and
those calls transverse and infrastructure dating back to the 1960s
infrastructure dating back to the 1960s
infrastructure dating back to the 1960s and 1970s
and 1970s
and 1970s that accommodates almost no data indeed
that accommodates almost no data indeed
that accommodates almost no data indeed the information flow into most 911
the information flow into most 911
the information flow into most 911 networks is limited to 512 bytes of data
networks is limited to 512 bytes of data
networks is limited to 512 bytes of data to put that in perspective this blank
to put that in perspective this blank
to put that in perspective this blank screen behind me has over 30,000 bytes
screen behind me has over 30,000 bytes
screen behind me has over 30,000 bytes of data the first transatlantic cable in
of data the first transatlantic cable in
of data the first transatlantic cable in 1858 between the Queen of England and
1858 between the Queen of England and
1858 between the Queen of England and President Buchanan had 617 bytes of data
President Buchanan had 617 bytes of data
President Buchanan had 617 bytes of data it is amazing in 2017 the technology
it is amazing in 2017 the technology
it is amazing in 2017 the technology that we carry around in our pockets
that we carry around in our pockets
that we carry around in our pockets today precise location real-time helpful
today precise location real-time helpful
today precise location real-time helpful medical data voice texting videos all
medical data voice texting videos all
medical data voice texting videos all these capabilities except when our life
these capabilities except when our life
these capabilities except when our life is on the line and then almost every
is on the line and then almost every
is on the line and then almost every single one of them gets turned off and
single one of them gets turned off and
single one of them gets turned off and we move back in time 150 years the FCC
we move back in time 150 years the FCC
we move back in time 150 years the FCC estimates if we could just get more
estimates if we could just get more
estimates if we could just get more precise location over better
precise location over better
precise location over better infrastructure we could save over 10,000
infrastructure we could save over 10,000
infrastructure we could save over 10,000 lives a year now it is remarkable how
lives a year now it is remarkable how
lives a year now it is remarkable how well 9-1-1 works
well 9-1-1 works
well 9-1-1 works today in light of this infrastructure
today in light of this infrastructure
today in light of this infrastructure and it truly is a testament of the
and it truly is a testament of the
and it truly is a testament of the extraordinary people that have dedicated
extraordinary people that have dedicated
extraordinary people that have dedicated their lives towards helping us in our
their lives towards helping us in our
their lives towards helping us in our times of greatest need working 12-hour
times of greatest need working 12-hour
times of greatest need working 12-hour shifts despite dated infrastructure
shifts despite dated infrastructure
shifts despite dated infrastructure infrastructure lack of funding old
infrastructure lack of funding old
infrastructure lack of funding old technology they successfully managed
technology they successfully managed
technology they successfully managed over 240 million emergencies every
over 240 million emergencies every
over 240 million emergencies every single year four years ago I would
single year four years ago I would
single year four years ago I would become one of those emergencies walking
become one of those emergencies walking
become one of those emergencies walking home late one night in Spanish Harlem in
home late one night in Spanish Harlem in
home late one night in Spanish Harlem in that moment I realize just how difficult
that moment I realize just how difficult
that moment I realize just how difficult it can be to get out your cell phone
it can be to get out your cell phone
it can be to get out your cell phone dial a number and have a coherent
dial a number and have a coherent
dial a number and have a coherent conversation about where you’re located
conversation about where you’re located
conversation about where you’re located what’s occurring and the help that you
what’s occurring and the help that you
what’s occurring and the help that you need at the time I was working in
need at the time I was working in
need at the time I was working in venture capital so I thought this is a
venture capital so I thought this is a
venture capital so I thought this is a challenge that technology can solve so I
challenge that technology can solve so I
challenge that technology can solve so I headed off to Harvard University for
headed off to Harvard University for
headed off to Harvard University for grad school to work on that challenge in
grad school to work on that challenge in
grad school to work on that challenge in Cambridge I met Nick Horlick who was
Cambridge I met Nick Horlick who was
Cambridge I met Nick Horlick who was completing his PhD in nuclear
completing his PhD in nuclear
completing his PhD in nuclear engineering at MIT and it had some
engineering at MIT and it had some
engineering at MIT and it had some similar experiences as me so over an
similar experiences as me so over an
similar experiences as me so over an orange juice at Dunkin Donuts we put out
orange juice at Dunkin Donuts we put out
orange juice at Dunkin Donuts we put out a plan on how we were gonna solve this
a plan on how we were gonna solve this
a plan on how we were gonna solve this challenge we were too naive computer
challenge we were too naive computer
challenge we were too naive computer nerds and it was with that naive
nerds and it was with that naive
nerds and it was with that naive optimism that I headed out to my first
optimism that I headed out to my first
optimism that I headed out to my first time in one dispatch center in rural
time in one dispatch center in rural
time in one dispatch center in rural Massachusetts and that day would forever
Massachusetts and that day would forever
Massachusetts and that day would forever change how I thought about this
change how I thought about this
change how I thought about this challenge
challenge
challenge I was listening in on my second call
I was listening in on my second call
I was listening in on my second call when this mother called hysterical her
when this mother called hysterical her
when this mother called hysterical her son had just committed suicide and as
son had just committed suicide and as
son had just committed suicide and as she screamed for an ambulance I had to
she screamed for an ambulance I had to
she screamed for an ambulance I had to take off my headset and walk outside
take off my headset and walk outside
take off my headset and walk outside into the calm spring morning as I
into the calm spring morning as I
into the calm spring morning as I collected myself that nine one one call
collected myself that nine one one call
collected myself that nine one one call taker stayed on the phone with that
taker stayed on the phone with that
taker stayed on the phone with that mother for the next 12 minutes as she
mother for the next 12 minutes as she
mother for the next 12 minutes as she successfully figured out her location
successfully figured out her location
successfully figured out her location dispatched an ambulance and stayed on
dispatched an ambulance and stayed on
dispatched an ambulance and stayed on the phone until it arrived this is not
the phone until it arrived this is not
the phone until it arrived this is not like any other challenge this is the
like any other challenge this is the
like any other challenge this is the most intense experience that most of us
most intense experience that most of us
most intense experience that most of us will ever experience in our lives
will ever experience in our lives
will ever experience in our lives repeated 650,000 times
repeated 650,000 times
repeated 650,000 times day I remember driving home and calling
day I remember driving home and calling
day I remember driving home and calling up my dad and saying I need to borrow
up my dad and saying I need to borrow
up my dad and saying I need to borrow your Prius for the entire summer because
your Prius for the entire summer because
your Prius for the entire summer because I need to go meet as many 9-1-1 centers
I need to go meet as many 9-1-1 centers
I need to go meet as many 9-1-1 centers as possible to actually understand this
as possible to actually understand this
as possible to actually understand this challenge so that summer in grad school
challenge so that summer in grad school
challenge so that summer in grad school I would drive over 3,500 miles meeting
I would drive over 3,500 miles meeting
I would drive over 3,500 miles meeting with hundreds of 9-1-1 centers across
with hundreds of 9-1-1 centers across
with hundreds of 9-1-1 centers across the country again and again this
the country again and again this
the country again and again this industry opened their arms and answered
industry opened their arms and answered
industry opened their arms and answered a thousand ignorant questions about how
a thousand ignorant questions about how
a thousand ignorant questions about how data float into their systems how they
data float into their systems how they
data float into their systems how they managed these extremely intense moments
managed these extremely intense moments
managed these extremely intense moments down to precision each night I call back
down to precision each night I call back
down to precision each night I call back Nick and repeat back my findings and
Nick and repeat back my findings and
Nick and repeat back my findings and working with a growing engineering team
working with a growing engineering team
working with a growing engineering team out of the Harvard Innovation Lab we
out of the Harvard Innovation Lab we
out of the Harvard Innovation Lab we iterate on new technology new
iterate on new technology new
iterate on new technology new architecture and we bring it out to my
architecture and we bring it out to my
architecture and we bring it out to my next meetings for testing ultimately
next meetings for testing ultimately
next meetings for testing ultimately we’d interact with over 4,000 first
we’d interact with over 4,000 first
we’d interact with over 4,000 first responders who would beta test this
responders who would beta test this
responders who would beta test this technology and along the way we learn
technology and along the way we learn
technology and along the way we learn just how complicated this system is that
just how complicated this system is that
just how complicated this system is that came together over the last 50 years a
came together over the last 50 years a
came together over the last 50 years a system where you have over 6,000
system where you have over 6,000
system where you have over 6,000 different 9-1-1 centres running 25,000
different 9-1-1 centres running 25,000
different 9-1-1 centres running 25,000 different software systems talking to
different software systems talking to
different software systems talking to 60,000 first responder agencies over
60,000 first responder agencies over
60,000 first responder agencies over five million first responders in the
five million first responders in the
five million first responders in the United States we learned we had to get
United States we learned we had to get
United States we learned we had to get data exactly in the right place at the
data exactly in the right place at the
data exactly in the right place at the right time or else we could actually do
right time or else we could actually do
right time or else we could actually do more harm than good in the process the
more harm than good in the process the
more harm than good in the process the end result after four years is this
end result after four years is this
end result after four years is this transformative platform where we can
transformative platform where we can
transformative platform where we can ultimately ingest data from any
ultimately ingest data from any
ultimately ingest data from any connected device and pass it directly
connected device and pass it directly
connected device and pass it directly into the hands of 911 and first
into the hands of 911 and first
into the hands of 911 and first responders wearables powered by this
responders wearables powered by this
responders wearables powered by this technology now transmitting real-time
technology now transmitting real-time
technology now transmitting real-time health and medical data during a heart
health and medical data during a heart
health and medical data during a heart attack connected cars in a crash
attack connected cars in a crash
attack connected cars in a crash transmit their precise location how many
transmit their precise location how many
transmit their precise location how many people are in the vehicle airbag
people are in the vehicle airbag
people are in the vehicle airbag deployments rollover velocity at impact
deployments rollover velocity at impact
deployments rollover velocity at impact schools equipped with this technology
schools equipped with this technology
schools equipped with this technology now stream real-time video during an
now stream real-time video during an
now stream real-time video during an active shooter event one analysis we did
active shooter event one analysis we did
active shooter event one analysis we did with experts at Harvard and MIT
with experts at Harvard and MIT
with experts at Harvard and MIT estimated between one to seven minutes
estimated between one to seven minutes
estimated between one to seven minutes faster response time a 2 to 10 percent
faster response time a 2 to 10 percent
faster response time a 2 to 10 percent reduction in mortality rates over 10,000
reduction in mortality rates over 10,000
reduction in mortality rates over 10,000 potential lives saved every single year
potential lives saved every single year
potential lives saved every single year in the United States but what became
in the United States but what became
in the United States but what became really interesting is not only how the
really interesting is not only how the
really interesting is not only how the data itself would impact
data itself would impact
data itself would impact individual incident but how at a macro
individual incident but how at a macro
individual incident but how at a macro scale we could now start to understand
scale we could now start to understand
scale we could now start to understand patterns and trends in the data behind
patterns and trends in the data behind
patterns and trends in the data behind me is one snapshot of emergency calls
me is one snapshot of emergency calls
me is one snapshot of emergency calls through our platform during a few weeks
through our platform during a few weeks
through our platform during a few weeks in June of this year
in June of this year
in June of this year the Department of Transportation
the Department of Transportation
the Department of Transportation estimates that over 90 percent of car
estimates that over 90 percent of car
estimates that over 90 percent of car accidents are preventable we all know if
accidents are preventable we all know if
accidents are preventable we all know if it’s snowing out that we’re going to
it’s snowing out that we’re going to
it’s snowing out that we’re going to have more car accidents but because
have more car accidents but because
have more car accidents but because historically we don’t know exactly when
historically we don’t know exactly when
historically we don’t know exactly when and where those car accidents occur we
and where those car accidents occur we
and where those car accidents occur we couldn’t really statistically relate
couldn’t really statistically relate
couldn’t really statistically relate them to contributing factors like road
them to contributing factors like road
them to contributing factors like road conditions weather event data traffic
conditions weather event data traffic
conditions weather event data traffic flow patterns working with a teen of
flow patterns working with a teen of
flow patterns working with a teen of data scientist out of Harvard we started
data scientist out of Harvard we started
data scientist out of Harvard we started to study this data and build predictive
to study this data and build predictive
to study this data and build predictive models and simulations this is one
models and simulations this is one
models and simulations this is one example of winter storm Jonas and how we
example of winter storm Jonas and how we
example of winter storm Jonas and how we predict emergency calls would have came
predict emergency calls would have came
predict emergency calls would have came out during that event so for the past
out during that event so for the past
out during that event so for the past hundred years we’ve thought about
hundred years we’ve thought about
hundred years we’ve thought about emergencies in one way they happen and
emergencies in one way they happen and
emergencies in one way they happen and when they do you call for help you call
when they do you call for help you call
when they do you call for help you call your neighbor you call the bucket
your neighbor you call the bucket
your neighbor you call the bucket brigade you call 9-1-1 but thanks to an
brigade you call 9-1-1 but thanks to an
brigade you call 9-1-1 but thanks to an extraordinary community of people that
extraordinary community of people that
extraordinary community of people that have come together over the last four
have come together over the last four
have come together over the last four years that paradigm is about to forever
years that paradigm is about to forever
years that paradigm is about to forever shift from a world of emergency response
shift from a world of emergency response
shift from a world of emergency response to one of prediction and preemption
to one of prediction and preemption
to one of prediction and preemption thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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