SCALE: Safe Community Alert Network

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

One of the primary goals of any local government is to ensure a safe environment for residents. We take special steps to protect our vulnerable residents whether they are elderly, young, disabled, or just simply need extra help. Calls for assistance have historically been just that, manually initiated phone calls. This is an often overlooked chasm in the digital divide. Until now “smart devices” were only available to those who were able to afford it. It would not be feasible for the government to provide connected safety alerts in the homes of individual residents without unsustainable cost, until now. The SCALE network, part of the Smart America Challenge demonstrated our ability to extend a connected safe home to everyone at a low incremental cost. Using advanced sensor and receiving technology, an elderly, home-bound resident would no longer need to fear a fall. Families would no longer fall victim to a smoke detector with a dead battery. This project was recognized by the White House and the US Chief Technology Officer in 2014 out of many projects due to its use of technology to address societal issues.