DailyTech - Taser Axon Flex Camera Records Criminals, Cops

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Gadgets Taser Axon Flex Camera Records Criminals, Cops
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - February 22, 2012 10:01 AM

19 comment(s) - last by jimmyhoffa9.. on Feb 23 at 3:36 PM

Taser Axon Flex (Source: Taser)

Taser worked with Looxcie to design and build the camera

Taser has been around for a long time with its “non-lethal” stun guns that are used by civilians and police officers to immobilize attackers without having to use lethal force. The company has now announced a video camera called the Axon Flex. It is designed to be worn on Oakley Flak Jacket sunglasses. The camera records video to use as evidence in the event of an encounter.

The camera system was developed in cooperation with Looxcie, a company who has made point-of-view video cameras for a long time. The camera is able to stream video via Bluetooth to a smartphone using apps that are available for Android or iOS devices. That capability allows officers to review video right on a smartphone at the scene of an incident. The video can also be uploaded to evidence.com allowing police departments to create digital evidence systems.

The camera also has other mounting options for officers not wearing sunglasses. Each of the cameras will sell for $700 base price with accessories adding to the cost. Extending control module has a 12 hour battery and a buffer that records 30 seconds prior to the camera being activated. The camera system is ruggedized and weather resistant with the design optimized for capturing detail in low light.

Fort Worth (TX) Police Chief Jeff Halstead said, "On-officer video systems like the AXON Flex give us an opportunity to showcase and support the jobs our officers are doing in the field. Having a complete video record of these incidents will provide a higher level of protection for both our officers and the public."

MSNBC reports that the Taser uses Amazon.com's cloud storage service for the video storage system. The videos can be tagged and labeled for record-keeping and the videos are editable to protected entities of some people captured on video. That feature is useful for blocking out undercover officers and other people such as minors. Video storage system will be charged on a sliding scale that varies with the amount of data stored in the level customer support.

Sources: Taser, MSNBC

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But what did the referee see?

By drycrust3 on 2/22/2012 12:54:33 PM , Rating: 5

quote:
The camera is able to stream video via Bluetooth to a smartphone using apps that are available for Android or iOS devices. That capability allows officers to review video right on a smartphone at the scene of an incident.

I think this is exactly what the referee or umpire of a sports game should have. Up until now we, the viewers, have been able to see some incident from every angle except one: what the referee saw. Now, seconds after the game stops for now apparent reason, we can see exactly what he saw.

RE: But what did the referee see?

By Souka on 2/22/2012 3:10:22 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
That capability allows officers to review video right on a smartphone at the scene of an incident.

So if the officer kicks the handcuffed & hogged-tied "suspect" in the face a few times, while yelling some racial slurs, this will allow him to "review" the video and delete it.

Hmmm. :)

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RE: But what did the referee see?

By Lt Pat on 2/22/2012 3:50:57 PM , Rating: 4

I have been briefed on this new system, and I can tell you that you can not delete it once its been recorded. Also, if I am a bad cop it will come out in the audio. I am all for this technology... you have no idea how many false complaints we get

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RE: But what did the referee see?

By tayb on 2/22/2012 4:30:54 PM , Rating: 2

The article states otherwise.

quote:
The videos can be tagged and labeled for record-keeping and the videos are editable to protected entities of some people captured on video.

Regardless, this doesn't change the dynamic. We're recording police officers to stop abuse and they want to record us to stop abuse. I already stream and record off-site any conversations I have with a police officer. I'm constitutionally protected against answering questions but sometimes officers "forget" that. Whether they can delete the recording is irrelevant because it wasn't normally being recorded anyway.

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RE: But what did the referee see?

By Donovan on 2/23/2012 2:34:39 PM , Rating: 2

It doesn't say that the videos are editable by the officer himself, nor does it say that the original video is lost. It could be that authorized personnel are able to create custom edited video for release while preserving the original for the courts if a question arises about the editing done.

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Bulky

By GuinnessKMF on 2/22/2012 11:11:38 AM , Rating: 2

That looks ridiculously bulky to wear on your face. Something tells me that between being a bad angle, needing to be switched on, and the shakiness will make it pretty unreliable. There have been enough articles lately about police not wanting themselves recorded and departments protecting their own that I'm sure bad officers will conveniently forget to switch it on when they're protecting and serving their own asses. (I believe the overwhelming majority of cops are good, but the bad apples really give a bad name..)

I would think having the optic attached to a vest would allow for it to be more stable (and for the officer to not look ridiculous).

RE: Bulky

By bobsmith1492 on 2/22/2012 1:06:35 PM , Rating: 3

Head-mounted cameras actually result in surprisingly stable video. I've used one while mountain biking, which gets pretty bumpy, but video on the head is nice and smooth.

Your head has a nice gyro system in your inner ears that works with your body to actively maintain your head at a level position and avoid sudden movements.

So with your head stable, a camera on your head is also stable.

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RE: Bulky

By jimmyhoffa9 on 2/23/2012 3:34:30 PM , Rating: 2

its not bulky at all, looks are decieving. I've seen loads of headcam footage and some from the original axon and its very stable. and no-one cares how ridiculous/uncool cops look. at the end of the day its a little camera.

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please

By Motoman on 2/22/2012 1:32:07 PM , Rating: 3

Oh, so you're telling me that now we can put cameras on cops - and yet, we still have no lasers on sharks?

And this is our tax dollars at work. Such BS.

RE: please

By Lt Pat on 2/22/2012 3:53:46 PM , Rating: 2

I dont think think our tax dollars went in to this... just TASER Internationals dollars

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RE: please

By TakeASeto on 2/23/2012 2:45:28 PM , Rating: 2

When the police dept buys those $700 sun glasses, that will be from our tax dollars.

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one sided

By dgingerich on 2/22/2012 11:31:13 AM , Rating: 2

This is totally one sided. It records what other people do, but if a cop does something bad, he can just erase it and pretend it never happened. "Standard procedure" might be invoked by departments, but the cop can just say "I forgot to turn it on" and never get punished for any abuses of authority.

RE: one sided

By Lt Pat on 2/22/2012 3:52:21 PM , Rating: 2

as mentioned above... once its recorded it cant be deleted.

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RE: one sided

By jimmyhoffa9 on 2/23/2012 3:35:52 PM , Rating: 2

you cant erase it one its recorded, and even if you could the absence of footage as part of a abuse investigation will be very fishy. it can film for 12 hours straight, and the only time cops are allowed to turn it off are for private reasons ie taking a dump.

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Government Supplier Tax

By aguilpa1 on 2/22/2012 12:11:16 PM , Rating: 3

You could build one for less then $200 and smaller.

RE: Government Supplier Tax

By jimmyhoffa9 on 2/23/2012 3:36:59 PM , Rating: 2

you couldnt build a rugged high definition camera with excellent night time capabilities(seen it working at night) and 12 hours of battery and recording life for under $200 that was smaller.

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accessorize?

By zetetic elench on 2/23/2012 10:48:42 AM , Rating: 2

erm.. seems a bit redundant.
how about installing one right in the TASER that begins recording when the safety is delatched? TASERCAM will be endlessly interesting.

RE: accessorize?

By jimmyhoffa9 on 2/23/2012 3:32:50 PM , Rating: 2

umm they already that tech, and it costs the same but the difference is it only shows what happens after the taser is activated, not what leads upto it.

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Job Killer...

By Adam M on 2/22/2012 5:29:41 PM , Rating: 2

The producers at COPS just fired all of their cameramen... Honestly I think this will be a great tool, just like dashboard cameras have become. They will be a great investigative tools, they could also have a cooling effect on the small percentage of officers that have trouble controlling their temper. Those officers may not be so quick to go overboard if they are being recorded, especially if it is a live feed.