The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in California is in talks with Apple to explore the viability of the Apple Vision Pro as a tool for monitoring and assisting in police surveillance tasks.
These augmented reality (AR) glasses with virtual reality (VR) could replace the current monitoring and data processing systems used by police officers.
Although, for the moment, their use is limited to offices and control centers due to their weight and configuration, the police force is studying the feasibility of implementing it more widely in its daily operations.
Initial tests
The department has already begun testing with the Apple Vision Pro as part of its Real-Time Operations Center, a unit focused on uninterrupted surveillance and rapid response to eventualities.
In August, police officers had the opportunity to test them, including Dave Fontneau, director of the department’s IT area. According to Fontneau, he was able to interact with three-dimensional maps, adjust the arrangement of vehicles and scrutinize images from security cameras dynamically.
The tools officers currently use are scattered across multiple screens and systems, but the Vision Pro could consolidate all of those into a single device, simplifying decision-making and increasing effectiveness.
Future possibilities on patrol
While the current weight of the Apple Vision Pro is a barrier to its use on patrol, Apple has hinted that a lighter version could be in the works.
This possible future iteration would allow officers to use the device while on patrol, receiving real-time information about crimes or ongoing situations in their field of view.
A hypothetical scenario could be that while on patrol, an officer would receive alerts about a nearby crime, view live images from security cameras, or even manipulate interactive maps of the area, all projected through the Vision Pro.
But enthusiasm for the use of the Apple Vision Pro is not limited to Orange County. According to a recent report in X by journalist Joey Scott, the Los Angeles Police Foundation has decided to invest $20,000 in these devices to explore their usefulness in surveillance and control tasks.
A future of more advanced surveillance
But, this technology raises debates about privacy and the scope of police surveillance. The ability to record, analyze and act on data obtained in an immersive and real-time manner could alter the dynamics of interactions between law enforcement and society.
Although the image of police officers using these expensive viewers in their daily work still seems distant, it is not entirely unlikely. Initial tests have revealed that the Apple Vision Pro has enormous potential to modify the traditional approach to surveillance, and with future improvements in its design and functionality, it could become established as an indispensable tool for the police of the near future.