Safe Haven Technology
‘Safe Haven’ is a pioneering technology that addresses the issues surrounding the misuse of camera phones and other wireless devices, within certain areas. This technology is ‘patent pending’ in the UK and the US.
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Technology advancements have allowed internet enabled, small portable devices (camera phones, PDA’s, MP3) capable of still/video imaging and data download, to proliferate. Unfortunately, whilst having many legitimate and enabling uses the technology can also be put to illegitimate uses. Specifically, where camera phones are concerned illegal uses include surreptitious photography/filming without the subject’s permission, corporate theft by taking images of confidential documents or videoing private conversations, copyright contravention and with regard to PDA/MP3, download of confidential information. All of these surreptitious methods of taking images/data can be uploaded wirelessly to the Internet within seconds, multiplying issues expeditiously. It is widely predicted that the sale of camera phones alone, will reach over 900 million globally, in the next four years. Media coverage on these issues has been widespread, globally. An ITN special report in January confirmed that such devices had been prohibited from certain schools and leisure centres nationally amidst fears of paedophilia. Other reports state that some UK Government buildings and corporations are also banning such devices. Abroad, the Raffles Hotel chain has again forbidden the use of such camera phones due to infringement of privacy rights in its gyms, whilst the country of Saudi Arabia has outlawed these camera phones in their entirety, nationwide. Just recently, China confirmed its grave concerns about the devices, stating that it too was considering a nationwide ban; the country of China constituting a quarter of the world’s population. Naturally, handset manufacturers like Nokia and Sony Ericcson stand to lose billions of pounds globally, if such prohibition is imposed. Closer to home, when questioned about such bans, David Sparks, Chief Executive of the Amateur Sports Association, said: “ I really can’t see any other way around tackling the situation”.
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Some time ago
this interview, Iceberg Systems (IS) embarked on research
and development programme to address the above issues and a ‘way
to tackle the situation’. Called ‘Safe Haven’,
the technology comprises of a facility that intermittently sends
a signal announcing its presence. If a portable imaging/data device
is in receipt of the signal, it “knows” it is in a “Safe
Haven” area and the imaging device is disabled. Once out of
range of the facility signals the portable image/data device to
be re-enabled. In broad terms, the technology has the ability to
control the use of said devices within a restricted area, whether
it be a school, leisure centre, corporation and so on, creating
a so called ‘wireless privacy zone’.
