More West Virginia School Districts Trial ROC’s Computer Vision Tech for Campus Safety

ROC Watch, a safety technology system developed by Rank One Computing, is being deployed in several West Virginia school districts to enhance school security through biometrics and other identification technologies.

The ROC Watch system detects potential threats using three primary methods: facial recognition, license plate recognition, and suspicious object or weapons detection. When a threat is identified, notifications are sent to designated school officials as determined by each district, with the real-time alert system allowing school personnel to assess and respond to potential risks promptly.

In an interview with MetroNews “Talkline”, Adam Cheeseman, Director of School Safety for ROC Watch and former Doddridge County school superintendent, highlighted the system’s capability to identify individuals on preloaded watchlists. These lists can include sex offenders, individuals from the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, or other specified persons of concern. The system alerts school staff when a person matching the criteria is detected, enabling proactive measures before the individual gains entry to the building.

“It can pick up facial recognition, it can do license plate recognition,” Cheeseman said. “But most importantly, in my opinion as a former superintendent – and what really brought me to this role – is it will pick up guns or suspicious objects.”

The technology can be customized to meet the privacy and budget considerations of different schools. Schools have the option to deploy the full suite of features or select specific functions, such as only weapons detection.

ROC Watch is currently being tested in various capacities across West Virginia, including full system implementations or specific components like facial recognition or weapons detection. Counties such as Harrison, Clay, Putnam, Doddridge, and Marion are participating in the trials. In Marion County, the system has successfully identified sex offenders, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing school safety.

Source: MetroNews

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September 24, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis