14 January,2021 06:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma
A cop operates the Vibe Smart Home technology through his phone. Pic/Hanif Patel
A technology introduced by a city-based company as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives is helping officers at Mumbai, Thane and Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar commissionerates operate the switchboards through their mobile phones. The boards, replaced with Vibe Smart Home products, reduce contact with common touch-points and in turn controls further spread of the COVID-19 infection.
An officer shows the application
This initiative has been undertaken by Vinay Electrical Solutions to safeguard police officers from getting infected. The switchboards can be operated through a mobile-based application. An official from the company said that the cops had many queries during installation of the technology but ensured that it was easy to use.
"The Vibe Smart Home application can be operated through smartphones and remote controls as well and it has military-grade encryption to ensure maximum data security," said a cop from the Additional Commissioner of Police's (North) region office, where the switchboards have been replaced with the new technology.
"This minor change helps us avoid one of the common touch-points, which get easily contaminated," said Dilip Sawant, additional commissioner of police (North). A senior official from Vinay Electrical Solutions told mid-day that the technological upgradation was being done as part of their CSR activities and that it would soon reach all the police stations in Mumbai.
They also plan to introduce it in government offices and courtrooms where the footfall is high. The police stations that have already received the home automated boards include Additional Commissioner of Police (North), Mira Road, Bhayandar, Navghar, Kashimira and Thane City SP office.
Director of Vinay Electrical Solutions Dhiren Chheda said, "We observed a huge demand for home automation products from the corporate industry during the pandemic. They invested in the products to create a safe workspace for their employees and we thought of creating the same for our frontline warriors, who have been working tirelessly."
Requesting anonymity, a senior police officer said, "We were in need of this technology for a safe work environment. We cannot opt for work-from-home and so our workplace needs to be safe."
"The virus has surely taught everybody the importance of maintaining proper hygiene but technology plays a very important role as well. Vibe Smart Home is a very unique product. Who would have thought that common touch-points like electric switchboards can be a medium of transmission of the virus," the officer added.