The start-up that wants to revolutionise emergency systems around the world

Israel-based start-up Carbyne has developed an emergency call-handling platform that integrates features such as live video streaming, location services and texting capabilities as an upgrade to the outdated systems used for calling emergency services throughout the world, TechCrunch reports.

Founder and CEO Amir Elichai says he created the platform after he had difficulty getting help from the police after being robbed on a Tel Aviv beach in 2013 and having to go through a long conversation to give authorities all the details about where he was and what had happened.

“If Uber and the pizza delivery guy can determine where we are, why can’t 911?” he asked.

Carbyne is focused on reducing “time to dispatch” – the time it takes from when the call is placed to the moment services are sent to the field. In order for this timeframe to be as short as possible, two crucial elements are needed: exact location and an understanding of the situation.

They have developed a solution where emergency services can pinpoint a caller’s location within a one-meter accuracy in a few seconds, as well as live video streaming that helps them assess the situation. “When you combine the two, it cuts the dispatch time by 60-65 percent,” Elichai says, which could help save many lives.

The company’s biggest challenge is that emergency response systems are currently based on landline technology and are unable to use smartphone capabilities like chat, video or GPS. So, instead of trying to upgrade these systems, Carbyne wants to replace them altogether.

Carbyne has already deployed systems in Israel, Asia, Europe and Latin America and have signed their first deal in the US with a county in Georgia. However, there are strict regulations on this topic in most countries, and it can be hard to convince authorities to make such a significant change to emergency systems, according to the company.