Parks Associates Releases New Research Whitepaper Examining Tech Solutions to Improve School Safety and Threat Response

Personal safety a growing concern: Nine million US internet households report using smart tags

DALLAS, Nov. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates today released a new whitepaper, Leveraging Tech to Improve Safety and Security in Schools, highlighting insights on how schools can better respond to security threats by utilizing quick-acting access control and emergency response paired with communicated intel.

"Technology has an essential role in school security," said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. "The ability for tech to identify suspicious activity, spot dangerous items, recognize patterns, and organize data/evidence is particularly powerful and can enable a more effective response to threats."

In general, personal safety concerns, especially regarding children, have grown in the US. Parks Associates research shows about nine million US internet households (8%) own a smart tag and 37% of these owners use smart tags because they are concerned about another's safety, with 32% saying their child always has a smart tag with them. Parents and school educators are seeking new solutions to help protect kids in school.

"Tech cannot guarantee flawless defense against security breaches and threats, but it can help provide a more effective response," said August Ward, Research Intern, Parks Associates. "This is an important project to help elevate the role of tech in responding to safety and security threats in schools."

"Technology has brought more and more information to our first responders – security cameras, two-way radios, remote sensors, panic buttons. Mutualink's mission is to enable these technologies for rapid and effective response by bringing the right information to the right people at the right time," said Mark Hatten, CEO, Mutualink. "We are grateful that Parks Associates recognized the importance of a rapid, coordinated response to events in schools."

"It's extremely important that a more integrated approach to electronic security is taken by schools to create safer environments for our children," said Kirk MacDowell, President, MacGuard Security Advisors Inc. "Supporting efforts like these, and SIA's PASS guidelines to inform the education industry about physical security implementation, is necessary to drive change."

Parks Associates recognizes and thanks the following expert for their contribution to this work:

• Alex Bertelli – Havenlock
• Jennifer Doctor - Johnson Controls
• Peter Giacolone – Giacolone Associates
• Merlin Guilbeau – ESA
• Mark Hatten - Mutualink
• Jennifer Lytle – Chamberlain
• Kirk MacDowell – MacGuard Security Advisors, SIAC, SIA
• Thomas Nakatani - ADT
• Mani Ram - Gadgeon
• Kelly Shumaker – LiftMaster

Download the research today and to request data or an interview, please contact Rosey Sera at [email protected], 972.996.0233.

Parks Associates, a woman-owned and woman-led internationally recognized market research and consulting company, specializes in emerging technology solutions serving the consumer and small to medium business (SMB) markets. Celebrating its 35^th year in 2021, Parks Associates is a partner to companies navigating the changing consumer technology landscapes through data-driven market insights, extensive consumer and industry intelligence, custom marketing services, and executive networking experiences and conferences.

The company's expertise includes home automation, control systems and security, digital media and platforms, entertainment and gaming, home networks, internet and video services, connected health and independent living solutions, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer electronics, and energy management solutions.

Each year, Parks Associates hosts industry webcasts, the CONNECTIONS™ Conference Series, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, and Future of Video: OTT, Pay TV, and Digital Media. http://www.parksassociates.com

Contact:
Rosimely Sera
Parks Associates
972.996.0233
[email protected]

SOURCE Parks Associates