TKC Told You So: Machines Might Save Kansas City 911

As constant readers might realize, we're pretty sure this is all just a ruse to gather more info on the whereabouts of Sarah Connor. 

Still . . . When we talk about the dangers of A.I. to our society . . . Today we have a homegrown example . . .

Rather than hire & train more people to do a tough job . . . Our local leadership hopes that tech will solve a longstanding problems that ACTUALLY has more to do with management.

Here's a more hopeful view . . . 

The Kansas City Police Department's large, regional system covers 11 counties and does work, but like department's nationwide, there's a shortage of dispatchers and call takers.

One solution to the hold time problem is adding what's called an auto-attendant.

Callers would get a quicker answer, then would be prompted to press 1 for an emergency requiring a police response, press 2 for a non-emergency incident and 3 for the fire department and EMS.

That would remove the need for a call taker to spend valuable time pressing the switch button manually while other callers wait on hold.

But using an auto-attendant to bridge the gap between the two separate systems running police and fire calls is harder than it appears.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . 

Officials mulling over a more automated 911 system to cut long call hold times

The Mid-America Regional Council is working on solutions to lower wait times for people who call 911 for emergency help.

Change to Kansas City's 911 system likely on hold

A Kansas City committee recommends putting a proposed change to the city's 911 system on hold until more information is available.

Auto attendant on hold: Kansas City's proposed 911 solution will take time

A concept to help reduce Kansas City's 911 hold times has been tabled for now, as the idea needs research and development.

Developing . .