911 Simulator

You may know that State Farm Insurance offers grants for purchasing 911 simulator equipment used for public education on making 911 calls.

The equipment is provided by Retina Systems Inc. in Connecticut, and how they came to develop the gear is interesting. Thanks to Graydon Moir for providing this information. He wrote me in an e-mail:

I recently read in you Q&A on your site that stated Retina Systems, a laser inspection company somehow entered the 911 Simulator market.

Long story short; I was a telephone man for State Farm Insurance at the time. One day I was asked for a few broken telephones to teach children how to dial 911. With a 4 year old at home myself, on the computer and using other interactive devices I said, "A dead telephone isn't going to get these kids attention. There must be something already out there." There wasn't.

I tested a concept. We (State Farm) went to a few classes with it. I approached State Farm to make them, to enhance their existing 911 Emergency Program. They said, "We are in the insurance business, not manufacturing. If you think it's such a good idea, make them and sell them to us."

I contacted my brother, Floyd Moir, owner and president of a the high tech company in Connecticut, Retina Systems Inc., and told him there is a need. He said, "We'll make three. If State Farm likes them, we'll make more, if not, we'll donate the 3 and both move on." Several thousand dollars later, they create the first patented Interactive 911 Simulator. (The device was far more complicated than originally thought.) State Farm purchased the first 200 manufactured at cost. Then ordered another 80 shortly there after. In 10 years State Farm has purchased and/or donated over 1,000 units across the country and has educated hundreds of thousands of children and adults about the proper use of 911.

And that's how Retina Systems entered the 911 Simulator market place. Just one brother in CT helping another in MD. Retina Systems had the means and were highly motivated to make a difference, and they have. If you recall, 10 years ago the cover of US News and World Report read, "This is 911….Please HOLD." If I were Floyd, I wouldn't have touched this one. Many issue back then but the one thing we could help with was to increase public awareness and education with a powerful interactive tool.

I feel we've made a difference.

Graydon Moir

State Farm provides grants for many projects. You can find information about the program here.