Police agencies may require navigation capabilities most ordinary citizens don't.
While broadband can now live-stream police car video, computers can also analyze that video instantly, freeing human eyes and brains from watching all the mundane goings on.
For instance, if a subject car suddenly takes off during a routine traffic stop, a computer can instantly recognize the image of a car moving away quickly and alert supervisors that a chase is about to ensue. The officer, himself may not even need call that in. He can just jump back in the car and get going. Even the car's lights and siren will automatically switch to a pursuit mode.
Police cars can also get unique mapping and navigation capabilities. For instance, while simply being able to get to a given location is enough for most of us, a police car may be required to approach the location from a specific direction, even if it means driving the wrong way down a one -way street, not something that ordinary civilian navigation could -- or, really, should -- do.
NEXT: Hands-on