Bridges For Engineering Education: Exploring E Portfolios In Engineering Education At Virginia Tech

An electronically activated holster that releasably secures a weapon to the holster. A locking mechanism releases the weapon upon receiving an electrical signal generated when certain conditions are present. These predetermined conditions are selected by a user and these inputs can be sensed with photosensitive devices attached to the holster that detect bar codes on a user's hand or glove so that a predetermined pattern can be read and conveyed to a control circuit, such as a central processing unit. In turn, the control circuit records the event and causes the locking mechanism to release the weapon if the necessary conditions are present. Alternatively, an ultrasonic transmitter can be worn by a user in a wristband and a cooperative receiver on the holster designed to be activated when a predetermined proximity is achieved. An alarm output is provided to visually or audibly broadcast a violated condition. Optionally, a transmitter is incorporated to the holster to broadcast the condition of the alarm and a remotely placed receiver is used to monitor the broadcast. Another input is supplied by a general positioning system that ascertains the location of the holster at selected times, stores it, and/or broadcasts it. An input/output port permits exchange of data and instructions to and from the control circuit.