In an interview with TimesTech, Manoj Kottil, Chief Operating Officer at Arya Omnitalk, shared insights on the Motorola HALO Smart Sensor — a privacy-first, IoT-enabled solution revolutionizing safety and environmental monitoring. Highlighting its ability to ensure security without surveillance, he discussed HALO’s role in transforming safety standards across education, healthcare, and infrastructure while aligning with Arya Omnitalk’s vision of connected, intelligent, and privacy-conscious ecosystems.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: The Motorola HALO Smart Sensor is described as a privacy-first, IoT-enabled safety and environmental monitoring solution. Could you elaborate on how it balances the need for real-time situational awareness with privacy concerns—especially in sensitive environments like schools and hospitals?
Manoj: What really sets HALO apart is its ability to ensure safety without invading privacy. It doesn’t use cameras or microphones at all instead, it relies on smart sensors to detect changes in the environment, such as air quality, motion, aggression, or vaping. This makes it especially suitable for places like school washrooms, hospital wards, and dormitories where traditional surveillance would feel intrusive. HALO gives administrators real-time insights and alerts while fully respecting the privacy and dignity of the people within those spaces.
TimesTech: With 16 onboard sensors detecting everything from air quality to aggression and vaping, what technologies or innovations make HALO capable of delivering such diverse and accurate insights without using cameras or microphones?
Manoj: The beauty of HALO lies in how intelligently it combines multiple sensors to read a space. It has 16 integrated sensors that track everything from CO₂ and humidity to sound patterns and motion changes. The device can pick up indicators of vaping, aggression, or poor air quality but without ever recording audio or video. It processes information on the edge for instant response and also connects to the cloud for scalability. So, you get the accuracy and speed of a smart system without the privacy risks of traditional surveillance.
TimesTech: How do you see smart sensors like HALO transforming the safety and compliance landscape across sectors such as education, healthcare, and public infrastructure in India?
Manoj: I believe HALO will change how organizations think about safety and compliance. In education, for example, it supports institutions in meeting NAAC and NEP 2020 standards for wellness and digital readiness. Hospitals can use it to keep an eye on air quality and ensure patient safety, while industries can track environmental compliance and respond faster to emergencies. Essentially, HALO turns what used to be reactive safety into proactive, data-driven monitoring that helps institutions stay both safe and compliant.
TimesTech: Arya Omnitalk has been at the forefront of integrated communication and safety technologies. How does HALO fit into your broader vision of connected ecosystems that include walkie-talkies, body-worn cameras, and surveillance systems?
Manoj: Arya Omnitalk has always focused on helping organizations communicate and operate more safely. Our solutions from walkie-talkies and GPS tracking to toll management are all about enabling real-time, reliable communication. HALO is a natural extension of that vision. It brings IoT intelligence and privacy-first monitoring into the mix, creating a connected ecosystem where communication tools and safety technologies work hand in hand. Together, they make workplaces and institutions smarter, safer, and more responsive.
TimesTech: The demand for proactive safety measures is growing across India’s smart cities and enterprises. What challenges do organizations typically face in adopting such advanced technologies, and how does Arya Omnitalk help overcome them?
Manoj: Many organizations want to adopt advanced safety systems but worry about complexity, cost, or privacy. That’s exactly where HALO makes a difference. It’s easy to install, operates on Power over Ethernet, and integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructure. Plus, it doesn’t use cameras or microphones, so privacy concerns are off the table. As the prime distributor for India, Arya Omnitalk also provides complete support from installation and training to ongoing technical assistance making the transition to smarter safety systems smooth and practical.
TimesTech: Looking ahead, how do you foresee technologies like HALO Smart Sensor and body-worn cameras shaping the future of safety, accountability, and operational intelligence for Indian enterprises and institutions?
Manoj: We’re moving toward a future where safety, accountability, and data intelligence go hand in hand. Devices like HALO and body-worn cameras bring transparency and proactive monitoring to everyday operations. They not only help prevent incidents but also improve how organizations respond and learn from them. As India’s infrastructure and smart cities evolve, I see these technologies becoming essential tools enabling safer, more connected, and more responsible workplaces and institutions.
