Ever since playing certain computer games in high school, I have been waiting to hear about something like this. The military is trying to employ lightning guns. Zip-zowie!
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/04/httphomebusnes.html
also known as Directed Energy Weapons.
I have found myself increasingly fascinated by weapons and defense technology lately. We’ve got sound waves that do a mind job on you, a pulse that can make your skin feel like it’s being fried (known as the Pain Ray), and foam that will literally freeze you in your tracks.
Suddenly, laser pistols seem a little out of date.
But fear not. Technology is not just being put towards painful ends these days. Behold the development of what is known as the CyberTooth. No. These are not dentures that will eat food while you sleep, nor will they attack children and small pets. Instead, we’ve got a false tooth that can be filled with medical doses, which can be programmed to release into your system, getting you the meds you need without the hassle of remembering to take a pill every four-to-six hours. Handy, no?
I think there’s only a slim chance the CyberTeeth will rebel against its human masters and conquer the planet.
A slim one. The odds are good.
I see that smile.
More great links Josh, thanks. My favourite line has to be the ominous “Lethal configurations are also available” – the next time a Rodney King gets zapped by one of these things and dies, you can easily imagine the consequences. Really, the more things change, the more they stay the same…
Have a good weekend!
It’s almost as if the nonlethal systems are more “elegant” in a sense. I mean, how fine-tuned does a weapon have to be to make sure it brings someone horrendous pain without giving them a heart attack? And what happens when innocent civilians get caught in the line of fire? I also wonder who gets to sit around and think these kind of things up all day. Almost makes me think they hired a science fiction writer, or started scanning some sci-fi classics until they said, “Ooh, this looks good. Let’s see if we can actually make it work.”