Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dilmah G on December 17, 2009, 10:59:39 am
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/17/iphone-apple
In little more than a year, applications for Apple's popular iPhone have become a sensation - with more than 100,000 downloadable programs that do everything from stargazing to virtual farting.
But now one of America's biggest military contractors is taking the concept to extremes, by building a series of apps for use on the battlefield.
At a conference in Arizona on Wednesday, US defence company Raytheon announced its plans to launch a new range of military-oriented programs that can turn the popular touchscreen mobile phone into a tool for use in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first application in its plans, called One Force Tracker, uses satellite positioning and mobile networks to give soldiers constantly updating field maps that track the position of friendly troops and enemy fighters in real time.
The program – dubbed a "situational awareness application" by Raytheon executives – would combine data from many sources to try and give an accurate picture of hotspots such as sniper hideouts and vantage points. Troops could also use their iPhones for secure communication, said the company.
"We are committed to providing innovative technology solutions for warfighters and all of our customers," said Jay Smart, chief technology officer of Raytheon's intelligence and information systems business.
The application can run on ordinary iPhone handsets – a decision that came, Smart said, because building software for the gadget was cheaper and simpler than some of the expensive options specifically designed for military use.
"Raytheon's experience with mobile communications in the tactical environment and the government customers' need for low-power, simple plug-and-play applications led to the development of a real-time situational awareness application using Apple's touch technologies," he said.
It is not the first time the iPhone has been linked with military uses, however. Earlier this year Knight's Armament Company, an American weapons maker that supplies rifles to the Pentagon, launched a $12 ballistics application called BulletFlight which helps snipers and sharpshooters to hit their intended target.
Although it is most notorious for hi-tech weapons such as the Silent Guardian – a pain-inducing microwave gun - Raytheon, which based in Massachusetts, has a history of using popular technology for military purposes. Among its innovations are systems used in the unmanned aerial vehicles that are based on video games consoles.
One Force Tracker is not only for the battlefield, though. Raytheon told the Intelligence Warfighting Summit that the software could also be used – with some tweaks - by emergency workers such as doctors and firefighters responding to major incidents.
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:wtf: is this nonsense?
What's next, soldier sponsorship? No offense to Apple, but off-white / shiny does not camo make.
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I wouldn't think that iPhones would really take combat conditions well...seems like dirt/getting dropped would ruin a lot of things.
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They really want to basically cram the Advanced Battle Command System into a ****ing iPhone?
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and run it unencrypted across the Internet probably.
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They really want to basically cram the Advanced Battle Command System into a ****ing iPhone?
apparently...
given my scepticism toward apple, i instantly distrust this idea..
its a safe bet that TOY couldn't last much more than a patrol, let alone a combat situation.
for a second, based on title, o thought this was about a new iGun app.. :rolleyes:
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it would provide a good tech demonstration that the concept of a small hand held device being able to provide that kind of volume of data in a usable fashion
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Yeah, when the military is already working on doing the exact same thing on an exclusive hand-held device, it's an individual-level version of the FBCB2 system used on vehicles and TOCs.
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I and my fellow royal engineers have been using our mobiles (aka "combat comms") in the field for years now. They have better signal than the standard radios and the GPS functionality has been around for years too in more expensive models. But the battlefield update will definitely aid field operations.
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I wouldn't think that iPhones would really take combat conditions well...seems like dirt/getting dropped would ruin a lot of things.
thats where you whip out your standard usmc issue camouflage mint flavored ribbed condom and apply it to your iphone.
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I wouldn't think that iPhones would really take combat conditions well...seems like dirt/getting dropped would ruin a lot of things.
thats where you whip out your standard usmc issue camouflage mint flavored ribbed condom and apply it to your iphone.
Wait. What?
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Also known as the Raytheon-designed, MilSpec'ed iPhone protector. Only 3000$.
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C'mon, of course it could work.
(http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2338/tracker04.jpg) (http://img64.imageshack.us/i/tracker04.jpg/)
;)
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Any infantry officer will be all over anything that gives them a better map.
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C'mon, of course it could work.
(http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2338/tracker04.jpg) (http://img64.imageshack.us/i/tracker04.jpg/)
;)
If memory serves all that thing ever did was give you enough information to brick yourself
speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?
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Hahahahaha like that's ever going to be replaced.
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C'mon, of course it could work.
(http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2338/tracker04.jpg) (http://img64.imageshack.us/i/tracker04.jpg/)
;)
If memory serves all that thing ever did was give you enough information to brick yourself
speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?
I've read about that a few times. It's had a series of start/stop processes where new rifles are potentially around the corner and then they get feature creep and become too big and too heavy and then it gets canceled because the weapon is useless.
The most prominent replacements I've read about include the following:
- the HK M416 which looks fairly similar to the M4 the firing mechanism is all G36 (considered a very reliable weapon).
- the Busmaster ACR (featured in Modern Warfare 2) which is a modular rifle that can fire different kinds of rounds with minimal modifications.
- XM8 which is another G36 derived weapon. Looked fairly interesting but canceled.
I forget which service it was... I think it was the SEALs... decided to launch their own competition because they got fed up with the waiting. That produced the FN SCAR-L and SCAR-H (fires two different sizes of rounds) which seems like a pretty awesome weapon they have there.
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I'm just waiting until Obama's able to run the US via his 'Commander In Chief' application. Seems like budget cuts are taking their toll on you guys, huh? :P
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In theory, great. Give our guys out there the best maps and information possible. Unfortunately in practice it will be done wrong. Besides, how well will an iPhone stand up to the rigors of Afghanistan or Iraq? Not too well methinks. Nice idea, but let's try building something designed and tested by a major millitary that actually knows what they're doing.
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speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?
It's called the M105, IIRC, and it was due to be the only rifle in service by the end of 2011 last I checked. The design has been finalized for awhile, at least.
As for how everyone crapping on the iPhone's durablity: believe it or not, it can actually do this if you're not burying it in crap. Keep it clean like your rifle and you'll be okay.
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Until I see this in action, I'm going to opt for the cheaper alternative. A map. And what happens when your iPhone runs out of battery? ;)
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Until I see this in action, I'm going to opt for the cheaper alternative. A map. And what happens when your iPhone runs out of battery? ;)
They already digitized the maps. It's called GPS. :P
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At least three squaddies in every troop have laptops nowadays.
Regarding new weapons. My must-have upcoming gadget gun is the FMG5. Google magpul or look for both on youtube.
Can you say laptop gun folding action?
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I don't they'd take normal iPods out in the field without some modifications...
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Not really. We carry waterproof sealy bags everywhere. Keeps our smokes dry. You expect some sort of atmospherically sealed kevlar coated device?
Waterproof bags and smock pockets keep armies going.
Edit- additional info.
In fact the biggest threat to squaddies gucci kit is other squaddies trying to nick it.
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Until I see this in action, I'm going to opt for the cheaper alternative. A map. And what happens when your iPhone runs out of battery? ;)
They already digitized the maps. It's called GPS. :P
Back in my day...
:arrr:
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speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?
It's called the M105, IIRC, and it was due to be the only rifle in service by the end of 2011 last I checked. The design has been finalized for awhile, at least.
As for how everyone crapping on the iPhone's durablity: believe it or not, it can actually do this if you're not burying it in crap. Keep it clean like your rifle and you'll be okay.
what's the M105? my internet searches find a semi-auto carbine firing 9mm parabellum, and looks generally like a hunting rifle. not exactly what i'd call a next-gen military rifle..
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Somehow military depending on local (in this case foreign) mobile networks doesn't sound good to me..
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speaking of the M4 is there any word on the next gen rifle?
It's called the M105, IIRC, and it was due to be the only rifle in service by the end of 2011 last I checked. The design has been finalized for awhile, at least.
As for how everyone crapping on the iPhone's durablity: believe it or not, it can actually do this if you're not burying it in crap. Keep it clean like your rifle and you'll be okay.
i seriously doubt that rifle maintence 101 will get an appendix called "How to dismantle your iPhone and keep it clean, 10 easy steps"
however, the mental picture is more than statisfying :D
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what's the M105? my internet searches find a semi-auto carbine firing 9mm parabellum, and looks generally like a hunting rifle. not exactly what i'd call a next-gen military rifle..
I probably have the model number wrong.
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At FPED over the summer, there were several mobile device intelligence peddlers, nestled in between the robot tanks and the guns that shoot around corners. Blackberries, Windows Mobile, etc. Raytheon is just late in announcing an iPhone version.
And they don't rely on civilian networks, they CAN leverage them, but they don't have to. Even FEMA can set up their own temp cell networks.
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I wonder about the touch screen and all the paper-pushing when you deal with something called water.
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Waterproof Cover? Government Issued Condom? (As Nuke suggested... I think.)
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An 80p pack of sandwich bags works wonders as mentioned.
If in doubt double, or even triple bag it.
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That's what she...yeah...
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what's the M105? my internet searches find a semi-auto carbine firing 9mm parabellum, and looks generally like a hunting rifle. not exactly what i'd call a next-gen military rifle..
I probably have the model number wrong.
I can't find anything either... M105 doesn't seem to be it.
As I mentioned before the next gen US army rifle will probably be one of several possibilities including the Bushmaster ACR, XM8 and M416.
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And there's a cache of 250 billion USD that I'm not aware of somewhere deep below my house. :P
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I'm just waiting until Obama's able to run the US via his 'Commander In Chief' application. Seems like budget cuts are taking their toll on you guys, huh? :P
:lol:
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I remember experimenting with what we called "heart monitors" when i was in the military, basically it would monitor the EM field created by a human heartbeat. You could also bring up a building map and overlay it with the results of the monitor. Mostly we trained with these in hostage situations, but there were a number of "other" (S&D) uses for it. I don't even remember the designation anymore. I just remember that back when I was in, we simply didn't have a technology capable of what we required for successful testing. Things are probably different now, if they are even still trying to do anything with this.
It was a great idea though.
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I remember experimenting with what we called "heart monitors" when i was in the military, basically it would monitor the EM field created by a human heartbeat. You could also bring up a building map and overlay it with the results of the monitor. Mostly we trained with these in hostage situations, but there were a number of "other" (S&D) uses for it. I don't even remember the designation anymore. I just remember that back when I was in, we simply didn't have a technology capable of what we required for successful testing. Things are probably different now, if they are even still trying to do anything with this.
It was a great idea though.
Tom Clancy used that idea for the rainbow six book (though it was used very differently in the games)