Great! So now when an American soldier is engaged in beating an Iraqi prisoner with the butt end of his rifle, he can call up google maps to automatically see where in the world his illegal, unknown prison facility is!

Thanks, America! Fuck Yeah!

Pope John Peeps II

I can see how this could be a really interesting device...or a massive failure.
I'm thinking this could be a great control device for the remote operated gun turrets on the up armored vehicles, or a good control for using the high tech GPS systems like the Blue Force Tracker.

SgtMac02

Where is the screen?

And what if you are checking your email and someone starts shooting at you? can you put this on suspend?

WD40

That could be useful if the soldier had a HUD he was controlling and like rothman says way to sense shooting vs. clicking?

blackwand

"Middle fingertip is "anywhere mouse" trackpad that is engaged when press against a hard surface like a gun or a wall." -

Finally, something designed for South Beach Audience by US Army.

Pluton

i prefer my analog way of sending messages
(extends middle finger)

godwhacker

Yea, that's too much It seems like any stray movement is relaying information not intended to be relayed. not good idea, bad idea.

Darrone

Cool idea, but it still doesn't blend.

tamoko

The idea is very cool, but I am in the military and this is not something I would want to use...the last thing I want to be thinking about when in combat is what finger controls which function. Simplicity is your friend when in the line of fire.

@SgtMac02: I could see it being helpful in these situations though

soulman

@TheCyberBob: They already have that capbility. It's called "semaphore" ...just doesn't have quite the same range :)

SgtMac02

Hopefully the soldier doesn't end up designating targets for close air support when he scratches his crotch.

** Scratch, Scratch ** Shit!

ripfire4

What's the plastic gun for? Can't we just use our hand like when we were kids?

_B
_BBBBBBBB ---> pew pew
BBBBB
BBBBB

liveinvt

@TheCyberBob: in actuality, I think they would use that ability to silently initiate recorded voice commands over comm chanels using SWAT-style gestures.

valarmorghulis

The line "Accelerometers in wrist track Wii-like gestures for sending messages, etc" has me rather interested. Do they intend for the soldiers to flail their arms to send text messages now? Picture if you will. A soldier sending a message off for support or to his family doing what would best be described as interpretive dance in the middle of the desert.

*Solider windmills arms*
"H"
*Spins in place*
"E"
*Throws arms above his head*
"L"
*Cart wheels*
"P"

Obviously these would be more accurate but someone frustrated might have to be more deliberate no?

TheCyberBob

Nintendo needs to pick up on this and release a new and improved powerglove.

Gann

"Wearable computers may be a reality in today's army, but use is restricted to safe environs like a bunker or an armored vehicle"

Wearable computers may be a reality in today's army, HOWEVER use is restricted to safe environMENTs like a bunker or an armored vehicle

the statement confused me enough that i wanted to suggest a correction, thats all.

jrghoull

@jrghoull: "the statement confused me enough that i wanted to suggest a correction, thats all."

God, you must be very easily confused. The original version was perfectly correct, and clear as could be. Look up "environs" in the dictionary. You will find it. And the difference between "but" and "however" would be?

GadgetPlay

@valarmorghulis: Pfft. Where's the fun in that? ;)

TheCyberBob

This might be more practical if buttons were placed on the non-dominant hand (non-shooting hand). Sensors could be placed in the dominant hand to interpret hand gestures which could be relayed to other members of a fire team, indicating actions such as "halt" or "get down." Also, removing the material on the index finger (shooting hand) would be better for trigger feel (smooth trigger pull ensures accurately placed shots). Simplification is the key to combat effective tech. Complicated equipment is usually left behind and proves cumbersome in the heat of combat.

TOWken22

Whoever wrote this entry is mistaken: the index finger button looks like it's nowhere near the tip! I remember seeing these guys at nextfest. they said you can cut off the tips of the thumb and index for tactility because they don't have anything there, and showed you can lift a pack without accidently cueing the buttons. IMHO i think buttons good, gesture bad.

fishroe

@Pope John Peeps II: "...when an American soldier is engaged in beating an Iraqi prisoner with the butt end of his rifle, he can call up google maps to automatically see where in the world his illegal, unknown prison facility is!

Thanks, America! Fuck Yeah!"

Don't you mean "Thanks, yeah! Fuck America!"? Sounds like you've been going to Obama's church. Say "Hi!" to Jane Fonda and John Kerry for me.

GadgetPlay

@Gann: I love the RallyPoint Handwear Computer Input Device. It's so bad.

BMErdin

On one hand, it seems that it would be a bit cumbersome to operate. On the other hand, you should see what they currently use to operate these systems. Since current Army doctrine is to leave the index finger outside the trigger guard except when firing, I can see that this would be well used and preferred to the little trackball they are using now.

Still, I can't help but to think of a Lt. giving the Arsenio Hall fist pump while his subordinates hear the CounterStrike "go, go, go!".

Do the kids know who Arsenio Hall is anymore? Probably not... :-(

Sbudda