Paranoid about future unrest after this summer’s riots in the UK, the British went and developed a laser rifle which can project a wall of light and temporarily blind a pack of rioters.
According to the UK Register getting blasted with the Orwellian light is akin to staring at the sun.
The laser, resembling a rifle and known as an SMU 100, can dazzle and incapacitate targets up to 500m away with a wall of light up to three metres squared. It costs £25,000 and has an infrared scope to spot looters in poor visibility.
From a tech perspective, this sounds awesome. But, um, from a human perspective, this is a tool which could be potentially misused in a variety of ways. I wouldn’t be shocked if we hear about some power-crazed cop going a little too far with this thing. [The Register]
Image via dmuth/Flickr
Sevrin
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 8:24 AMUh… so now rioters will have to wear welding sheilds so they’re not…
“Blinded by the light….revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night!”
Jaezass
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:13 AMthis is a tool which could be potentially misused in a variety of ways
Anybody remember those asshat cops in the US that sprayed pepper spray directly into the already subdued rioters eyes. Now think asshat induced laser light blindness…
ziltch
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:19 AMSo the UK gov is saying it is OK to aim a laser into peoples eyes, to stop them from doing things you don’t like?
wsDK_II
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:24 AMbring the mirrors next time then eh?
Eccentric
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:38 AM+1 :) problem sovered
light487
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:40 AMSo they want to blind them? What about LRAD? And other non-harmful riot control devices that have been around for years? Why start using lasers?
Zigs
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 1:55 PM“Oh god, no, the rioters have figured out our one weakness- They’re facing the other way!”