Phaser is looking somewhat life-like...

Discussion in 'Serious' started by Malvolio, 30 Nov 2005.

  1. Malvolio

    Malvolio .

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    The US Air Force has unveiled its first hand-held laser weapon that gives security forces a non-lethal option for controlling crowds and protecting areas like checkpoints, according to service officials.

    While only in prototype form and years away from fielding, the weapon, known as the Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response (PHaSR) system, holds great promise, they said.

    The PHaSR is about the same size and weight of a fully loaded M60 machine gun - around 9 kg - but shoots a low-power beam of laser light instead of bullets. The light it generates is capable of temporarily impairing an individual's vision, much like the disorienting glare one sees when looking into the sun, said the officials.

    Upon completion of testing, one prototype will be handed over to the Department of Defense's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) and the second to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ): the law enforcement arm of the US Department of Justice. Both organisations support the programme, with the latter interested in its civil applications.



    Very cool technology we're getting in this day and age. Wasn't that long ago we were trying to think of the best way to kill as many people as we could, now we're trying to find ways not to kill as many people as we can. Amazing this technology :p


    Set to stun...
     
  2. FredsFriend

    FredsFriend What's a Dremel?

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    The inquirer version has mostly the same but with a little extra point on the end "It is not exactly a Star Trek weapon suitable for away missions either. According to Stars and Stripes, it is years years away from deployment and you have to be a good shot to hit a target in the eyes. It can only take out one target at a time. You are probably better off with a water cannon."
    linq

    Why can't they just use one of those 5,000,000 candle power torches, you would get a few people at once with that.

    And i thought that a phaser knocked people out, or disintegrated them. Not just a glorified laser pen.
     
  3. Malvolio

    Malvolio .

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    Yes, but see, that would make sense, and from their past history, the US government and the military try to make as little sense as they can. So if they did something right, then it would throw off their entire history and make everything they've done just silly.

    Hey, I didn't name it, they did. Silly name though I agree :p Should be something more along the lines of "Fun-pointy-o-matic-4001-laser-thingy". Now that is a name that would strike fear into any non-english speaking types!
     
  4. FredsFriend

    FredsFriend What's a Dremel?

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    :D Agree with you on both points there
     
  5. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Wow, how hard did those guys have to think to get a halfway reasonable acronym for "Phaser" then? :D

    An engineer friend of mine has the theory that a lot of people have become engineers and scientists because they were inspired by Star Trek as kids... and now they are all on a subconscious conspiracy to make the future just like Star Trek. Hence Motorola mobile phones that look like communicators, PSION PDAs that looked like tricorders...
     
  6. .308AR

    .308AR What's a Dremel?

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    I'm in the camp that says less-than-lethal is a bad idea. If they think it can't kill they will be more inclined to use it. I won't be trading in my rifles.
     

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