The US government has unveiled a "non-lethal" laser rifle designed to dazzle enemy personnel without causing them permanent harm. But the device will require close scrutiny to ensure compliance with a United Nations protocol on blinding laser weapons. The Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response (PHASR) rifle was developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico, US, and two prototypes have been delivered to military bases in Texas and Virginia for further testing. The US Department of Defense (DoD) believes the weapon could be used, for example, to temporarily blind suspects who drive through a roadblock. However, the DoD has yet to reveal details of how the laser works and has yet to respond to New Scientist’s requests for further information. Laser weapons capable of blinding enemies have been developed in the past but were banned under a 1995 UN convention called the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons. The wording of this protocol, however, does not prohibit lasers that temporarily dazzle a foe. I think this is a very good step forward in non-lethal combat. Woo for laser fun!
I heard about this a few weeks ago, it is a very good non-lethal weapon that seems to actually work. What it does is rappidly shoot off several red beams that seem to disorient the person. I dont understand why it works, but it can make an attacker stop dead in his tracks.
Technically it is possible to temporarily deplete the rhodopsin in the rods and cones of the retina (the chemical that reacts to light and causes those nerves to trigger) without doing any tissue damage. That should do it. The trick is to carefully tweak the energy levels required. Red definitely makes the safest colour, in that regard.
Can we not have Red for good guys and blue for bad guys? That would be awesome Hows this going to be safe if you are blinding someone driving fast through a road-block? Well atleast it's safer than the bean-bag gun.
I think I'd still prefer an M16/M4...or a Barrett M82. It is excellent for making an attacker stop dead in his tracks.
Yes, stop dead in his tracks. I think this is a good idea if it can be proven that it does no lasting damage.
Hmm... you have an idiot driving through a baracade. Let's temporarily blind him, that'll help his crazy driving. Uh-huh.... Tibby... it might work out that way, seeing that a blue laser will be more intense, and police would need the non-lethal ones. Which is of course why Luke Skywalker went in for the pwn, he just had an uber-er lightsaber.
