Mobile applications and the smartphone have changed the world in which we live today in some pretty profound ways. One particular instance of this is how the U.S. military has adopted various mobile apps to help with war-time needs. With that said, the latest mobile app to get DoD interest is T2 Moodtracker. Instead of acting as a tool to fight, T2 Moodtracker helps treat/calm down soldiers with head injuries and/or anger issues stemming from battle wounds, and helps doctors evaluate the mental health of the soldier. The words of wisdom:
Health Tip: One source of anger is fear. The next time you get angry, ask yourself what made you afraid. If you work on the fear, the anger will get better.
….
Health Tip: Try to avoid words like ‘should,’ ‘shouldn’t,’ ‘must,’ ‘ought,’ ‘always,’ ‘have to,’ or ‘need to.’ Statements including these words tend to increase anger.
It’s pretty cool to see something as small and simple as a mobile app for a consumer smartphone make the cross to the battlefield.
- September 14, 2010 7:24 am
Are you a skateboarder? Perhaps you’ve ridden in a tank? What if you could enjoy both of those American past times…at the same time? Yeah, a tank won’t really fit on a skateboard and it isn’t really save to stand on top of a tank. It usually gets all smashy either way you go. That’s what this Tank/Skateboard hybrid is freakin’ sweet!
The DTV (Dual Tracked Vehicle) Shredder was designed by Ben Gulak of BPG Werks. The DTV is somewhat modular. It seems that the steering bar can be replaced with a handheld accelerator module. Additionally, it can be configured for remote control operation. Designed to take up to a 40 degree slope and with a top speed of [over] 30 mph it’s definitely an interesting concept.
We could hold a poll as to whether this is the coolest thing ever, but we all know how that would end up… Hop inside for a video of perfection in action.
- February 22, 2010 3:08 am
After a brief 15-month hiatus, it looks like personal flash drives will once again be allowed inside the Department of Justice. Spurred by a rash of virus outbreaks and compromised computers, the DoD enacted the ban back in late 2008 to get a grip on the damaging and stubborn malware war path.
Don’t go all hogwild just yet though, bringing in a bin of flash drives and relying on them for home and work use. The new decree strictly mentions “mission critical” jobs as the only time in which flash drives can be used. So simple flyers for DoD employee of the month and luncheons probably won’t fit the bill. Sorry.
And not any old flash drive will do. Only a select few drives from only a couple of manufacturers have enough password or encryption security to stand up to the military’s and DoD’s strict standards. With that said, such high security features mean your little Hello Kitty talking head flash drive probably won’t cut it. To some, that’s a blessing. Hey, at least it’s good to see the DoD moving back to 2002 tech again, is it not? Flash drives FTW!!
DefenseNews
If there were anything that would make Uncle Sam angry, blatant ignorance and greed when lives are at stake is probably up near the top. Now keep the upcoming text light hearted as this hasn’t been confirmed in any way by Microsoft (as if they’d admit blocking the military…).
The military is growing increasingly digital these days. With that growing reliance on digital services and applications naturally comes the increased need for more and more personal computers. You typical military spec computer is easily $1,000+. Much like the rest of the country is pinching pennies in tight times, so is the Army, as they’re looking for ways to increase “digital presence” without busting the bank. Welcome to the wonderful world of the Xbox 360.
Argue if you want, but the Xbox 360 with it’s cheap hardware, massive online gameplay and options for scenarios, and rather robust library of war games means it’s a pretty good fit as a training tool for the fine men and women training our country. Common sense also makes a might appearance. It’s simple actually. Why should the Army spend upwards of $1,000 on training computers for each and ever soldier if an Xbox 360 can be had for significantly less and be used for multiple soldiers? It’s basic math.
That wonderful plan was killed however by the most unlikely of people — Microsoft. According to Roger Smith, CTO for PEO STRI (the Army command responsible for purchasing training equipment), Microsoft refused to sell him or the Army any consoles. No direct reason was given. Roger however speculates the denials happened because of one of three reasons:
* Microsoft was afraid that the military would buy up lots of Xbox 360s, but would buy only one game for each of them, so MS wouldn’t make much money off of the games.
* that a big military purchase would create a shortage of Xbox 360s.
* that if the Xbox became an Army training device, it would taint its reputation. Microsoft was concerned that “do we want the Xbox 360 to be seen as having the flavor of a weapon? Do we want Mom and Dad knowing that their kid is buying the same game console as the military trains the SEALs and Rangers on?” Smith told me during an interview for Training & Simulation Journal.
The above are Almost valid reasons until you think about the fact it’s the US Army asking for a tool that could help soldiers *not* die on the battlefield. Microsoft PR of course claimed to have absolutely no knowledge of the incident. All in all, if the account by Roger Smith is in fact 100% correct (and there isn’t any real reason to doubt him), I can guarantee that Microsoft’s PR is going to be dealing with a PR shit storm.
To be fair, Microsoft’s side of the story followed soon after:
has multiple avenues to pursue building simulations. They can team up with a professional Xbox 360 publisher and development studio that have the expertise to assist them with development of a complex simulation. In fact, the Army has successfully done this in the past by working with publishers such as Ubisoft (’America’s Army’) and THQ (’Full Spectrum Warrior’). Or, if the Army prefers to build a simulation without engaging game development professionals, Microsoft has also enabled independent developers to create games for the Xbox 360 using the XNA Game Studio development tools, and deploy and play them on retail Xbox 360 consoles using an XNA Premium Creator’s Club membership.
As you can see, Microsoft skirted around the million dollar question: Did they block the military from buying up a large quantity of Xbox 360s?
Unfortunately for Microsoft, the certain truckload of cash they’d have made on a mass Army purchase of Xbox’s is now “of little interest” to Smith and the Army in general anymore. Though Smith does mention that if Microsoft were to ever broach the subject again, he’d be more than willing to reopen talks.
Disappointed in Microsoft’s stance? Do you think it was all because of the money?
Gizmodo > DangerRoom
- December 17, 2009 5:49 pm
Not more than 8-10 hours ago we highlighted a developing story concerning the US Military’s use of unencrypted feeds on unmanned drones. Wouldn’t you know it, the situation is a bit hairier and scarier than that. Unfortunately for us, the US has built the satellite technology used in the current crop of unencrypted drones to all corners of the militaries various aircraft. Oh god. And now a quote from Wired after conversation between them and US Military officials:
Since then, nearly every airplane in the American fleet – from F-16 and F/A-18 fighters to A-10 attack planes to Harrier jump jets to B-1B bombers has been outfitted with equipment that lets them transmit to ROVERs. Thousands of ROVER terminals have been distributed to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq…
Hmm, big oversight don’t you think? The fact that our entire fleet of aircraft is now easily circumvented with a satellite dish and some software costing us 1/2 an Xbox 360 game is slightly unsettling. Now I’m curious how they plan on fixing this problem. Will they have to rebuild nearly every aircraft and tool using the flawed technology or is it as simple as a software/protocol change? Let’s hope for the former shall we…
Wired
If you just so happen to live in India and were looking forward to the December 7th deadline for 3G spectrum auctions not because you cared at all about the auction but were more excited what it was going to bring, you’re going to go to bed a sad camper tonight. A Raja, India’s telecom minister has publicly announced that they will in fact miss the December deadline. If you’re looking for someone to blame, point your fingers at the DoT. They were supposed release documents pertaining to the whole 3G shebang, auction included, that detailed how everything was to go down by September 29th. As you can guess, they didn’t. Because of this late timing and move to “rush” this auction along, the military whom occupies certain airwaves to be auctioned is taking their sweet time vacating the allotted airwaves meaning you, the consumer, get screwed.
I guess if you want to salvage some good news from this you can take comfort in knowing that the delay shouldn’t last more than two months. But then again AT&T was supposed to release U.S. iPhone MMS in “late summer” and Sony was supposed to offer PSP Go users a UMD trade-in program for digital downloads. Ya, those worked out really well…
Still, we have to be optimistic.
Cellular-News > Economic Times
Image Source
- September 11, 2009 5:38 am
While I’m not too much of a car guy, there is auto tech that does pique my interest from time to time. A perfect example of this interest piquing can be seen in this latest product Uncle Sam is testing: Airless Tires. While such contraptions aren’t new as they have been built before (moon lander used airless tires), actual usable products here on planet earth for an actual car application aren’t too common. However, this latest prototype the military is giving a beat down to will hopefully make it’s way to the civilian market soon. Just from the looks alone, I’d be willing to sign half my life to the undertaker just to rock these on my car. But looks aren’t this tires only bread and butter. According to the manufacturer, Resilient Technologies, the tire is able to keep on rollin’ with as much as 30% of the honeycomb destroyed — a useful feature when running over a roadside bomb running from insurgent. Though for us more slower paced kid toting people, we’ll have to deal more with potholes, animals, and whatever else wonders into the road.
If you’re into the whole auto arena, this isn’t the first airless tire to come across your radar. Michelin has been working on their own airless tire called the “Tweel” since 2005. The difference is of course the physical appearance and the fact that this is more geared towards consumers. Read: looks a tad more comfortable to drive on and probably is… So pick your poison. The heavy duty rugged as all get out military spec airless tire or the soft as a baby bunnies backside edition. Leave it below.
Admit it. You’re getting giddy over tires…
Source: Dvice, Make Zine, Scientific American
