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Sniping Could Be the Next Killer iPod App

Posted by samzenpus on from the pull-up-your-kill-list dept.

An anonymous Coward writes "Knights Armament Corp. who supply sniper rifles to the US military have developed a iPod Touch mounting system and software for the US Army M110 sniper rifle system. The use of off the shelf hardware no doubt cut costs and allowed rapid development of this system." If it automatically played a theme song after every head shot, this would be the coolest rifle accessory ever.

16 of 461 comments (clear)

  1. Out of line by ktappe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If it automatically played a theme song after every head shot, this would be the coolest rifle accessory ever.

    Am I the only one who found this attempt at humor disturbing and objectionable?

    (And yes, I know my comment will get me modded down, but I strongly doubt I'm alone in thinking a real life killing is quite different from killing in an FPS.)

    --
    "We can categorically state we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." - UK military spokesman, July 2007
    1. Re:Out of line by red_blue_yellow · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I also found it disturbing. The death of a human should not be treated so ... disgustingly. Somebody needs to do something about Samzenpus and the garbage he puts out.

      --
      A neutral communications medium is essential. It is the basis of science, by which humankind should decide what is true.
    2. Re:Out of line by halivar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm firmly convinced that 90% of all offenses taken spring from a deep-seated human desire for martyrdom and it's accompanying ego-expansion. Somehow, in the state of having been offended, we believe we can attain the deeply satisfying, self-aggrandizing self-righteousness of an unjustly oppressed person.

      IOW, you're just looking for stuff to piss you off because you like it. Suck it up, princess.

    3. Re:Out of line by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Even though I'm just a lowly AC, I'll concur as well. I don't want to say killing is never necessary (although I don't want to say it sometimes is, either), but NO MATTER whether it is, it's always a serious thing, and the death of any person is a sad occurrence and should never be taken lightly.

    4. Re:Out of line by thethibs · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wow! An orgy of self-rightious political correctness. Can I play too?

      --
      I'm a Programmer. That's one level above Software Engineer and one level below Engineer.
    5. Re:Out of line by LanMan04 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      (And yes, I know my comment will get me modded down, but I strongly doubt I'm alone in thinking a real life killing is quite different from killing in an FPS.)

      90% of people on this board have experience with making virtual headshots. Real headshots, >1%. It's just what we know.

      --
      With the first link, the chain is forged.
    6. Re:Out of line by halivar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Of course. That's why I said 90%, not 100%. But I'll tell you this: the things that offend me are all actions, not words.

    7. Re:Out of line by PitaBred · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Naah. There are a number of people who make so many other people's lives so miserable that their deaths should be celebrated. For example, Kim Jong Il, Stalin, Hitler, and so on. There are numerous smaller warlords and tribal leaders who also deserve such treatment.

      Life is not sacred. If you use yours to deny other people rights, livelihoods or even their own lives simply for existing, you deserve to lose yours.

      --
      My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
    8. Re:Out of line by DaveAtFraud · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Center-of-mass hits are much more reliable than head shots.

      Yeah, but a head shot with a "pink cloud" is a confirmed kill. If the target is worth sending a sniper and you only get one shot, go for the sure thing.

      Cheers,
      Dave

      --
      They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
      Ben
    9. Re:Out of line by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The death of a human should not be treated so ... disgustingly.

      Aside from your total misapplication of the word "disgustingly" I'm not really clear on what absolute metric you are using to determine what should or should not happen.

      I'm glad that your moral compass is here to guide us all.

      Somebody needs to do something about Samzenpus and the garbage he puts out.

      Won't somebody think of the children?

      Your comment sickens me. Literally, as in, made me nauseous.

      "Somebody needs to do something" about your smug sense of moral superiority.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. On first glance at the title.. by LordByronStyrofoam · · Score: 4, Insightful

    .. I thought it would be an article about sniping eBay bids at the last second from my iPod.

    --
    Slashdot's name? When my compiler sees /. it generates a warning about a badly formed comment.
  3. Illumination? by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because what every sniper needs is to have his face lit up when he's trying to remain hidden.

    1. Re:Illumination? by Chemisor · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you are close enough for the enemy to see your face, you need neither the sniper rifle, nor complex distance calculations.

    2. Re:Illumination? by mea37 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Depends on context.

      Your target may not be the only person in the area hostile to you.

      You may not know all of their locations.

      You would probably prefer that none of them know your location.

  4. Re:anyone who has ever taken a human life by agrounds · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'd consider them blessed that they don't know how it feels afterward, or have the sleepless nights that come with it, or the hot ball of sour sickness that tightens in your gut every time you come under fire.

    They may be ignorant, but it is not a failing, just the naivete of youth and living a privileged existence even if it is in very bad taste. In a better world, no one would have to know what it is like.

  5. Re:anyone who has ever taken a human life by Broken+scope · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There are some exceedingly grim jobs in the military.

    Some folks never talk about it.
    Some folks talk about it.
    Some folks become very detached about what they do.
    Some folks develop a grim/dark sense of humor.

    Don't call someone a cretin or a sociopath because of their coping mechanism. It doesn't mean they enjoy it.

    --
    You mad