Slashdot Mirror
Blimps Monitor Crowds At Sporting Events
Death Metal tips news about how defense contractor Raytheon is adapting military-style surveillance packages for use aboard blimps at public events like the Indy 500. "Until recently, Raytheon's eye-in-the-sky technology was used in Afghanistan and Iraq to guard American military bases, working as airborne guards against any oncoming desert threat. Using infrared sensors and a map overlay not unlike Google Earth, the technology scans a large area, setting important landmarks (say, the perimeter of a military base), and constantly relays video clips back to a command center. If a gun fires or a bomb is detonated, the airships can detect the noise and focus the camera — all from a mighty-high 500 feet." Though the technology is expensive, Raytheon is shopping it around to police departments and other organizations that might want to keep an eye on large gatherings of people.
I for one welcome our eye in the sky Big Brother (hey some of us actually like our big brothers) Overlords.
The Long Now Foundation
In Transformers 2, we are faced with the possible annihilation of the human race at the hands of the Decepticons. The scary thing is that these robot/aliens take on forms that make them blend in with our everyday environment. We don't see the threat because the threat is masquerading as part of our normal world.
FYI
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4213214.stm