The only problem with that is costs. Not that defense is ever cheap, but you could very quickly end up with single-source situations and have to pay whatever is asked. At least with outside contractors, you can (in theory) get some competition.
The other issue is that the military is no longer the source of most technological advances. Commercial (and university) researchers have provided most of those for at least the last 50 years.
That's certainly a point, but if you watch the video at the top of the page, the mosquitoes are as good as dead in about 4-5 wing beats. According to this hastily gathered source, mosquito wings beat anywhere from 250 to 1000 Hz. We're talking single digit milliseconds to cook these bugs. Wiki puts their flight speed at around 1-2 km/hr.
If we accept an estimate of 10 ms to cook a bug, and a 2 km/hr flight speed, a mosquito could move as much as 5 mm (or one third of its body length) in the time it takes to zap it.
So yes, tracking could be an issue. But I can't see it being any trouble at all once you've targeted the thing.
First of all, it is possible to secure an OS. Secondly, It seems that people are more than eager to fill their phones up with crap. How many of those "Text ABC to 123 for free ringtonz!!!1" and other such ads do we see? You think they're 100% legit?
And then there's the "low-quality" games people hate so much. Like Bejeweled, Solitaire, etc. Maybe people are just holding out for Crysis or DNF so they can have a quality gaming experience while they're waiting in line...
Yeah. DARPA. I hear tell that back in the sixties they were working on some fool notion to make adding machines talk to each other. They're still working on it, I think... calling it antler-nuts or rented-nits, or something like that... Oh, INTERNET, I think that was it. I mean, seriously, can you imagine such a waste of money?!
I should have RTFS more carefully. I saw the "30 to 100m" and conflated that with the casualty range.
I tried to post a redaction, but/. was playing its "It has been X minutes since you posted successfully" game and I had to get to class.
Slashdot Mirror
My pipe dreams always seem to involve a lot of turtles and mushrooms, though. Not sure what it all means.
And don't forget next-gen flash webpages.
Unless you're talking about Steve Jobs...
Oh well, I didn't like that karma anyway.
The only problem with that is costs. Not that defense is ever cheap, but you could very quickly end up with single-source situations and have to pay whatever is asked. At least with outside contractors, you can (in theory) get some competition.
The other issue is that the military is no longer the source of most technological advances. Commercial (and university) researchers have provided most of those for at least the last 50 years.
Naw, dude. They're totally weak against sledgehammers, big rocks, etc.
Wait, what's that? You want to destroy them while they're flying? Well that's something else entirely.
Well I'm pretty complex... I suppose it could work :-)
That's certainly a point, but if you watch the video at the top of the page, the mosquitoes are as good as dead in about 4-5 wing beats. According to this hastily gathered source, mosquito wings beat anywhere from 250 to 1000 Hz. We're talking single digit milliseconds to cook these bugs. Wiki puts their flight speed at around 1-2 km/hr.
If we accept an estimate of 10 ms to cook a bug, and a 2 km/hr flight speed, a mosquito could move as much as 5 mm (or one third of its body length) in the time it takes to zap it.
So yes, tracking could be an issue. But I can't see it being any trouble at all once you've targeted the thing.
Only if mosquitoes have started moving faster than light all of a sudden.
PUNCH the keys, for God's sake!
My apologies. For some reason that quote didn't register.
Good on ya, mate.
Wow, seriously?
First of all, it is possible to secure an OS. Secondly, It seems that people are more than eager to fill their phones up with crap. How many of those "Text ABC to 123 for free ringtonz!!!1" and other such ads do we see? You think they're 100% legit?
And then there's the "low-quality" games people hate so much. Like Bejeweled, Solitaire, etc. Maybe people are just holding out for Crysis or DNF so they can have a quality gaming experience while they're waiting in line...
Should I take that to mean that you change it every six months?
I'm sure he gave them back...
Unless I am mistaken, compare:
"Sleep your way to whiter teeth -- Date a dentist."
All together, now:
WHOOSH!
Yeah. DARPA. I hear tell that back in the sixties they were working on some fool notion to make adding machines talk to each other. They're still working on it, I think... calling it antler-nuts or rented-nits, or something like that... Oh, INTERNET, I think that was it. I mean, seriously, can you imagine such a waste of money?!
No, you insensitive clod! They need to refinance their mortgages!
144,000?
Yeah.
/. was playing its "It has been X minutes since you posted successfully" game and I had to get to class.
I should have RTFS more carefully. I saw the "30 to 100m" and conflated that with the casualty range.
I tried to post a redaction, but
I'll just get my coat...
That's meters, cap'n. For the effect, I'd say it is a little more devastating than a grenade, though less practical (for now).
Just sayin'
Parent != Troll
I always wondered what that was for...
Okay, I see that now. That should teach me to not try logic analysis at 0400.
And thanks to the other posters below who also corrected me.