In the face of civil unrest and violent protests uprising in the Middle East, it’s no wonder the U.S. military continually seeks to expand its arsenal of weapons especially when it comes to non-lethal technologies. An Army National Ground Intelligence Center document from 1998 that was acquired by Wired.com and recently declassified under the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act details several ideas under consideration for “weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or material, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment.”
It could be likened to the notes from a brainstorming session between Wile E. Coyote, Heinz Doofenshmirtz, Mojo Jojo, Boris Badenov, and Pinky and the Brain as the military admits to an unlikely source for inspiration in developing non-lethal weapons… cartoons. Specifically the December 16, 1997 Pokémon episode entitled Dennou Senshi Porygon ("Computer Soldier Porygon").
When it premiered in Japan, approximately 700 viewers of the popular cartoon had to be treated for photic seizure induction, or seizures induced by rapidly flashing lights, many of them showing symptoms of epilepsy like vomiting. More were treated after viewing news reports on the seizures. This accidental case study stimulated the concept of an electromagnetic gun that causes targets to have seizures. Basically, seizures would be induced by a specific electrical stimulus triggered through the optic nerve.
People wouldn’t need to have epilepsy to be affected. "The onset of synchony and disruption of muscular control is said to be near instantaneous," the report states, while adding that it would be effective at ranges "up to hundreds of meters" and would affect "100% of the population." The expected recovery time would also be notably less than that of an actual epileptic seizure.
Military tactics have been increasingly subjected to scrutiny as worldwide media comments on their every move. The pressure is on to cut down on the casualty count as the battlefield has changed in the digital age. Soldiers are put in scenarios where tactical decisions can have severe strategic and political repercussions. The declassified document comments, “You don’t win unless CNN says you win.”
Other topics on the non-lethal weapon drawing board included ideas of the chemical, acoustic, kinetic and information technology varieties. From fuel absorbing Jell-O and hand-held point-and-shoot lasers to giant nets and super spam, seemingly no comic blueprint was left unexamined. At the moment, none of these ideas are slated to make it out of the concept stage and into development, but no one can blame the military for exploring all of their non lethal options no matter how farfetched they seem initially. Most people, if asked, would answer, “Poke’-gun, I choose you!” if their other option is being shot with bullets.
Image courtesy of worradmu at FreeDigitalPhotos
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