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ExamForce :: Article Archive :: Newsletter Article
 The Cert Times: IT Edition Article Archive
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| Stunning Development: My Newsworthy Tech Product of the Year (B1N@RY N@T10N (A.J. Axline)) |
I don't have to wait until the end of the year to make my official choice for the most newsworthy technology product of 2007. And no, it's not the iPhone. It's not Leopard, the iPod Touch, Windows Vista, or the Zune. It isn't even a recent product; it was designed back in the late 1960's, and the name of one of it's most prolific models is an acronym inspired by a fictional character who first appeared in children's literature almost a century ago.
My choice for the most newsworthy technology product of 2007 is the electroshock weapon, currently sold in varieties such as the shock baton, the stun gun, and under the brand name TASER, which stands for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle", so named for the fictional boy inventor and adventurer Tom Swift. I don't recall ever reading the story "Tom Swift and the Urine-Soaked Trousers" as a boy, so I'm not entirely sure that the character's creator would fully appreciate Tom's name being repurposed as part of an acronym for a device that causes excruciating pain, involuntary muscle contractions, and at least 245 deaths as documented by global human rights group Amnesty International.
The electroshock weapon has become the modus operandi for law-enforcement agencies across the world who have embraced the policy of compliance through pain. The number of recorded incidents involving cops using EWs seems to be growing exponentially; YouTube could create a 24-7 all-taser, all-the-time channel, and have material for the entire next calendar year.
Now, electroshock weapon advocates argue that EWs give law enforcement officers a "non-lethal" method of subduing suspects that avoids the use of firearms or physical attacks with batons. I must admit, I'm a little confused by the use of the term "non-lethal" here. If you use an item on someone (using it in its designed manner, that is) and they die as a result of you using said item, it seems to me that you shouldn't be able to refer to that item as "non-lethal" anymore. I don't have any qualms against referring to it as "mostly non-lethal", or "sometimes fatal", or even "has a statistically small but still significant chance of being lethal."
Yes, I know: I'm picky about language. Kind of like when "child safe" toys contain so much lead that Superman can't see through them. That bothers me. I view "non-lethal" in the same way I view "non-pregnant"... not a lot of wiggle room in either claim. No wiggling involved at all in the latter claim, really.
Opponents of EWs claim that the weapons are being used too quickly and too frequently as a quick-fix to any confrontational situation. Based on the rash of recent incidents, it must be said that law enforcement officers and private security employees appear to be implementing tasers irresponsibly, if not punitively. Again, compliance through pain appears to be the current policy of North American law enforcement agencies.
If the disconcerting proliferation of EW-related injuries and deaths has you feeling a little uncomfortable, there is some good news just around the corner. The U.S. military is currently busy as beavers perfecting a "Pain Beam" weapon, also known by the cheery term "active-denial technology." According to howstuffworks.com, the active-denial system weapon "...is designed to transmit a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy to heat the skin without causing any permanent damage." Don't think of it as a crowd control device; think of it as bonus tanning minutes while you're demonstrating in front of the White House.
The "Pain Beam" is also being touted as a "non-lethal" weapon. And, since there seems to be no difference between armed forces and hired mercenary armies these days, you should see a tricked-out "Pain Beam" Humvee cruising down your street in time to win the 2009 newsworthy tech product of the year honors.
But for this year, I tip my cap to the humble battery-powered electroshock weapon. Put it on your Christmas list. I went to the TASER International home page, and found a banner ad with the following slogan:
"What does Santa bring you when you have been good, but the world is getting bad?"
Damn straight. The TASER C2 model comes in four designer colors; the lady in your life will love the Metallic Pink! The TASER site sells t-shirts and ball caps too. Technically non-lethal... but if they're made in China, you may want to check the lead content on the ink.
A.J. Axline is the webmaster of thechaosjester.com, and once stuck a 9-volt battery on his tongue. Wow. Talk about pain...
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Posted by
nam on 28/11/2007 09:58 |
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