h a l f b a k e r yWarm and Fussy
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The U.S. Army is currently researching the idea of creating helmets that can automatically pick up short thought command sequences to be relayed from one soldier to another without any visible motion. Ignoring the possibility of false commands being transmitted into the data stream for a minute, another
version of these helmets could be put into production fairly fast. This version would just monitor the brainwaves associated with sleepiness and shout 'WAKE UP SOLDIER' into an earpiece linked to the helmet.
If we didn't want to take the blunt instrument approach, a soldier's musical preferences could be programmed into the helmet. When the helmet sensed the soldier was getting overly nervous it would play some soothing melody; if it sensed they were getting bored or sleepy it would play an uptempo number.
Helmet Research
http://www.time.com...599,1841108,00.html
[longshot9999, Oct 02 2008]
Nod Off Alarm
http://www.nonletha...m/driver-alert.html
[jurist, Oct 03 2008]
[link]
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it's all x-files stuff and v. scary! |
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I'd heard that in 'Nam, earphones were issued which played a different frequency in each ear, 4hz apart. Was supposed to incite alpha waves (or whatever the sleep cycle stuff is). |
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a better idea is to put these into headphones and give them to bored office workers. at least, gunfire, mortar explosion and fear of imminent death helps keep the soldiers awake. oh, and looking at flying toasters comment, probably more useful in the army helping soldiers actually sleep. this would certainly improve their survival ratio. |
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Nod off alarms for drivers have been on the market market for some time [link]. Perhaps the military should look at this for a low cost alternative to a telepathic helmet or jukebox in a hardened hat. |
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The problem with nod off alarams in this case is that they'd go off too late. I want the sentries wide awake in the middle of the night. |
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Soldiers are often given different variants of "speed" to keep them awake when they are in battle. "Shifts" of up to 80 hours are reasonably common. In fact, I have read repeatedly of soldiers going 4 or 5 days without sleep during the trench battles in WWI, apparently without medication. The sounds of shelling kept them awake. |
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I'm unsure what, if anything, would be the benefit of this high tech approach to a low tech problem. |
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