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iPod takes bullet for soldier
Kevin Garrad of the 3rd Infantry Division looks to have gotten a little assistance from an unexpected source while on a street patrol in Iraq recently, when the iPod in his pocket got in the path of a bullet fired at close range, slowing it down enough that it didn't pierce his body armor. As if that wasn't a rare enough occurrence, as you can see above, the iPod in question was an HP iPod -- imagine the odds! [Via Digg]
UK scientists testing air-conditioned vests for military use
Air-conditioned vests have certainly graced the bodies of armed men and women before, but an elusive new breed is being tested in the multi-million dollar Spinnaker Building at the University of Portsmouth to ensure that it'll keep soldiers cool from the brutal conditions in Iraq. Scientists at the school weren't at will to disclose all the nitty gritty details about the classified gear, but we do know that these bad boys utilize "a combination of air, liquid, and new applications of old technologies such as converting paraffin wax into liquid in chambers within the vests to absorb heat from the body." The gist of the testing is to create a suit that actually improves one's ability to make sound judgments while in the field and under extreme conditions, and it was also mentioned that a mysterious US defense contractor is hoping to tweak these and have 'em out "within one to two years." Now, if only these things were available en masse for our poor laps, we'd really be in business.[Via Gizmag]
See where MGS soldiers are hiding
As you can see from the map above, Hideo Kojima's plan to launch a secret army in Japan is working quite well. A new service uses Google Maps to show you the points of interest you'll want to hit in order to recruit new characters via Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops' unique and innovative GPS mode. Although an English language version of this service is supposedly "coming soon," I wouldn't be surprised if it never saw the light of day: certainly, it would be a far more demanding undertaking to travel across the entirity of America in order to unlock as many characters as possible.Of course, the true Metal Gear fans have already started their cross-country trek.[Via Pocket Gamer]See also:Unlock all of MGS:PO's unique characters
Tactile display could convey signals on soldiers' backs
Although glitzy, stat-filled jerseys are certainly sufficient ways to get information off your chest (ahem), a new vibrating vest could give "body language" an entirely new meaning. Joining the air-conditioned and insulating renditions, this snazzy vest features a "tactile display" on the back, which is created by 16 small vibrating motors that are connected to an internal wireless control unit. The jacket "writes symbols and messages on its wearer's back," and while the actual writing resembles Braille more than text, it can supposedly be used to "send important commands to soldiers or firefighters, warning them of imminent danger when ordinary radios cannot be used." Commands are beamed to the vests via a wirelessly-enabled computer, and can stealthily inform platoons to stop, look in a specific direction, run, or slow down. The US Army is partially funding the research, as it hopes to investigate different ways to communicate when hand signals and / or radio transmissions aren't effective. During initial testing, results have shown nearly flawless interpretation by participants, and while we're not exactly sure when we can expect rumble-equipped gear to grace our armed forces, the problem of "excess noise from the motors" has to be quelled before hitting the battlefield.[Via BoingBoing]
Super Star Soldier now available on Virtual Console
Well, Nintendo sort of promised us Virtual Console updates on Mondays, and no, they technically didn't lie. Late last night, Nintendo added a single new game, Super Star Soldier (of TurboGrafx-16 fame), available for 600 points. For those of you who aren't familiar with the title (you know ... everyone), Super Star Soldier is a vertically scrolling arcade shooter, resplendent with eight whole stages and seven whole bosses. There are even two-minute and five-minute time attack modes! Golly!Cynicism aside, those old 2-D shooters are fan favorites, and may add a lovely bit of retro to your gaming life. Anyone excited? Or just pissed that Nintendo is on its merry way to breaking its ten-game-a-month promise?
Verathon's war-tested GlideScope Ranger video laryngoscope
If you've ever played a round of Team Fortress as a medic, you know how rough it is out there on the battlefield, and having cutting-edge medical gear makes everyone's life a lot easier. Verathon is looking to assist medically trained soldiers in the field handle throat injuries with its GlideScope Ranger, which enables easy viewing of the endotracheal tube, larynx, and vocal cords. The video laryngoscope provides a "clear, real time view of a patient's airway for fast intubations in military / emergency settings," and boasts a "Cormack-Lehane grade I or II view 99 percent of the time." Able to withstand the most extreme conditions, this portable device touts an "easy learning curve," so the operator should have no trouble seeing the less-than-pleasant issue(s) on the "non-glare monitor." The unit also sports an anti-fogging camera, "50 to 60 degree viewing angle" (so the whole platoon can get an eyeful), and the ability to perform 20 intubations on a single battery charge. Unsurprisingly, the GlideScope Ranger was crafted by a Vietnam veteran, and while we aren't sure if these will be made available to us common citizens, you might get lucky at your local PX.[Via MedGadget]
Fallen soldier remembered for Halo ownage
U.S. Army Pfc. Nicholas Madaras was killed last week in Baqubah, Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated while he stood outside his Humvee. Madaras was only 19.In a series of remembrances published by The Advocate, Pfc. William Tyrrell reflected on Madaras' Halo skills: "I used to always love to play Halo, the video game, with him because he was the best and he always beat me. And I would tell him that one day I would beat him and he would just laugh and say, 'OK.'"Madaras was looking forward to pursuing a career in the medical field after his tour of duty, which was scheduled to end October 21. A public memorial service at Our Lady of Fatima in Wilton, CT is being planned for the coming days.
