Archive | Technology | Armed with Science

BioZen, The Biofeedback Mobile App

Filed under Technology by jtozer on February 13, 2013 at 7:28 am {no comments}

Times Square BIOZEN ad

The Department of Defense has released a smart phone mobile application to help service members use the therapeutic benefits of biofeedback.

BioZen, a mobile app from the Defense Department’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology, known as T2, uses wireless sensors to show the user their physical level of relaxation.

It is the first portable, low-cost method for clinicians and patients to use biofeedback in and out of the clinic.

“Mastering biofeedback successfully is difficult and frustrating for many people,” said Dr. David Cooper, T2 psychologist.

“This app takes many of the large medical sensors found in a clinic and puts them in the hands of anyone with a smart phone. BioZen makes it easier for anyone to get started with biofeedback.”

BioZen shows real-time data from multiple body sensors including electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), respiratory rate, and skin temperature. Each sensor sends a separate signal to the phone so users can see how their body is responding to their behavior.

(more…)

Lab Testing Seeks Data on Modified Gunner Protection Design

Filed under Technology by jtozer on February 8, 2013 at 9:45 am {no comments}

The best way to evaluate the effectiveness of a product is to put it in the hands of the user, obtain feedback, and make adjustments accordingly.

With a newly developed Virtual Environment Test Bed scientists and engineers at the Target Behavioral Research Laboratory at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., can record how soldiers react and perform inside a newly modified Objective Gunner Protection Kit. (Photo by Todd Mozes)

With a newly developed Virtual Environment Test Bed, or VETB, scientists and engineers at the Target Behavioral Research Laboratory at Picatinny Arsenal can record how soldiers react and perform inside a newly modified Objective Gunner Protection Kit, or OGPK.

The OGPK is an armored turret that provides much-needed protection for tactical vehicle gunners in combat situations. Soldiers voted the OGPK as one of the Army‘s top 10 Greatest Inventions in 2007, the year it was first fielded.

“The purpose of testing the OGPK in a virtual test bed is to evaluate gunner performance in various threat scenarios,” said Thomas Kiel, chief, Turret Engineering and Force Protection in the Systems Engineering Directorate, part of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, known as ARDEC.

A customized version of the “America’s Army” gaming environment was integrated with the actual OGPK hardware and weapon system to provide a more realistic simulation.

(more…)

ONR Program Uses Cell Phones to Fight Epidemics

Filed under Life Sciences, Technology by jtozer on February 3, 2013 at 7:34 am {no comments}

Take that, influenza virus! (Graphic from the CDC)

A program managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to get ahead of epidemic outbreaks has led to the deployment of new healthcare monitoring and information collection technology in South America and Africa.

Building off of an original project funded by ONR, researchers are collecting data through a text message-based system set up to take advantage of widespread access to handheld devices in Colombia and Zambia.

Through the collection of pictures, videos, texts and geo-location information from cell phones in a given population, researchers can perform complex data analysis and begin to track and map a fluid situation such as an earthquake or the spread of disease.

In Sailing Directions meant to guide the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert has called on the service to employ resources in a variety of situations.

“The U.S. military continues to take on a bigger role in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations around the globe,” said Cmdr. Joseph Cohn, program officer in ONR’s Warfighter Performance Department.

“Real-time epidemiological data allows military decision-makers to be medically prepared and, more locally, provide quicker responses to potential disease outbreaks in close quarters common to military facilities like ships.”

(more…)

Science Fiction: The Aperture For Science Future

Filed under Featured, Space, Technology by jtozer on February 1, 2013 at 7:06 am {no comments}

We’ve been talking a lot about the future lately.

Which makes sense. The future is kind of an “in thing” when it comes to science.

But for as much as I love my gaming technology and directed energy weapons, there is one part of the future of the force that I haven’t talked about extensively: space.

If this is the future of the force then we need to talk about a Red Shirt sustainability plan. Or maybe the possibility of seat belts.

Now I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’m going to go off on a tangent about Star Fleet or the Twelve Colonies or the Browncoats and we’ll lose all semblance of scientific practicality by the time I’m done.

Well thanks for the vote of confidence <sarcasm>, but it turns out that the possibility of a future space force isn’t as fanciful as you might think.

Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Garretson is the Division Chief for Air Force Irregular Warfare Strategy, Plans and Policy. That title doesn’t exactly scream “space expert”, but once upon a time (meaning previously), he was the Chief of Future Science and Technology Exploration for Air Force Strategic Planning.

Yeah, how’s that for applicable practicality, hmm?

Anyway, one of Lt. Col. Garretson’s jobs when he was the Chief of Future Science and Technology was to write papers about various things that should be considered when thinking about the future of the force. Especially when space is involved.

(more…)

The Army Gets A Digital Upgrade

Filed under Technology by jtozer on January 31, 2013 at 7:54 am {no comments}

Soldiers and other Army personnel get upgrades in security and collaboration through a new joint enterprise license agreement, along with access to Microsoft Office applications for home use. (U.S. Army photo)

The Army, along with the Air Force and Defense Information Systems Agency, have access to the newest versions of Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office 2013, SharePoint 2013 and Windows 8, under a $617 million joint enterprise license agreed to in December.

The deal, led by the Army Contracting Command in collaboration with the Army, Air Force, and Defense Information Systems Agency, known as DISA, is the best pricing DOD has received to date for Microsoft desktop and server software licenses, according to David DeVries, the DOD deputy chief Information Officer, or CIO.

Savings could run into tens of millions over the course of several years through lower license and software assurance costs, officials said.

Microsoft software assurance benefits also support e-Learning, planning services, TechNet subscription services, training vouchers and the home use program.

“SharePoint Enterprise Client Access Licenses are a key upgrade to the suite of Microsoft products,” said Mike Krieger, Army deputy CIO/G-6. The Enterprise Client Access License, or CAL, includes the already in-use Standard CAL (providing a platform to share work, collaborate, and organize projects) plus more capabilities such as dashboards, chart web parts and advanced sorting.

(more…)

Air Force Space Command to Bolster Cyber Force

Filed under Featured, Technology by jtozer on January 28, 2013 at 11:50 am {no comments}

The Air Force Space Command expects to be directed to add 1,000 new people, mainly civilians, to its base of about 6,000 cyber professionals for the 2014 fiscal year.

Left to Right: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joel Melendez, Naval Network Warfare Command information systems analysis, Air Force Staff Sgt. Rogerick Montgomery, U.S. Cyber Command network analysis, and Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Harding, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade cyber systems analysis, at an exercise during Cyber Flag 13-1, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Lancaster)

Speaking with reporters at a meeting of the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Gen. William L. Shelton said direction for the hires would come from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, fueled by the U.S. Cyber Command.

“Cyber Command is in the midst of determining how they are going to operate across all the geographic combatant commands as well as internal to the United States,” Shelton said, “and it looks like we will be tapped for well over 1,000 additional people into the cyber business, so you can see [cyber] is starting to take root.”

If budget restrictions allow the increase in personnel, they will be hired over two years beginning in fiscal 2014, and 70 percent to 80 percent will be civilians “if it turns out like we think it’s going to turn out,” the general said.

This will represent about a 15 percent increase over 6,000 cyber professionals working today for the 24th Air Force, he added, noting that the 24th Air Force is the numbered Air Force that works under Air Force Space Command.

A numbered Air Force is a tactical Air Force organization that is subordinate to a major command and has assigned to it operational units like wings, squadrons and groups.

(more…)

Everybody Loves Directed Energy

Filed under Featured, Technology by jtozer on January 25, 2013 at 10:20 am {no comments}

Everybody loves ray guns, right?

I mean, what’s not to love? They’re so useful and precise and impressive. And shiny.

They can also be used in a variety of different applications, and the government is not immune to their seductive electromagnetic radiation ways.

So just what is the military doing with Directed Energy these days, anyway?

Oh I’m so glad you asked.

There are three classes of directed energy weapons (some might call these lasers, and then some would be told that they’re wrong).

The first one is known as the Active Denial System.

The active denial technology really stands out. (picture from defense.gov)

Many people have already heard about this non-lethal millimeter wave technology –affectionately referred to as a deterrence laser – that was considered for military use. The Active Denial System was designed to generate an intense sensation strong enough to stop a marauding crowd of ne’er-do-wells in their nefarious tracks without ever actually harming them. So it’s basically like a giant beam of don’t-do-that energy.

For people like Spencer Ackerman, however, that message is a little more…distinct.

(more…)

GG No Re – Gaming In The Military

Filed under Featured, Technology by jtozer on January 22, 2013 at 7:18 am {no comments}

In the military, the word “training” can mean a lot of different things.

Remember troops! Look out for your battle buddy! Remember to reload! Respawn as quickly possible! Now let’s capture that flag, hooah? (Picture from nytimes.com)

It could mean running around and whooping while simultaneously learning the value of cold water and shade.

It could mean sitting in a classroom and playing the Stay Awake Game (incidentally, I’m not so great at this game).

Sometimes that means you’re going out into the field. Maybe in Korea. During torrential rain season. To learn what it’s like to be caked in mud for days on end (you know, for example).

And sometimes – sometimes – it means something many service members already do in their spare time anyway; video games. Yes that’s right. The military is using video games and simulations as a tool to train and teach service members.

I’ll just…let that sink in for a moment there.

(more…)