Thought Helmets for Future Soldiers

September 22 2008 / by John Heylin
Category: Security   Year: 2020   Rating: 14 Hot

The U.S. Army recently awarded a $4 million dollar contract to a company hoping to develop wireless communication through brain waves. The hope is that a device will be integrated into the helmet of all troops in the field, allowing for wordless communication and logging.

But the real question is this: is this technology really needed?

The following is a recording of the mental messages sent between a small group of soldiers deep into enemy territory in Argentina. Recorded May 5th, 2045, 08:34:27

Master Sergeant Thomas Wilkinson, Corporals Dave Rosenberg, Veronica Finney, and Cornelius Aarts.

Aarts: “Christ my legs are chaffing. We’ve been walking for over three hours. When the hell are we gonna stop? Why didn’t I join the Navy, they just sit in boats all day.”

Wilkinson: “May I remind you we can hear what you’re thinking Corn?”

Aarts: “Sorry sir, I’m still trying to figure out how to shut out certain thoughts. This goddamned helmet, I’d carry it by hand if I wasn’t holding my gun.”

Finney: “We can still hear you. Can’t you stop thinking and shut your trap?”

Aarts: “Great, now Finney is picking on me. This day just can’t get any better.”

Finney: “Oh just shut up already. I feel like I’m babysitting. Why did Aarts have to be in my troop? What did I do to deserve this?”

Wilkinson: “Finney, pipe down. Everybody just pipe down. We only have six more miles to go until we can stop, should be there in an hour.”

Rosenberg: “I swear I’m going to frag his ass. What an incompetent bastard.”

Wilkinson: “Anytime you want Rosenberg, anytime you want.”

Aarts: “I want to go home.”

Yep, the amazing world of thoughts are alive and well in modern day warfare. We should all be so lucky.

Image: Joits (Flickr, CC-Attribution)

Is this technology really going to be helpful?

• Yes!

• Ha! No friggin’ way.

• No, but I still want it.

or Show Results

Comment Thread (6 Responses)

1. LOL, are the soldiers in your story also wearing huge Dark Helmets? That’d make it ven better.

   On a serious note, we’re all going to have to deal with shielding our thoughts and emotions from new technologies in the near future – just like Harry Potter was forced to shield his from Voldemort (shout out to fantasy fans on FB). This will come into play quickly when bargaining, speed dating, etc.

   Are we heading toward a new era of transparent honesty?

   Posted by: Alvis Brigis   September 22, 2008
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2. I’ve been wondering for a while if all this “transparency” that technology may be forcing is into might lead us to more honesty and accountability. Maybe.

   But there are plenty of thoughts we have that are only true for the moment we think them. Fleeting moments of frustration and doubt, that if shared with others may be misunderstood or seem more important then they are.

   I think thought helmets and other devices might all just be TMI.

   Posted by: Mielle Sullivan   September 23, 2008
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3. We made thought helmets in Rangoon…..

   Posted by: Accel Rose   September 23, 2008
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4. Funny….(and also probably very real!)

   Posted by: Garry Golden   September 23, 2008
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5. It’s a weird feeling. People say we shouldn’t mind something like this because if we’re innocent then we have nothing to hide. But in reality, there are some things we want to hide even though it’s not illegal.

   Posted by: martymcfly   September 23, 2008
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6. McFly, no one is innocent. ;) If big brother can take care of quantifying that, then surely sousveillance and BCIs will!

   Posted by: Alvis Brigis   September 24, 2008
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