03-07-2008, 07:53 AM
I've participated in discussion about this thing on medieval-themed forums due to the very real possibility that a suit of armor will likely stop this sucker cold. Hell, it's possible that window screens or a windshield could shield you from the microwaves. It wouldn't take all that much preparation on part of the adversary to effect some form of countermeasure, be it shield made from half a metal garbage can, or a smokescreen (would smoke sufficiently absorb or scatter the microwaves?)
In short, this appears to be a very expensive and less effective alternative to tear gas or water cannons, and as such its development primarily as a crowd control system is suspect.
But, as the preliminary research and development towards more powerful directed energy weaponsâ that seems the more cruelly reasonable motivation.
I'd say it was easier to get funds by marketing the thing as a clean riot-control device rather than considering it the potential stepping-stone towards a battlefield pulse-cannon.
In short, this appears to be a very expensive and less effective alternative to tear gas or water cannons, and as such its development primarily as a crowd control system is suspect.
But, as the preliminary research and development towards more powerful directed energy weaponsâ that seems the more cruelly reasonable motivation.
I'd say it was easier to get funds by marketing the thing as a clean riot-control device rather than considering it the potential stepping-stone towards a battlefield pulse-cannon.
Political Correctness is the idea that you can foster tolerance in a diverse world through the intolerance of anything that strays from a clinical standard.