Archive | Technology | Armed with Science

Focus on the Future

Filed under Technology, Videos by jtozer on February 24, 2013 at 7:09 am {no comments}

This video focuses specifically on AFOSR‘s investment in six basic research areas that have the potential to create foundations for new disruptive technologies and solve formerly unsolvable problems for the Department of Defense.

Each of the disruptive technologies discussed will be covered in more detail in follow-on video clips. Join the Air Force Office of Scientific Research throughout 2013 as they highlight the world-class researchers tackling these difficult topics.

Video provided by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research YouTube Channel

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The Phoenix Program

Filed under Space, STEM, Technology, Videos by jtozer on February 22, 2013 at 7:21 am {no comments}

The goal of the Phoenix program is to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost.

Phoenix seeks to demonstrate around-the-clock, globally persistent communication capability for warfighters more economically, by robotically removing and re-using GEO-based space apertures and antennas from de-commissioned satellites in the graveyard or disposal orbit.

This video illustrates DARPA‘s Phoenix program and some of the technical progress that has been made since it began in July 2012. As performers demonstrate the progress of their work in a lab, an artist’s simulation of a fully-realized Phoenix demonstration scenario runs in the background to help illustrate how the technology may be applied.

Video provided by DARPAtv, the DARPA YouTube channel

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Smart Phone Charging Increases Cyber Threat

Filed under Cyber Security, Technology by jtozer on February 21, 2013 at 7:43 am {no comments}

Smart phone owners with access to government computers in South Korea have rapidly become the number one group of cyber security violators at Yongsan Garrison, South Korea. (Photo by Capt. James Williams III, NETCOM)

Smart phone owners with access to government computers in South Korea have rapidly become the number one group of cyber security violators in the country.

Over a recent seven-day period, the Korea Theater Network Operations Center detected 129 cyber violations caused by smart phones alone. Most of the perpetrators did not realize they had done anything wrong.

“The main problem is that people are using their government computers to charge their phones with USB cables,” said Lt. Col Mary M. Rezendes, 1st Signal Brigade operations officer-in-charge. “They don’t realize that computers recognize their phones as hard drives and that their software puts our network at risk.”

The Army‘s information assurance policies, found in Army Regulation 25-2, prohibit the use of USB devices on its networks. Before being granted access to Army networks, users are required to take cyber security training. They also sign a user agreement that states that they will not use USB devices on government computers.

“Cyber security is at the top of the list of our priorities and we must hold those accountable for violating the Army’s policies,” Rezendes said.

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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.

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Lab Testing Seeks Data on Modified Gunner Protection Design

Filed under STEM, 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.

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ONR Program Uses Cell Phones to Fight Epidemics

Filed under Life Sciences, STEM, 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.”

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Science Fiction: The Aperture For Science Future

Filed under Featured, Space, STEM, 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.

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The Army Gets A Digital Upgrade

Filed under STEM, 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.

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