This research sounds interesting:
The US military is funding development of a weapon that delivers a bout of excruciating pain from up to 2 kilometres away. Intended for use against rioters, it is meant to leave victims unharmed.
Overall, you would think this would be taken as a positive development. The military alredy has dozens upon dozens of ways to kill people at ranges from two kilometers to 2,000. I don't see how having a few more options between harsh language and a bullet to the brain could be a bad thing, but what do I know, I'm cranky and run a blog. If you've read the article by now, you have of course discovered that some scientists are up in arms over this research because it could be used for torture. To quote from the article:
John Wood of University College London, UK, an expert in how the brain perceives pain, says the researchers involved in the project should face censure. "It could be used for torture," he says, "the [researchers] must be aware of this."
Well, yes, of course it could. Just about any research on any subject could be used for evil or reprehensible ends. Concievably so could Dr. Wood's own research. I don't suppose we'll see him calling for his own work to be condemned any time soon because it might be misused.
Yes, but when do we get civilian issue disruptors, that's my question. :)
It'll be a while. I imagine the power requirements will require it to be a vehicular mounted system for some time to come.