Reuters reports that the high crime in South Africa combined with an inventive class has produced some revolutionary security-based technology. Some of these are impractical (like the flame throwing car) or just variation on a theme (computers that notify the owner and “squawk’ with a car-alarm like alert when stolen), but one could be very useful especially in the U.S.
With a computer circuit board concealed in the butt and a revolutionary laser firing mechanism instead of the traditional hammer, the “South African Intelligent Firearm” would not look out of place on the set of a science fiction movie.
The really clever bit is in the handle, which reads the user’s thumb print so only the rightful owner can fire it.
And when it shoots, a camera takes a digital photo of the target, noting the time and the date — just in case the user ends up in court having to justify opening fire.
Only people in this desperate situation could override conventional wisdom (that
thumb print ID’s would be a problem) and create/test something that is admittedly needed.
Posted by scottm at 05:48 PM