Life imitates FP cover art

Posted By Joshua Keating Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 1:43 PM Share

We thought the cover image of our March/April "War Issue" -- an iPhone loaded with apps like "instaCOIN"and "DroneWar" --  was a joke, but it turns out not to be that far-fetched. Danger Room's Nathan Hodge reports:

In a discussion yesterday with reporters, Maj. Gen. Keith Walker, director of the Army’s Future Force Integration Directorate at Fort Bliss, Texas, said that around 200 soldiers would receive an “iPhone-like device” with digital apps installed.

Walker said the devices would have “various apps for system maintenance, instruction manuals — that we can all remotely upgrade. Also, we’re working to allow soldiers to have a distributed way of getting feedback to us on the equipment, where they can do Wikipedia-style upgrades to tactics, techniques and procedures, and comments on performance of hardware and software.”

Further down the road, Walker said he could envision tactical applications, like an app with GPS capability that could pinpoint the user’s location, or a digital tool that would allow troops to analyze terrain.

We had a good time coming up with the apps for our phone, so Walker is welcome to get in touch if the army needs ideas. 

EXPLORE:FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE, MILITARY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
 

HIPERSONS

8:00 PM ET

March 3, 2010

When our grandparents and

When our grandparents and parents were kids, it was the military's needs and research that tended to fuel the advancement of day-to-day civilian technology (jet engines = civilian flight and cars, portable heat resistant candy = M&Ms, ARPANET = Internet, GPS, etc). Now, civilian technological advancements are pushing military technology? Curiously awesome. Anyone else have examples where civilian needs pushed military technology in the last 100 years?

 

THE STAFFORD VOICE

11:22 PM ET

March 3, 2010

Despite the fact that the

Despite the fact that the internet was being pioneered by the military and then released for civilian use, its technology has now come full circle for the military.

What the Army is calling 'Apps for the Army' will certainly revolutionize the way the social-media platform is utilized. So, in a way, yes civilian technological advancements are helping push military tech.

See for yourself!
http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/03/01/35148-g-6-launches-apps-for-the-army-challenge/index.html?ref=home-ata71-img

 

ETHICALCREDITREPAIR

12:19 AM ET

March 4, 2010

That was an old story but let

That was an old story but let me say something about that when my grandparents at my age their was a lot of military who involve with the technologies enhancement. They were such a good catch...

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