Government

U.S. Army Plans to Test Apple and Android Apps for Combat

U.S. Army Plans to Test Apple and Android Apps for Combat

In an effort to keep up with the times while improving the efficiency of battle, the U.S. Army will begin desert-testing Android apps, tablets and iPhone technologies. Of course, the devices the military is utilizing will be more advanced and certainly more evolved than a typical smartphone or iPad unit.

If successful, troops may gain access to helpful digital information right on the battlefield, allowing for more efficient military operations. The Wall Street Journal has more:

The Army doesn’t have a plan to give every soldier a smartphone. But Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the Army’s vice chief of staff, recently said that if the devices proved themselves in testing, the service would “buy what we need for who needs it now.”

Many of the applications the Army wants to develop—for instance, the ability to watch full-motion video shot from a drone—can already be done with equipment now in the field. The potential advantage of smartphones and tablets is their lighter weight and ease of use.

The Army is taking a balanced approach when examining how smartphones might better serve soldiers. Aside from practicality, cost is an enormous factor. Additionally, some of the devices they’ll be testing are, in the general market, somewhat fragile. Considering the desert conditions Army personnel often work in, the units will need to be able to withstand challenging environments. And, let’s not forget the need for adequate power and secure lines of communications:

Troops need power to recharge their devices, and so the Army is studying alternative power sources, including solar chargers and micro fuel cells. Equally important, smartphones need enough network bandwidth to relay everything from chat and text messages to streaming video.

Brendan O’Connell, who heads a military-business unit for radio manufacturer Harris Corp., says smartphones are a popular subject in defense-technology circles, but that effective cellular networks for the troops aren’t feasible without a “backbone communications architecture” that is rugged, mobile and secure.

These new developments will certainly lead to some interesting changes on the battlefield. And, from the sound of it, there may be fascinating breakthroughs in terms of alternative power and product strength. It will be exciting to see how the technologies we’ve all come to know and love are used to also better protect the homeland.

Comments (4)

  • symbolsofa
    Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:49pm

    There are as many as 10 million to 12 million Muslims living in the United States and contributing to the country as doctors, engineers, artists, actors, scientists, lawyers, attorneys and professionals, but for a decade many have found themselves and their religion wrongly equated with the acts of terrorists like israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli foreign minister libermann, George W Bush, Chengez Khan, Adolf Hitler, Israeli Secret Service Mossad, CIA, FBI, MI5, KGB networks. Many have been the victims of fear, suspicion, prejudice, Muslim-bashing, unlawful surveillance, illegal search, arrest and imprisonment. the jews and the jewish lobby of america is behind in spreading hatred against muslims and islam through the western media. The Muslims of America will definitely teach their kids not to make friendship with your enemies ( orthodox christians and jews). they cannot be your friends. The enemies of islam are fully aware of the fact that islam is the only religion which can bring peace and calm to this world, and these enemies of islam do not want the world to know what islam teaches and what islam believes. they want to create hurdles in the way of islam and want to stop islam in america and in rest of the world. Muslim kids must prepare themselves to confront with this jewish lobby who is behind the screen and playing the foul game against islam and muslims and Indeed jews are haters of mankind, eaters of human flesh and killers of women and kids.

    Report Post »  
    • TheRealLoki
      Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:24pm

      @ symbolsofa
      Do you actually belive what you just said- or are you just trying to ignite an argument?
      Islam “CLAIMS” to be the religon of peace- but look at what you just said- you will teach your childern not to be friends with certian groups. What kind of peace can be reached with you teaching your kids hate.
      I am friends with many people of many religons- only the muslims i know keep telling me how wrong i am for not converting to islam. Your 10-12 million muslims that contribute to the USA dont bother me. Its the ones that leach of this country to spread hate- like a viruse threw your people, the radicals spread hate and fear. You want to change how myself and others view your religon. Stop spouting crap at us and go get the radicals out of your house. As soon as you stop threating to kill me for being christian- ill stop eyeing you like a terrorist.
      Your parents spread the hate to you, and you to your kids.
      May god have mercy on your lost soul- forgive your sins and show you the true way to peace. Any religons that says kill non belivers is not a religon of peace.

      Report Post »  
  • TheMarine
    Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:42am

    Apple product will never survive the battle field. They’re nice products, but they’re not tough by any means.

    Report Post » TheMarine  
    • SWTGRAD03
      Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:22pm

      If you build it, we (Soldiers) will break it. Forget combat.

      Report Post »  

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