British troops to use Call of Duty-like communication technology
By ANISunday, March 28, 2010
LONDON - A futuristic communication technology used in popular computer games such as Call of Duty will soon be used by British troops, enabling them to see what their comrades see elsewhere on the battlefield and to talk to them as if they were standing side by side.
Scientists are developing a highly covert system, using wi-fi networks such as those present in computers, that will be built into the troops’ clothing and require them to do nothing but talk, The Times reports.
After the introduction of new technology, pressing buttons, flicking switches, struggling with radio interference, shouting above the noise of battle or using sign language would become things of the past.
Troopers will simply talk as if they were having a normal conversation. Their colleagues will not only hear what they say, the words will come up in text on their visors, the paper says.
The system is so advanced that it will allow real-time video streaming, with none of the waits for downloading that irritate users of YouTube, it adds.
Simon Cotton, one of the scientists who are developing the system, said: “It operates at millimetre-wave frequencies where we have huge expanses of available data bandwidth above two gigabits per second.”
This is far beyond anything currently capable with wi-fi and can stream high-definition video and other data, such as voice or text, in parallel.
Despite the ability to provide so much data, the frequencies being used for the system only carry a very short distance. This makes the transmissions virtually undetectable to the enemy.
Major-General Julian Thompson, who commanded 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands war, said: “This is a major breakthrough. Its most important feature for me as a former battlefield commander is that each soldier can tell instantly where his fellows are.
“Up to now much radio traffic is taken up with ‘where are you and what are you doing?’ messages. This technology will also help to reduce the [friendly fire] incidents of ‘blue on blue’,” he dded. (ANI)
