Hardware Hackers Create a Cheaper Bedazzler

ptorrone writes "Hardware hacker extraordinaires Ladyada (Adafruit Industries) and Phil Torrone (of MAKE magazine) have just published an open source 'Homeland Security' project, a non-lethal LED-Based Incapacitator: THE BEDAZZLER. After attending a conference where the $1 million 'sea-sick flashlight' (THE DAZZLER) was demoed by Homeland Security, the duo decided to created an under-$250 version, and just released the source code, schematics and PCB files. The team also released a 5 minute video describing the 'official version' as well as how they created the 'open source hardware' version."

Re:The purpose of the article

[ladyada]

Actually, it does precisely the same thing as any other 'flashing weapon', gives you a headache and makes your eyes hurt

Patents?

[Comatose51]

I've watched that video and I remember they mentioned referencing the original patent for their project. Aren't they pretty much violating a patent by doing this? The idea seems pretty novel and original to me but I'm not a neuroscientist nor a lawyer. Anyone want to clarify?

Anyone else remember X-Men's Dazzler?

[mejesster]

I get a huge kick out of the fact that the name is a likely play on the X-Men hero "Dazzler", who used light to disorient people.

Re:Patents?

[TheSeventh]

I'm sorry, I must be an idiot. I RTFA, but I must have missed the part where someone is selling something?

I think these would be great to use against police

[maillemaker]

I think these devices would be great to use against riot police by protesters.

I wonder how long before they will be illegal?

Re:Except that...

[goodmanj]

Replying to my own post ... actually, the problem is not just that what's dangerous to one person in a crowd is merely annoying to another. The overlap occurs in individuals too.

If a person is sufficiently motivated, especially if they're well-trained or on drugs, even *lethal* force can be inadequate to stop them.

Re:The purpose of the article

[CrimsonAvenger]

And doesn't the Geneva Convention specifically ban weapons where the primary purpose is blinding people?

Laser weapons. It specifically bans laser weapons where the primary purpose is permanently blinding people.

Oddly, it doesn't ban laser weapons where the primary purpose is killing people.

Re:Except that...

[izomiac]

While the majority can't, lots of older folk can still hear high frequency noise. In face, age related hearing loss isn't really related to age at all, simply noise exposure (folks in really rural areas don't suffer from it nearly as badly if at all). For those who can't, it may very well still be damaging their hearing in small (but long term) ways, and will definitely kill high frequency hearing if you haven't lost it yet. Beyond that, there's also a point where you can't hear the noise, it just gives you a headache. Who knows how much business those establishments have lost simply because some patrons have subconsciously associated shopping there with pain.

Re:Except that...

[TheRaven64]

I'm 27 and I can hear the frequency emitted by that device very clearly. Of the friends I asked, age ranges from 25-35, only two couldn't hear it (ages 28 and 34). One of my friends is an audiologist and apparently that frequency range is often inaudible to teenagers if they spend a lot of time listening to loud music. So, it's works really well at deterring the quiet teenagers and young to middle-aged adults...

Re:Pigs will like this

[Culture20]

To a cop there are three kinds of people: Cops, cops' families, and suspects.

To Infernal Affairs, there is one kind of person: suspects. This includes themselves!

Re:Pigs will like this

[lgw]

And yet, when you get in trouble, your first call will be to 911 and the first responder will most likely be a police officer who will try and help you or your family in any way he can.

I'll order a pizza instead. The pizza guy will show up sooner, might actually help, and is less likely to hassle me instead. Cops are good for providing paperwork required by insurance companies, and little else.

Pardom me if I have nothing but contempt for cops, but I have seriously been in a situation where I (as a pizza guy) had just been robbed, was still bleeding, and the cop hassled me for consuming his valuable time with my problems, called me stupid for delivering pizza to that neighborhood, and then gave me a ticket for some some expired sticker. Oh, and made sure to get free pizza from the restaurant.