A California-based company has been commissioned by the Department of Homeland Defence to develop an "LED incapacitator" - a dazzling torch-like device that pulses light over rapidly changing wavelengths, apparently inducing "disorientation, nausea and even vomiting" in those it is pointed at.
Slashdot is carrying a link to a Fox News story about the device, which it believes will be in the hands of border patrol teams and national guardsmen by 2010.
According to a spokesman for Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc, "there's one wavelength that gets everybody". The company's top scientist, Vladimir Rubstov, calls it "the evil colour".
Trials are due to start at Penn State's Institute of Nonlethal Defence Technology before the year is out. Anyone care to volunteer and report back?
