This article was taken from the October 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Taking a laptop on to the battlefield?
It'll give you the tactical advantage, but it will take more than a padded sleeve to keep it safe. You need the modular tactical system (MTS), created by Black Diamond Advanced Technology, an Arizona-based company specialising in ruggedised electronics.
The releasable body-armour vest (RBAV) made by BAE Systems is designed to carry both anti-ballistic plates and the high-spec MTS. The front plate-carrier folds down to reveal a toughened touchscreen display, and the processor, power supply and cabling are secreted throughout the vest to distribute weight. A GPS module is located across the rear shoulderpad for optimum signal-strength, and a side-mounted USB hub allows rapid swapping of optional equipment such as laser rangefinders that can pinpoint targets.
Norman Lange, director of product development for Black Diamond, says the MTS "has already been used by US special forces in Afghanistan, but it's also suitable for certain non-military applications such as border security, drug enforcement, Swat and disaster response -- tasks that demand a high level of situational awareness." Time to join the USB Marine Corps.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
