Like everything else, war is also “benefiting” from science. The “Mad Scientist” Future Technology seminar in the US looked at some possibilities. Seminar participants included scientists, science fiction writers, futurists, academicians and students.
The seminar looked at the “asymmetric” power that can be wielded by “super empowered” individuals and competing nation states. Some of the key findings are outlined below.
Biotechnology can help modify diseases and develop organisms against which there is no existing defense or treatment. These can then be deliberately targeted to debilitate enemy military forces or create an epidemic that cripples a nation’s ability to respond normally.
Electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) can destroy electronic systems. Presently, such a pulse results as a side effect of deploying nuclear weapons. Using new technologies, and the capabilities of miniaturization, it might be possible to develop handheld EMP guns that can destroy enemy communication capabilities.
Improvements in nanotechnology, networking and advanced computing/artificial intelligence can enable the flooding of battlefields with miniature robots capable of causing all kinds of damage.
Social networking coupled with immersive 3-D technologies could reach families and friends of soldiers and carry the battle into realms presently not covered adequately. These technologies can also affect recruitment and retention efforts.
Cyber capabilities can disrupt the IT infrastructure used by transportation, financial and government agencies causing serious disruption.
Combinining the capabilities of electromagnetic, infrasonic and light technologies, it is possible to target human neural and physiological systems, degrading the cognitive, physiological and behavioral performance of the targets.
