Datum 2014
of
paper
can
be
catalog
reused 1,000 times
Military Mind Control
before it needs to
be replaced.
The helmet used by the U.S. military has changed
What's the catch?
dramatically over the years. In World War I, the M1917/
A single PrePeat
M1917A1 helmets, also known as "Doughboy" or "dishpan"
printer costs almost
helmets, protected the heads of American infantrymen.
$6,000, while
They were replaced in 1941 by the M-1 "steel pot," the
a pack of 1,000
standard-issue helmet in World War II, the Korean conflict
sheets of paper
and throughout the Vietnam War. By the 1980s, U.S. military
costs more than
helmets had evolved into a one-piece structure composed
$3,300. If you're running a printing-intensive business, you
of multiple layers of Kevlar 29 ballistic fiber.
might be able to recoup your investment over time. But
the average PC user likely won't be willing to shell out that
The
kind of money to replace a standard printer.
helmet of
the near
Pencil Pusher
future,
however,
U.S. businesses use about 21 million tons (19 million
may
metric tons) of paper every year -- 175 pounds of paper
contain
for each American, according to the Clean Air Council. This
something
has led to office recycling programs, "please think before
more
you print" e-mail signatures and printers that offer double-
than extra
sided printing. Now a trio of Chinese inventors hopes to
protection
add another device to the cubicle environment: the P&P
from flying shrapnel. An Arizona State University
Office Waste Paper Processor, which turns paper destined
researcher, working under a grant from the U.S. Defense
for recycling into pencils. The machine, looking a bit like a
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is trying to
three-hole punch crossed with an electric pencil sharpener,
develop a military helmet equipped with technology to
was a finalist in the 2010 Lite-On Awards, an international
regulate soldiers' brains. The technology is transcranial
competition that seeks to stimulate and nurture innovation.
pulsed ultrasound, which delivers high-frequency sound
Here's how the pencil-making gadget works: You insert
waves to specific regions of the brain. Under the influence
wastepaper into a feed slot. The machine draws the paper
of these sound waves, neurons send impulses to their
in, rolls and compresses it, and then inserts a piece of lead
targets, exerting control over them. On the battlefield, this
from a storage chamber located in the top of the device. A
has enormous implications. Using a controller, a soldier
small amount of glue is added before -- voilà -- a pencil
could release ultrasound pulses to stimulate different
slides out from a hole on the side. It's not clear how many
areas of the brain. For example, he or she might want to
pieces of paper form a single pencil, but you figure the
be more alert after being awake for many hours or relax
average office worker could generate a decent supply of
when it's time to catch some shuteye. The soldier might
pencils in a month.
even be able to relieve stress or become oblivious to pain,
eliminating the need for morphine and other narcotics.
And that seems to be the biggest drawback to the
pencil-producing gadget. How many No. 2 pencils can an
office really use, given that most workers take notes on
neurotechnology is pure science fiction. Others worry that
Of course, some people think this type of
their tablet PCs or laptops? And how much glue and lead
Uncle Sam is trying to take over the minds of its soldiers.
core do you need to buy to keep up with the overflowing
After all, it's one thing to have a drill sergeant yelling in your
paper recycle bin? Too much, we would suspect, which is
ear. It's another thing completely to have one inside your
why you may never see this gadget in your office supplies
head.
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