Skynet is coming.

ladajo · Post by **ladajo** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:26 pm

This is an intersting debate that is occuring in circles I can not discuss here. It involves the basis for pre-emptive action based on predictive behaviour analysis.

Imagine for instance the ablity to persistantly monitor a wide area (square miles) in real time, and establishing activity profiles of persons and entities within the monitored area. Some of those activity profiles are historically demonstrated to be "illegal" activity. At what point can you intervene when profiled person or parties embark on said established activity profile, but not consummated it yet?

Skipjack · Post by **Skipjack** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:03 pm

At what point can you intervene when profiled person or parties embark on said established activity profile, but not consummated it yet?

Yeah and then you happen to shoot a few kids that play hide and seek or "robber and gendarme" (not sure what you call it) in the woods, like we used to do, or a bunch of kids making an indie movie... I think that this sort of idea is very dangerous.

ladajo · Post by **ladajo** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:50 pm

That actually should not be so much of an issue given the way the profiling is done. But, yes in a gross application, you could mentally extend it to "any suspicious activity" and drop a UAV mounted micro-nuke.

choff · Post by **choff** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:28 pm

Besides red lights we have blue lights.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2 ... t-suicide/

You have to wonder how many subliminal techniques can be applied to a human population at the same time before it starts causing weird effects on people. Especially if you have programmers operating independently and sending contradictory messages.

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:22 pm

Army Tests Flying Robo-Sniper

The system is intended for the urban battlefield — an eye in the sky that can stare down concrete canyons, and blink out targets with extreme precision. Attempting to return fire against the ARSS is liable to be a near-suicidal act: ARSS is described as being able to fire seven to 10 aimed shots per minute, and it’s unlikely to miss.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/04/army-tests-new/

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:31 pm

Video: Self-Guided Bullet Spots, Steers and Nails Its Target

Each self-guided bullet is around 4 inches in length. At the tip is an optical sensor, that can detect a laser beam being shone on a far-off target. Actuators inside the bullet get intel from the bullet’s sensor, and then “steer tiny fins that guide the bullet to the target.” The bullet can self-correct its navigational path 30 times a second, all while flying more than twice the speed of sound.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/01 ... ded-bulle/

Reminds me of this:

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:19 am

Downloading Empowerment: Application Gives Citizens Control Over Crime

Or Better ways to Help the government keep you under control.

The company utilizes Smartphone technology to put crime reporting, literally, in the hands of users. After downloading the free iPhone or Android application, users can report an ongoing crime with the push of a button. A package of information including the location of the crime, photo, video, audio, and text description of the crime are sent to authorities immediately. The application also allows for users to report crime anonymously so that they may continue with their busy lives knowing that with a push of a button, police will know and have everything to pursue the criminal. Ordinary users become the eyes and ears of authorities.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/worldviews/ ... ver-crime/

I wonder if anyone else finds this hair raising creepy.

hanelyp · Post by **hanelyp** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:24 am

That crime reporting app sounds all well and good, until people start reporting trivialities (inevitable), or someone figure how to use the system to submit false reports.

happyjack27 · Post by **happyjack27** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:48 pm

hanelyp wrote:That crime reporting app sounds all well and good, until people start reporting trivialities (inevitable), or someone figure how to use the system to submit false reports.

that's when the techies add a bayesian filter to the back end. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayesian_filter

problem solved.

ScottL · Post by **ScottL** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:28 pm

happyjack27 wrote:
hanelyp wrote:That crime reporting app sounds all well and good, until people start reporting trivialities (inevitable), or someone figure how to use the system to submit false reports.
that's when the techies add a bayesian filter to the back end. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayesian_filter

problem solved.

And yet there is still spam...

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:45 pm

The EU is Considering Using Drones to Police Farm Subsidies, Enforce Environmental Rules

When European farmers turn their eyes skyward, they soon may have more than the weather to worry about. The more progressive aviation framework in Europe means that government monitors potentially have a new weapon in their arsenals--unmanned aerial drones--to enforce regulations, and they’re starting with agriculture. EU regulators are exploring potential aerial systems that can help them spot farm subsidy cheats and violators of Common Agricultural Policy rules.

http://www.popsci.com/technology/articl ... ntal-rules

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:47 pm

Video: The Latest, Terrifying Drone Dog

The latest version of the robot, called the Legged Squad Support System (LS3), will use “vision sensors” to lock onto dismounted soldiers and follow them in the field (like a loyal puppy, too bad it reminds me of the Terminator) and autonomously navigate around obstacles in its path. Heck, the damned thing is even expected to respond to soldiers’ voice commands, like “come”, “stop” and “sit.” Oh and if that’s not enough, it will serve as a walking battery charger for troops’ electronics.

http://defensetech.org/2012/02/08/video ... drone-dog/

ScottL · Post by **ScottL** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:53 am

The drone dog just looks ridiculous, not to mention it lacks mobility based on the leg mechanisms. Color me disappointed in the level of robotics for the given funding.

These are far more impressive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIMGV5vtd4

ladajo · Post by **ladajo** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:12 am

Scott,
That thing actually does purdy darn good. It carries a good size load, and can do some distance on otherwise 'no-mechanical' terrain. It is not pretty, but it does have function. 120 pound rucks get old fast.

Betruger · Post by **Betruger** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:20 am

Have to agree... What's ridiculous about that robot mule? Have you seen its development video footage? It's agility's just excellent.