Admiral Mark Heinrich discusses some of the most exciting technology emerging on the market today, courtesy of the US Military.

1. The Innovations of Tomorrow

2. The American military is known far
and wide for its unparalleled
technological superiority. Yet, as more
and more industrialized nations
improve their economy, so too do they
bolster their respective military. In
order for the United States of America
to retain its position of strength, we
must continuously innovate and
continually integrate new
technologies. Thankfully, that’s
exactly what we have been doing, and,
as a result, there are some absolutely
amazing technologies to be released
in the near future.

3. Modular Prosthetic Limb
Said prosthetic limb would be of tremendous benefit to both military
personnel and citizens alike. With the capability to control fingers
and opposable thumbs, these seemingly robotic appendages are
reminiscent of a creative science fiction novel. In practice, it is
supposed to enable “near natural control, very much like your own
arm,” according to Dr. Justin Sanchez, the director of DARPA’s
biological technologies office.

4. Brain Implants
Ideally, these brain implants will actually be able to restore the memories
of troops affected by traumatic brain injuries. Amazing. To actually be
able to restore the lost sights, sounds, and smells of memories erased by a
traumatic incident. According to Dr. Sanchez, medical professionals can
actually photograph and analyze neurotransmitter signals, which enables
them to understand some of the characteristics of memory. Truly, the
implications are limitless, and that’s saying the least.

5. HACMS
The purpose of this technologically innovative
initiative is to construct software that
essentially makes it incredibly difficult for ill-
intentioned hackers to exert any influence
over things like drones, command, and control
networks. While by no means is the military
100% secure and stable, it is clear that
HACMS is responsible for making it
exponentially safer. In fact, the Pentagon
actually went so far as to invite a number of
friendly hackers to do their worst and try to
invade an HACMS-protected network; they
couldn’t.

6. Although authors like George Orwell
and Ray Bradbury may have tried to
see the future, even they were unable
to foretell the rate of technological
progression we have seen in just the
last thirty to forty years. Truly,
humans’ potential to innovate never
ceases to amaze me.