Homeland Security Commissions LED-Based Puke-Saber

E++99 writes "Homeland Security has contracted with Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. to develop an "LED Incapacitator," a nonlethal weapon consisting of a large flashlight with a cluster of LEDs capable of emitting "super-bright pulses of light at rapidly changing wavelengths." Sounds innocuous enough... until they they shine "the evil color" at you and you start puking! A working prototype has been completed, and they will soon be putting it through its paces. Homeland Security hopes to give it to Border Patrol agents and National Guardsmen by 2010."

Sweet!

[Daverd]

How long till you can get this in a Java applet?

Cover your eyes?

[Arakageeta]

...not that you'd be an effective terrorist with your eyes closed. BTW, is it wrong of me to want to see this used on large crowds?

Re:Changing wavelengths...

[cashman73]

I thought Adam & Jamie busted the whole "brown note" myth?

What about epilepsy ?

[aepervius]

Would not that be quite dangerous for epileptic ? What about an epileptic, getting a crisis AND omitting at the same time. Guaranteed drowning in one own puke, followed by a civil lawsuit against the government? What about other condition which could threaten life if you start puking (I am not a biologist/doctor so there might be none but I ask) ?

A Real Use

[aphxtwn]

This might be good for poison control as an emetic with no side-effects. Combined with activated charcoal, this could save lives.

Re:I WANT A SICK-STICK!

[PrescriptionWarning]

maybe its more a weapon against obesity?

Re:So I'm confused here...

[Ambitwistor]

Maybe he meant that there is a different "evil color" for each person, so you have to run through the whole range to make sure everyone's own color is covered.

Re:Nail in the coffin

[paltemalte]

NYPD Officer Is 'Not A Public Servant' [jonesreport.com]
Cop Refuses to Show Badge Number, Admits Automatic Weapon is "Meant to Intimidate You"

I don't know about you, but with the Patriot Act I & II, presidential directive 51 [whitehouse.gov] where the president generously grants himself dictator powers in case of an emergency - oh btw, the president gets to define what an emergency is - it does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that the very same cops that stops lawful and calm demonstrators soon may get a new public suppression pukestick to play with.

Re:Oh no!

[UncleTogie]

Shine a bright flashlight at your eyelids and see if you can guess what will happen when you try this strategy.

As you guessed, one of us was bored enough to try. When I tried with either lamp or bright flashlight, even rolling my eyes up, enough light was visible to be easily seen. A few questions came to mind:

1. Since the wavelength of the beam changes a bit as it filters through your tissue, is that why they had to have shifting frequencies? After all, FTA:

"There's one wavelength that gets everybody," says IOS President Bob Lieberman. "Vlad [IOS top scientist Vladimir Rubtsov] calls it 'the evil color.'"

If one color gets everyone, why would they need "rapidly changing wavelengths", or did the reporter get their terminology mixed up?

2. Y'know that "pretty lights" effect you get when you rub your eyes? Would that be enough to throw off "the evil color"?

Re:Oh no!

[nedaf7]

Or better yet, find out what your personal frequency is, and get some custom glasses that selectively filter that frequency!

Re:Or

[mpe]

I suspect the 'evil frequency' isn't referring to the wavelength of light emitted, but instead to the pulse pattern.

Maybe Mythbusters can test this out as a followup to "Brown Note".