In a conversation recently, I told a friend my favourite genre of film was sci-fi, followed in second place by horror. They thought this was a strange blend. I don’t think so, as the future is always unfolding and often those changes have frightening possibilities… Case in point, was this next article I found from Motor Authority. Police in the US are testing a new siren that uses inaudible shockwaves, sending tremors through the ground as opposed to a loud wail. I can only imagine what effects that would have on a pace-maker of someone nearby… The potential for misuse of the development could be endless… not to mention harmful.
The siren works by projecting inaudible soundwaves that are powerful enough to shake everything around the vehicle, including the earth. The system uses two subwoofers and an amplifier to pump out soundwaves that can be felt up to 60m away. Little wonder Washington police have nicknamed it the “Rumbler.”
One officer told the The Washington Post that “it vibrates everything” and that it “definitely attracts a lot of attention.”
Motorists often totally ignore emergency vehicles because they get distracted by loud stereos or general traffic noise, something the use of the Rumbler would avoid. We’re seriously hoping the technology remains in the hands of the police. The last thing everyone needs is the hip hop crowd getting their hands on it and disrupting traffic everywhere.
by Patrick James.
