Ukraine is weaponizing consumer tech. Literally!
While Russia is invading with mere tanks, bombs, guns and jets, Ukraine is fighting back with products you can get at BestBuy and download from the App Store.
Militaries normally use special technology.
From weapons to vehicles to communications gear and more, most militaries are equipped top to bottom with technology specially designed and created for military purposes. Military technology, or miltech, is an industry that’s largely separate from enterprise or consumer tech.
I mentioned last time how the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the first TikTok war, with social media being the main source of intelligence and information about the war. Most of the intelligence-gathering gear is just ordinary smartphones, cameras and other tech made for the consumer marketplace.
But the deployment of consumer gadgets, apps and other gear by Ukrainians in their defense against the Russian invasion goes far beyond that, and is unprecedented in the history of warfare.
Here’s how Ukraine is weaponizing consumer tech.
Mike’s List of Brilliantly Bad Ideas
1. This new car comes with an integrated drone
A new electric concept car called the Polestar 02 features a drone that slides out of a compartment on the back while you’re driving, launches, then tracks the car while taking videos. I want one.
2. Finally: Now you can take a selfie in space!
The world's first space selfie was taken by Buzz Aldrin on November 12, 1966, with the Earth as his background. Now you can do the same thing. Sort of. A startup called the Hoge Aerospace Institute is building selfie satellites that let you upload your photo to the satellite. Then an onboard camera takes a picture of your photo with the Earth in the background.
3. Worst case scenario: A smartphone case that’s also a juice box!
The Drinking Case is a smartphone case that can hold liquids. The makers brag that it can hold enough water for your workout hydration. Or five shots of tequila. You drink by popping out a built-in straw.
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