TECHNOLOGY FOR CHANGE

Android Apps to Lend a Hand on the Battlefield

Dennis McCafferty | Date: 08-25-10 | Comments

Android apps may be great for workplace productivity and fun and games. But a tech-product firm is now developing Droid solutions that are expected to help military troops in the heat of conflict.

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Android Apps to Lend a Hand on the Battlefield

For the general public, top Android apps include those that allow you to manage work docs, grab stock quotes and integrate your Android device with iTunes.

But for U.S. servicemen and women serving in global hot spots, Android mobile apps may soon provide a greater purpose�such as allowing a soldier to track down squad members after a battle to make sure they�re safe.

At least that�s what PDT, a Lake Zurich, Ill.-based global product development firm, is working on. The firm views Android mobile apps as the next great tool for military customers, as the Android platform�s continued expansion of its hardware/software presence allows for customizable options that are well suited for Armed Forces operations.

�The U.S. military�s embrace of Android has given us the tools necessary to make applications useful for soldiers,� says Jim Curtin, Manager for PDT�s Defense Systems Program, according to a PDT press release. �These tools will allow for intuitive action in stressful situations, and will be inventive compared to current and previous approaches.�

Here are concepts now being hatched in the PDT lab:
- ROVER Viewers: An app that would stream video feeds from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and fighter aircraft to dismounted soldiers. It would allow for the ability to record, playback, and other functions.
- Situational Awareness Applications: These apps would let soldiers track and monitor the condition of other squad members in the thick of battle.
- Squad TOE Management: This would be a logistics app that would monitor how much food/water/ammo is available for a squad in the field, and what the current consumption rate is.
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