• Re: Just how realistic ARE those video games!?

    From Dimensional Traveler@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Thu Sep 12 17:46:48 2024
    On 9/10/2024 2:56 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 18:52:24 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

    Ukraine is fielding machine-gun turrets remotely controlled by the Steam
    Deck video game system made for playing Halo
    Business Insider

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/ukraine-is-fielding-machine-gun-turrets-remotely-controlled-by-the-steam-deck-video-game-system-made-for-playing-halo/ar-AA1qgIrv?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=6f8d8289dd614154a5cd711960320a3f&ei=91

    Ukraine is using Steam Decks to control remote turret guns on the
    battlefield.
    Steam Deck is a popular platform used for playing video games.
    A video shared online shows the device in action.

    Ukraine appears to be using a very popular video game system for an
    unusual purpose: remotely controlling gun turrets.


    It seems a good use of the hardware. The SteamDeck comes with built-in controllers, a good screen, a reasonably powerful processor, and
    internet connectivity. You can install Linux on it, it is more
    portable (and easier to pull out and start using) than a laptop, and
    is fairly robust. Oh, and it's easily available and reasonably
    inexpensive, as opposed to something purpose built for the task.

    But it's actually not that uncommon for militaries to use gaming
    hardware. Gamepads are increasingly used as the interface for their
    various bits of kit, from bomb-disposal robots to drone aircraft to submarines. Sometimes they are legitimate off-the-shelf game console controllers! And why not? There's been a lot of research and
    development into making the devices comfortable to use in a variety of situations, from racing games to flight sims to shooters. Plus, thanks
    to five decades of video-gaming, pretty much everybody of age in the
    military knows how to use one.

    The surprise isn't that Ukraine is using a SteamDeck. The surprise is
    that more militaries aren't. I suspect as handheld gaming PCs become
    more common (e.g., the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion) we'll see them
    integrated into all sorts of industries, just because they are such a convenient form factor.


    That said, the first thing that came to mind when reading the article
    was: didn't they have something similar in the movie "Aliens"? I
    recall they controlled the things with some sort of chunky hand-held
    device with a screen showing what the robot was shooting at. Or maybe
    it was some other sci-fi movie. But the _concept_ isn't really that
    unique, even if the hardware itself is only now getting down to
    commodity levels.

    The usual reason why more military forces don't use off-the-shelf
    civilian gear is the military usually want's them to be more durable,
    have a wider range of temperatures they can operate at, EMP resistant frequently, waterproof and so on. That's why you get $500 dollar ash
    trays, they are designed to break without leaving sharp edges that can
    cut and injure personnel as the pieces fly around in a battle.

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Xocyll@21:1/5 to All on Fri Sep 13 17:43:08 2024
    Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> looked up from reading the entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
    say:

    On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 18:52:24 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

    Ukraine is fielding machine-gun turrets remotely controlled by the Steam >>Deck video game system made for playing Halo
    Business Insider
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/ukraine-is-fielding-machine-gun-turrets-remotely-controlled-by-the-steam-deck-video-game-system-made-for-playing-halo/ar-AA1qgIrv?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=6f8d8289dd614154a5cd711960320a3f&ei=91

    Ukraine is using Steam Decks to control remote turret guns on the >>battlefield.
    Steam Deck is a popular platform used for playing video games.
    A video shared online shows the device in action.

    Ukraine appears to be using a very popular video game system for an
    unusual purpose: remotely controlling gun turrets.


    It seems a good use of the hardware. The SteamDeck comes with built-in >controllers, a good screen, a reasonably powerful processor, and
    internet connectivity. You can install Linux on it, it is more
    portable (and easier to pull out and start using) than a laptop, and
    is fairly robust. Oh, and it's easily available and reasonably
    inexpensive, as opposed to something purpose built for the task.

    But it's actually not that uncommon for militaries to use gaming
    hardware. Gamepads are increasingly used as the interface for their
    various bits of kit, from bomb-disposal robots to drone aircraft to >submarines. Sometimes they are legitimate off-the-shelf game console >controllers! And why not? There's been a lot of research and
    development into making the devices comfortable to use in a variety of >situations, from racing games to flight sims to shooters. Plus, thanks
    to five decades of video-gaming, pretty much everybody of age in the
    military knows how to use one.

    The surprise isn't that Ukraine is using a SteamDeck. The surprise is
    that more militaries aren't. I suspect as handheld gaming PCs become
    more common (e.g., the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion) we'll see them
    integrated into all sorts of industries, just because they are such a >convenient form factor.


    That said, the first thing that came to mind when reading the article
    was: didn't they have something similar in the movie "Aliens"? I
    recall they controlled the things with some sort of chunky hand-held
    device with a screen showing what the robot was shooting at. Or maybe
    it was some other sci-fi movie. But the _concept_ isn't really that
    unique, even if the hardware itself is only now getting down to
    commodity levels.

    They didn't have robots in Aliens.

    They did have auto-firing guns that fired at movement, but as I recall
    all they had was a remote camera from them and a counter for ammo
    remaining, no actual control whatsoever remotely.
    It was a fire and forget type gun to guard an approach after all.
    They fired on motion, any motion.

    Xocyll

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)