NYC police plan LRAD protester control. (sonic weapon)

ABC news ^ | 08/25/04 | Amanda Onion

[evets]

Coming soon to a convention near you: Sound like it has never (or at least, rarely) been heard before.

As politicians at the Republican National Convention use microphones to make themselves heard from the podium, other sounds in and around the event will be emitted in cutting-edge audio technology.

Outside the convention hall, New York City police plan to control protesters using a device that directs sound for up to 1,500 feet in a spotlight-like beam. Meanwhile, a display of former Republican presidents inside the hall will feature campaign speeches that are funneled to listeners through highly focused audio beams.

[evets]

In fact, LRAD, which is 33 inches in diameter and looks like a giant spotlight, has been used by the U.S. military in Iraq and at sea as a non-lethal force. In these settings, operators can use the device not only to convey orders, but also as a weapon.

The Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD), is shown here mounted on an NYPD vehicle. The technology, which can direct sound for four blocks, will be used to communicate with protesters at the RNC.

[AllTheRage]

[cweese]

I saw something like this on a history channel documentary a few months ago. The thing practically knocked the host off his feet when directed at him with a low setting. I hope they blast the anarchists back to the stone age next week with this and any other goodies they have at their disposal!

[RayChuang88]

It looks like next week will be a great time to test all those non-lethal weapon "toys" that has been developed in the last decade or so.

[bcalabrese]

Buy the stock ATCO