We've seen it in the movies, we've seen it in TV shows, and we've seen it in video games. However, now, it's going to be a real thing, and we have to wonder, why did it take so long to happen. According to a new report, the U.S. Military is funding a project for developing electronic devices capable of self-destructing after serving its purpose. The aim is to develop processors, sensors, and other computer-related materials that will self-destruct on command.
It is understood that DARPA has contracted IBM to work on the project. The report claims the military awarded IBM $3.4 million for its "Vanishing Programmable Resources" on Jan. 31, 2014.
"Sophisticated electronics can be made at low cost and are increasingly pervasive throughout the battlefield," DARPA said. "However, it is nearly impossible to track and recover every device resulting in unintended accumulation in the environment and potential unauthorized use and compromise of intellectual property and technological advantage."
DARPA says it is looking for devices such as smartphones, sensors, radios, and other hardware that are just as capable as anything similar in the commercial market. However, these very devices should also have the capability to break apart in hopes to protect intellectual property and government secrets from falling into the wrong hands.
According to DARPA, IBM is working on what it calls a "strained glass substrate" that will break apart. To make this happen, a fuse would be placed in one or more areas inside a device that would trigger and explode via a remote radio frequency.
We've seen similar things take place in movies, which makes us wonder what else could DARPA and the U.S. military be working on this very moment.
Devices that are capable of self-destructing is an important tool for the U.S. military, or any military for that matter. It could allow for protection of important files that might end up in the hands of the enemy. In the right hands, military hardware could be hacked for important information; however, a technology like this would make such a thing nearly impossible to happen.
