Page 51 - Federal Computer Week, January/February 2019

WishList Tech we hope hits the public sector
Drone defense
It looks like something lifted from Fortnite, but DroneShield’s DroneGun Tactical is designed for the very real-world threat of errant or hostile unmanned aerial vehicles. With a range of more than half a mile, the device can immediately interrupt a drone’s video transmission and bring down the aircraft intact for forensic investigation. It’s available through the General Services Administration’s Schedule 84 for authorized agency buyers.
A headset that
watches you back
Virtual and augmented reality headsets can immerse a user in a range of activities, from reference diagrams to 360-degree training environments,
but navigating those spaces usually involves handheld controllers or awkward twists
and turns in the unseen “real world.” HTC’s new Vive Pro Eye,
however, tracks
eye movements
using LED sensors that encircle the headset’s lenses, turning the user’s gaze into an “intuitive controller and intention communicator.” You might still look ridiculous, but you won’t trip over an office chair in the process.
Beyond batteries
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a flexible, inexpensive “rectenna” that can convert energy from Wi-Fi signals into electricity sufficient to power electronics. On
a small scale, the antennae and semiconductors could enable battery- free implantable medical devices,
but the researchers are also eyeing flexible smartphones and internet-of- things sensors deployed throughout a building or transit system.
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What technologies do you think FCW readers should see?
Tell us on Twitter: @FCWnow #FCWwishlist.
IMAGE CREDITS: DRONESHIELD, MIT, HTC