USB Missile Launcher gets integrated spyscope webcam
Drawing a bead
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That hugely popular office time-waster, the USB Missile Launcher, has been upgraded again, this time with an integrated webcam and the ability to be targeted using Microsoft's MSN instant messaging app.
MSN Missile Launcher: webcam targeting engaged
You can see the thinking behind it: build on a camera and users can watch their targets, fire at precisely the right moment and get a launcher's eye view of the attack. "This is a great toy to play with your friends at distance," chirps supplier Brando.
Except... while the rockets are said to have an effective range of 15m, the launcher itself is attached to just three or four feet (0.9-1.2m) of USB cable, so there's a good chance your target's going to know exactly who's launched the pre-emptive strike.
Now, had the developer combined the webcam with the Wireless Missile Launcher we covered back in December 2007, it would have a much more interesting addition to the office arsenal.
Come to think of it, replacing the webcam with a laser targeting device would be a neat upgrade too.
Expect to see the new model on the websites of all the usual gizmo suppliers, but Hong Kong's Brando has it posted now for $49 (£25) on pre-order. The product will become available on 18 January.
COMMENTS
Get the weight down...
tie it in with a RC helicopter and the worlds your lobster
I'm considering putting one of these in one of my clients server "room" without them knowing and see how long I can get away with it
Flying Taser blimps?
My buddy and I came up with an idea...fit a Taser on the darts, then glue the whole works to one of those indoor blimps. Sell the thing to a mall as a "Remote-Patrol Security Droid". If any teenagers start acting up you can just give them a quick zap, from the comfort of your air-conditioned Security Kiosk.
It probably would cause problems tho, because all the cute girls would end up with a gaggle of taser-armed blimps escorting them around the mall. At least it would keep the importunate boys away..."Uh, hey, what's your, like, sign?" ZARK ZARK ZARK
Thoughts
A better idea would be some clever software to control the thing.
Ideally you'd be able to enter a floor plan, then select a target on it. The software would then steer/angle the launcher to suit, or just tell you the shot wasn't possible. The launcher would then lob the missiles in a nice arc onto the target.
The main reason for this is most offices don't allow direct line of fire. And it's a little more difficult to block/trace a shot coming in from above.
Another option would be to separate the camera & launcher. Put the camera up high with something to steer it, use it to designate a target, and the launcher is automatically adjusted to hit the target. Relatively simple stuff if you can mark out the position & height of the two bits of the system, especially if you add a range-finder onto the camera to get a proper target location...
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