Luke's Binoculars hard-wire spyglasses right into soldiers' brains

Science fiction and military reality have seemingly merged now that U.S. Special Forces have developed powerful high-tech binoculars that connects a soldier's prefrontal cortex to hardware that detect threats by the soldier's subconscious, reports Wired.com.

The Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System, dubbed "Luke's Binoculars," after the binoculars Luke Skywalker uses in Star Wars, is not some futuristic dream. The cortex-connected binoculars assist soldiers in recognizing targets faster than the unaided brain could on its own. They have a range of 1,000 to 10,000 meters, compared to the current generation, which can see out only 300 to 1,000 meters.

Researchers have found that the prefrontal cortex controls impulse control, which inhibits false alarms. The EEG allows the binoculars to bypass this inhibitory reaction and signal the wearer to a potential threat.

The current prototype has soldiers using EEG sensors attached helmet-style to their heads. Although the electrodes might initially seem ungainly, the EEG technology is becoming smaller and less obtrusive. "It's easier and easier," says Dennis McBride, president of the Potomac Institute and an expert in the field.

The binoculars are a culmination of years of development, combining advanced optics, EEGs and brainwave signatures. DARPA plans to have a prototype ready within three years. The trick will be to get the helmet to a wearable size and weight.

"This is all about target recognition and pattern recognition," says McBride. "It turns out that humans in particular have evolved over these many millions of years with a prominent prefrontal cortex."