We told you , a few months back, about how MP3 players connected to long-range acoustic devices are being used to thwart pirate attacks. While blasting deafening sound waves at a bunch of machinegun-toting lunatics seems great, wouldn't it be better to avoid the pirates altogether?
Well, UNOSAT, a collaborative project between CERN and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, is exploring how grid computing and satellite imaging can be used to help ships monitor, track and avoid pirates on the high seas. By producing maps that show where recent attacks and incidents have occurred, the organization hopes that it will help sailors safely navigate pirate-infested waters.
Pirates are an elusive bunch, though, and their mobility makes it easy for them to evade capture. At the end of last month the United Nations Interregional Crime And Justice Institute held a meeting to discuss new approaches to dealing with the persistent problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Who would have thought a cell phone and an iPod could be the most useful tech devices to have on board while sailing through treacherous seas?
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