The path of the future of armour is one with many twists, bends and forks. There are so many different types of armour that people are creating now that it is unfathomable to try to predict what the armour of the future might entail. However, one can ponder about how outlandish the armour could be in fifty years time by looking back in history fifty years ago and watching the developments of armour from then until now. It wasn’t until the late 1960’s that polyamide fibers were weaving their way into the composites that became what we now know as body armour (Bellis, 2007). It also was not until the 1970’s that DuPont’s “Kevlar” was introduced to the world, which is now what modern day standard body armour is made from (Chase, 2008). Currently, prototype armour is being made from a number of different substances including ballistic foam and different types of fibers, and we are even juicing armour up with electric currents.

                 There are currently many variants of the term “armour”. Not only are there classes of body armour and vehicular armour, there are many other names in which these armours can be called such as Kevlar,  “flak-jackets”, bullet-proof vests, plating, etc. Whatever they may be called however, they all incorporate or give notion to the word armour. This will not change in the future. Armour has been the term used to describe a protective covering used to prevent damage to the contents within for thousands of years, and will continue to be the term for many years to come. Also, in fifty years time, it will be the same men and women who will be wearing the new armour as the people who wear armour today. This includes police officers, S.W.A.T. teams, military personnel and members of the general public who feel the need to protect themselves with body armour.

                As with most technologies, there are significant milestones that armour must go through in order to become what it could be in 2059. One of these major milestones would be for the U.S. or Canadian governments to provide adequate testing on Troy Hurtubise’s Trojan Body Armour and eventually accept it as the standard armour for all military combat personnel. Troy Hurtubise, the madcap inventor of the “Bear Suit,” has spent the last 2 years, over 1800 man hours, and enough money to drive him into bankruptcy developing his newest body armour, which he calls “The Trojan” (Troy Hurtubise, 2009). According to many YouTube videos involving private testing of suit, along with many interviews with Hurtubise himself, the Trojan Body Armour appears to be far superior to the body protection currently being used by Canadian and American Armed Forces. Currently, the Trojan provides 95% body coverage, has 95% flexibility, only weighs 50 lbs at it’s max, and with mass production Hurtubise says it would only cost about $2000 Canadian to suit it to a soldier (Yumeai, 2007). This milestone would propel the idea of constructing full exoskeleton ballistic suits of armour for military and police use, instead of using just chest, arm, and leg plates. A second milestone would be to mesh current “electric armour,” used for military vehicles, with the personal Trojan exoskeleton armour. The United States’ Ministry of Defense has been working on this electric armour for over eight years now and with further testing it will soon be integrated into more and more military vehicles. The main purpose of this new breed of vehicular armour is to create an electric field around an armoured vehicle at the moment a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) strikes it. This will cause the copper inside the RPG, which causes the most detrimental effects to a target, to burn up and disintegrate as it passes through the electric field, leaving the vehicle relatively unscathed (Bloor, 2004). Combining the Trojan body armour with an electric field of its own would create the ultimate suit of armour, resistant to a wide array of bullets, knife attacks, and even RPG fire.

                The advancement of body armour in the future – mainly the use of full exoskeleton suits of armour – reflects that of the technological developments of suits of armour in the past. In the 1500’s, chainmail, which did not cover one’s head and did not provide much in the way of leg protection, was the primary form of armour. Through many stages of development, this type of armour evolved into the classic medieval armour that most people think of when the term “suite of armour” is used. This was armour that covered the wearer’s entire body from head to foot. However, due to weight and immobility issues, and the widespread use of firearms, this armour was often only used for show and quickly faded away from actual combat. The new Trojan armour has taken care of all the issues of the past full suits of armour. It is light and mobile enough for someone wearing it to run full tilt and operate vehicles and it is tough enough to stop a wide range of projectiles being fired at it. As for the electric armour, this relates back to the development of the first tanks, and other armoured plated vehicles. Just as the electric armour is able to stop today’s weapons from penetration, the early armoured vehicles of WWII were doing the same to that era’s weapons. Electric armour stops the most widely used anti-vehicular weapon in the War in the Middle East, being RPG’s, while the armour of tanks in the Second World War stopped anti-tank rifles and mortar shells.

                The plausibility of this type of electrified Trojan Body Armour becoming existent by 2059 is tremendous. Currently, both these technologies exist in different contexts, and it is just a matter of time and development until they are linked together. Humankind has been creating awe-inspiring structures and devices for eons. Recent remarkable technological inventions include lasers that create as much energy and heat as temperatures experienced deep within the sun (Avro, 2009), and particle accelerators that plan to smash protons together at almost light speed in order to re-create the Big Bang that many scientists believe to be the beginning of the universe (Mong, 2007) . These, along with countless other displays of human brilliance and ingenuity from the past can make one ponder about just how advanced humankind can become. Not only is the creation of Electric Trojan Armour plausible, it is probable. Humankind has proven its worth time and time again through marvelous innovations and advancements. We have created things that would have once only been described as magic and witchcraft. Anything is possible and anything is within our grasp, including this type of armour.

References

Avro, Samuel (March 30, 2009 ). Consumer Energy Report. Retrieved April 6, 2009, from digg Web site: http://digg.com/d1nYZC

Bellis, Mary (2007). History of body armor and bullet proof vests. Retrieved April 4, 2009, from http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/Body_Armor.htm

Bloor, Carl (June 12, 2004). MoD Develops ‘Electric Armour’. Retrieved April 6, 2009, from I.T.Vibe Web site: http://itvibe.com/news/2627/

Chase, Randall (June 17, 2008). DuPont introduces new kevlar technology. Retrieved April 05, 2009, from http://www.manufacturing.net/News-DuPont-Introduces-New-Kevlar-Technology.aspx?menuid=

Mong, Adrienne (March 2, 2007). Teams toil underground to re-create big bang. Retrieved April 06, 2009, from msnbc Web site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17399245/

Troy Hurtubise. (March 28, 2009). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 05, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Hurtubise

Yumeai, (April 26, 2007). Halo-like Body Armour Demonstration 2. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBmTL6DGa_k

Pictures: Troy Hurtubise’s Trojan Armour, Tank using Electric Armour being hit by an RPG              

Throughout the ages from primeval times to our modern day there has been a technology that has existed all the way through; saving lives, serving as decorative displays of status, and constantly changing. The production of this technology came about through one of humanity’s most basic primal instincts and has been evolving ever since. This technology is armour. From prehistoric times when Neanderthals would wrap their bodies in Bison hides to shield themselves from the cold, to the thin, light, “space age” material that protects from bullet penetration today, body armour has evolved over thousands of years, yet has always served the same primary purpose in which it was originally intended for.

Armour has been around for millennia and has gone through many changes in regards to design, materials in which it is constructed from, and secondary purposes. From the late 1200’s till the fourteenth century, long before the industrial revolution of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, armour was mainly made from a series of interlocking metal rings, commonly referred to as “chain mail” (Breiding, 2000). This was the dominant form of armour until the fourteenth century, when plate armour was rapidly taking over. This new type of body armour was made from different types of metals along with leather and wood, and was primarily used as chain mail was: as personal protection from direct contact weapons and projectiles. Soon after, armour quickly developed into the origin for many other technologies such as wood lamination, vehicle manufacturing (chariots), and leather processing. It also led to advancements in metallurgy including very decorative and fashionable armour being created for the higher class and nobles (Breiding, 2000). Armour had a huge impact on society at the time. Not only did one show status by the intricacy of the designs and the quality of materials their armour was made from, but it also induced a sense of admiration and respect into the public’s eye when they would see a so called Knight in Shining Armour. Men not only wanted to protect themselves in battle but also wanted to gain higher regard in the eyes of the public, predominately in the eyes of women. This often meant spending numerous days pay on a single piece of equipment – a breast plate for example, in an attempt to be seen as more chivalrous and valiant (Armour, 2009).

The production of armour continued on into the years of the industrial revolution and helped influence commercial development of metallurgy and engineering (Armour, 2009). Personal body armour however started to lose it’s effectiveness in battle. People started ditching all but their helmets and breast and back plates to try to reduce the weight they would have to carry. Additionally with the advancements and widespread use of guns, the armour of the sixteenth century did not cut it in protecting the wearer anymore. But while the use and effectiveness of personal armour declined, the uprising of armoured land vehicles, boats, planes and trains commenced (Armour, 2009). During the industrial revolution war changed dramatically as well. Battles were no longer fought via hand to hand combat; instead they were fought with guns and armoured vehicles. More and more armoured vehicles started developing during this time; from the first stages of tanks, to armoured boats and even armoured trains. This had a direct effect not only on the soldiers who fought, who now had the ability to “breach field defenses unscathed” (Armour, 2009), but it affected the men behind the battle plans as well. The tactics of hand to hand engagement with the enemy were fading away and the use of armour plated vehicles were coming into use.

During the post industrial time period until now, armour has constantly been changing and evolving not only on armoured vehicles but personal body armour as well. Tanks, trains, boats, and planes were all eventually equipped with armour plating to withstand projectile damage, which was now the leading technique in which to attack. Vehicular armour plating has advanced so far now that even rocket propelled grenades, exploding shrapnel, and the strongest of infantry weaponry will not penetrate through it or cause operational malfunctions to the vehicle being fired on (Armour, 2009). Body armour has advanced quite significantly as well. Not only is armour used by army troops, but it is now used by police, presidents, gangsters, and even the general public if they so choose. With much research and development, body armour has come a long way from chain mail and metal plates to Kevlar material and boron carbide ceramic inserts, both of which are manmade and are lighter and harder than steel (Military, 2006). These new types of light, flexible, and strong armour have proven their worth to society by saving thousands of lives, not only those of military men but of police officers and ordinary people as well. Because of these technological advancements in armour, men and women have been able to go home to their families after being hit by a bullet and all around the world people are not becoming part of gun violence statistics.

From the pre industrial to industrial and post industrial eras, armour has come a long way from animal skins and chain mail. This technology has positively affected society for thousands of years and will continue to do so in the future. It has saved lives, advanced other technologies and been a mark of social status and nobility. And despite the numerous transformations of armour over time, it is one of the only technologies that has had only one primary purpose since the beginning: to protect people from bodily harm. It has done its job very well all the way through.

References

Armour. (2009, March 17). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 18, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armour#Middle_Ages_armour

Breiding, D (2000). Fashion in European Armor, 1600 – 1700. Retrieved March 18, 2009, from Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Web site: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/afas17/hd_afas17.htm

Breiding, D (2000). The Function of Armor in Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Retrieved March 18, 2009, from Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Web site: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ufarm/hd_ufarm.htm

Military. (2006, January 15). Retrieved March 18, 2009, from GlobalSecurity.Org Web site: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/interceptor.htm

— Trevor Copland | Tech114 | D202 | James Phillips/Azmina Karimi

Facebook image –> http://www.sfu.ca/~tlc14/Tech114/tesla_facebook.jpg

references:

Nikola Tesla (2009). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 10, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

Pro AV Staff, (July 1, 2006). Fascinating facts about nikola tesla. Retrieved march 10, 2009, from http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1757&articleID=599330

Tesla Society, (n.d.). Tesla Memorial Society of New York. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from  http://www.teslasociety.com/famousfriends.htm

Pictures from:

Boyscouts – http://www.jamestown2007.org/library/Boyscouts-Colonial%20Virginia.jpg

Model T – http://www.uh.edu/engines/model-t.gif

Tesla – http://ty.rannosaur.us/wp-content/uploads/nikolatesla1.jpg

Mark Twain – http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/artman2/uploads/1/mark-twain.jpg

Robert Underwood Johnson -http://www.keats-shelley-house.org/img/fundador.jpg

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen – http://nautilus.fis.uc.pt/wwwqui/figuras/fisicos/img/roentgen.jpg

The technology I have selected is one that has been around for thousands of years and is constantly changing. This personal technology has kept thousands, if not millions of people around the world from sustaining major bodily harm, and has saved the lives of people for millennia. This technology is body armour. Body armour is used to protect one’s body from harm by providing a layer between the skin or clothes of a person and the object, be it a handheld object or a projectile, being forced upon them. One would think that only good can come from protecting one’s body from injury, however New Democrat MLA Mike Farnworth says he “will introduce a private member’s bill to the legislature in February that regulates and restricts the wearing of Kevlar body armour”. Farnworth argues that “gangsters and thugs shouldn’t be wearing body armour, police should… [and] it is outrageous that offenders have the same amount of protection as the officers trying to put an end to it” (Bolan 2009).

The social effect this will bring upon the Lower Mainland would be that people who feel the need to wear body armour would need to obtain a permit from police before purchasing it. The main point that Farnworth is trying to get across by passing this bill is that wearing Kevlar body armour promotes gun violence. He is also trying to say that it is unfair for innocent bystanders to get struck by a stray bullet and die, while the thugs that are being shot at survive because they are wearing armour.

The effect of armour in general throughout the many years it has been around would definitely be positive. The construction of newer and better armour throughout history has lead to more advancements in many other fields, one major one being weaponry. The effect that Mike Farnworth’s bill would have, assuming it gets passed, would also be positive but to a much lesser extent. It would be to a lesser extent because although it would make it an offence to be in possession of body armour without a permit, which would hopefully lead to less shootings, one has to take into account that the people who are targeted in this matter are criminals, and most likely would not care if they were in offence by wearing the body armour.

The use of body armour to protect oneself will be ongoing until a major breakthrough happens. Such a major breakthrough would be something along the lines of a new social trend occurring where no one feels the need to shoot, kill, or cause harm to another human being for any reason. However, this idea is extremely farfetched and probably would not happen in our lifetime, or for hundreds of years for that matter. A much less farfetched, although very futuristic way that body armour could progress through time is to come up with a some sort of material that would be light enough to be worn everyday, and everywhere a person goes, but also be strong enough to stop objects being hurtled towards it. This would make it so everyone would have an equal amount of armour on that could stop bullets and other things that could cause bodily harm. If any, this would be the most practical way of reversing the need for body armour. In this day and age though, I cannot foresee the need for body armour declining, and even if people one day come up with a light, flexible, thin material that can stop today’s bullets, surely there will soon come bullets of a different caliber that are made to penetrate through the newly developed armour. Just the same as virus and antivirus conflicts, body armour and bullets will always be in contest, and I for one cannot predict who the victor will be.

References

Bolan, Kim (2009). MLA calls for restrictions on body armour after recent gang violence.

Retrieved 10 February 2009 from The Vancouver Sun: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/calls+restrictions+body+armour+after+recent+gang+violence/1207334/story.html

Some facts about me: i play hockey and rugby and i like to snowboard.  i like long walks on the beach and cuddling while watching tear-jerking chick flicks… I’m in IAT right now in SFU and last semester i failed CMPT120. hope that fills you in a bit, although not all of it is true. oh, btw i’m the one in the center of the pic.

My favorite piece of technology these days would have to be the cell phone. This is my favorite because it seems to be the most dynamic high tech toy on the market today. The cell phone is constantly evolving through new technology, such as touch screen capabilities, mobile internet and upwards of 4 megapixel cameras built in. Also, i think that since many, many people own a cell phone there is going to be a constant demand for newer and more interactive technology to come about through them. I think a lot of new technology will be first tried and tested in cell phones and then be put forth in other applications of life, thus making the cell phone the pioneer gadget for new ideas and developments. And that’s pretty much why cell phones are my favorite piece of technology.

– Trevor Copland