New nonlethal weapons uses light flashes to disorient adversary

Nonlethal weapons are controversial: Supporters of their use say it is better to incapacitate an adversary than kill him, while human rights advocates say that nonlethal weapons are nothing but tools of torture. Regardless, DHS wants to encourage the development of different types of nonlethal weapons, and a new weapon with many different uses, for the development of which DHS paid nearly $1 million, could soon be in the hands of local law enforcement. Police often use tasers, rubber bullets, and pepper spray to control riots and crowds, but the new weapon — called LED Incapacitator — uses high-tech flashlight to cause flash blindness, nausea, and disoriented feeling.

The device, developed by Torrance, California-based Intelligent Optical Systems flashes LED lights at several specific frequencies. Before the brain has time to adjust to one frequency, the Incapacitator flashes a different one. Add multiple colors, which the eyes read differently, along with random pulses and a back and forth motion, and the brain just cannot keep up. “The longer you look at this [the Incapacitator] … the more you don’t want to look at it,” says Dr. Robert Liebermen, president of Intelligent. “The closer you are to it the more intense the effect.” Lieberman says the only escape is to close your eyes, put your hand up, or turn your head away.

David Throckmorton, a DHS program manager, says the lights do not “damage you.” Throckmorton said the government would like to arm the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Border Patrol, and Air Marshals with the device. “For them it would be a way to stop a terrorist or whoever from advancing.” By 2010 Intelligent Optical Systems hopes to be selling the technology to the public, just like tasers and pepper spray. Right now DHS officials say the Incapacitator is restricted to law enforcement use.