Changes

The most recent use of sound as a weapon occurred in the [[Iraq]] theater, where soldiers often used Long Range Acoustical Devices, or LRADs, to direct an ear-splitting sound at an unruly crowd or an approaching attacker.<ref name=lrad>"Troops in Iraq Get High-tech Noisemaker," [[Associated Press]], March 3, 2004. <http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_noise_030304,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl></ref> About a year later, a cruise ship used an LRAD-like device to repel [[pirates]].<ref name=usatoday>Pain, John, "Cruise ship attacked by pirates used sonic weapon," ''USA Today'', November 7, 2005.<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-07-cruise-blast_x.htm></ref> The most recent documented use of the LRAD occurred on [[United States]] soil, in September of 2009. Specifically, the police of [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]] used LRADs to disperse a crowd of demonstrators at the "Group of 20 Summit." That act has provoked great controversy, charges of excessive use of force, and comparisons to the [[Gestapo]] and [[stormtroopers]] of Nazi [[Germany]] during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=King>King T, "[http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october012009/lrad_hell_tk_10-1-09.php# The Criminal Behavior of G-20 Police in Pittsburgh]," Salem-News.com, 1 October 2009. Accessed 6 October 2009.</ref>

The most recent use of sound as a weapon occurred in the [[Iraq]] theater, where soldiers often used Long Range Acoustical Devices, or LRADs, to direct an ear-splitting sound at an unruly crowd or an approaching attacker.<ref name=lrad>"Troops in Iraq Get High-tech Noisemaker," [[Associated Press]], March 3, 2004. <http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_noise_030304,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl></ref> About a year later, a cruise ship used an LRAD-like device to repel [[pirates]].<ref name=usatoday>Pain, John, "Cruise ship attacked by pirates used sonic weapon," ''USA Today'', November 7, 2005.<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-07-cruise-blast_x.htm></ref> The most recent documented use of the LRAD occurred on [[United States]] soil, in September of 2009. Specifically, the police of [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]] used LRADs to disperse a crowd of demonstrators at the "Group of 20 Summit." That act has provoked great controversy, charges of excessive use of force, and comparisons to the [[Gestapo]] and [[stormtroopers]] of Nazi [[Germany]] during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=King>King T, "[http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october012009/lrad_hell_tk_10-1-09.php# The Criminal Behavior of G-20 Police in Pittsburgh]," Salem-News.com, 1 October 2009. Accessed 6 October 2009.</ref>

This is not the same as using sound to pulverize an object. The worst hazard that the LRAD could present to an overexposed subject is permanent hearing loss.

This is not the same as using sound to pulverize an object. The worst physical hazard that the LRAD could present to an overexposed subject is permanent hearing loss. The possible psychological harm to an exposed subject might be impossible to assess or predict.

The use of sound, especially in the ultrasonic range, as a weapon is a common theme in [[science fiction]]. For example, in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' episode "The Way to Eden," a group of galactic drop-outs gerry-rig an ultrasonic broadcaster to incapacitate the crew of ''USS Enterprise'' (NCC-1701) long enough to allow the drop-outs to disembark, and then to reactivate at a level that could kill. No contemporary acoustical expert has ever suggested that a man could die from overexposure to sound or ultrasound at any given pitch. However, that was before the invention of the "saser" at the University of Nottingham.

The use of sound, especially in the ultrasonic range, as a weapon is a common theme in [[science fiction]]. For example, in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' episode "The Way to Eden," a group of galactic drop-outs gerry-rig an ultrasonic broadcaster to incapacitate the crew of ''USS Enterprise'' (NCC-1701) long enough to allow the drop-outs to disembark, and then to reactivate at a level that could kill. No contemporary acoustical expert has ever suggested that a man could die from overexposure to sound or ultrasound at any given pitch. However, that was before the invention of the "saser" at the University of Nottingham.