"Wars are fought on the battlefield, but the technologies that enable 21st century warfare are developed in research laboratories. Within the walls of corporate, government, and academic labs, researchers are probing the edges of science to uncover technologies that will make warfare more efficient -- and more deadly. This book looks at the people behind the curtain, and at the next generation of tactical, information, communication, vehicular, biological, and cryptographic systems. Featuring in-depth interviews with the project directors and scientists performing this groundbreaking research, The Geeks of War also examines their scientific, political, patriotic, and financial motives, as well as the implications these technologies may have for the future. Presenting the views of numerous respected military, business, and technology analysts, The Geeks of War takes readers inside America's leading military technology research facilities -- exploring a clandestine world that few people ever see."

From Publishers Weekly

This compendium of military research projects aims to elicit a starry-eyed "gee whiz" from readers, and a few of the novelties showcased here-including ship-borne free electron lasers that zap incoming missiles, gamma ray bombs and mechanical "exoskeletons" that let soldiers shoulder huge loads-may achieve that goal. But many more will provoke a resounding "ho-hum," like the "cognitive software" that helps commanders answer their e-mail and do their scheduling, supply-tracking radio frequency identification tags that are old hat at your local Wal-Mart, and a scheme to set up military blogs. The truly appalled "Oh, God!" reactions will probably be to the "First Strike Rations" under development by the Army's Combat Feeding Directorate, which feature "energy booster gel" squeezed from tubes. There's little here to fire the martial imagination. To judge by the plethora of proposals for small reconnaissance robots and drones, tiny sensors and omniscient computer networks, the army of the future will be increasingly miniature, bloodless and unmanned-a prospect that could only excite a techie. Edwards, a business-technology journalist and author of Leveraging Web Services: Planning, Building, and Integration for Maximum Impact, sources his rather dry, jargon-heavy accounts of new technologies mainly to the same academic and corporate researchers who are developing and promoting them, and rarely subjects their boosterish claims to critical evaluation. The result is a turgid but shallow look at the shape of things to come. Photos.
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Review

"... a brilliant example of how complex information and seemingly intractable issues can be brought to light articulately, accessibly, and engagingly."

-InnovationWatch.com

Book Description

"Wars are fought on the battlefield, but the technologies that enable 21st century warfare are developed in research laboratories. Within the walls of corporate, government, and academic labs, researchers are probing the edges of science to uncover technologies that will make warfare more efficient -- and more deadly.

This book looks at the people behind the curtain, and at the next generation of tactical, information, communication, vehicular, biological, and cryptographic systems. Featuring in-depth interviews with the project directors and scientists performing this groundbreaking research, The Geeks of War also examines their scientific, political, patriotic, and financial motives, as well as the implications these technologies may have for the future. Presenting the views of numerous respected military, business, and technology analysts, The Geeks of War takes readers inside America's leading military technology research facilities -- exploring a clandestine world that few people ever see."

About the Author

John Edwards (Gilbert, AZ) is a veteran business-technology journalist who covers emerging trends for a wide range of publications and organizations, including The Economist , PricewaterhouseCoopers, CIO Magazine , CFO Magazine , IEEE Computer, Oracle Magazine and Wireless Week. His work has also appeared in The New York Times , The Washington Post , The Philadelphia Inquirer , Men's Health and American Way, American Airlines' in-flight magazine.