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Information is valuable. When you've got everyone's rifle connected to a network you can know who's having a bad day and have help on the way in case they ask.

Information is valuable. When you've got everyone's rifle connected to a network you can know who's having a bad day and have help on the way in case they ask. No current firearms designer is dumb enough to put nonessential electronics in the critical path. I can see a usefulness for some of the electronics stuff in a training context as well. Details in the article are sparse but the article states this is a sporting shotgun. Knowing how non-electronics companies ventures into consumer electronics typically go I bet this is just a $100 worth of sensors and a Bluetooth module integrated into a stock and marked up 500% and if it does a good enough job recording that trick shot you made (so you can share with your internet friends for bragging rights) people will pay for it.

CWuestefeld 6y ago
No current firearms designer is dumb enough to put nonessential electronics in the critical path. The State of New Jersey has/had a law[1] that would require all handguns sold to be outfitted with smart gun technology within X months of said technology becoming available, that would prevent the gun from firing except when in the hands of its authorized owner. At the time, it was assumed that would take a form like, the owner needs to wear a special ring on the hand that would grip the gun, and the firing mechanism would sense proximity of the ring. The nightmare stories that could arise from that pretty much write themselves. But my point is that, even if manufacturers aren't that dumb, politicians are. [1] I'm not sure of its current status
deleted 6y ago
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divbzero 6y ago
> When you've got everyone's rifle connected to a network you can know who's having a bad day and have help on the way in case they ask. This is the one (maybe) plausible use case I’ve seen in the thread so far. I’m still skeptical though given how fast technologies can change. A gun maintained well can work fine 50 years later. Will Wi-Fi or Bluetooth still work the same 50 years from now? Speed of change is also why luxury electronics is very different from traditional luxury accessories. How long is the useful lifetime for a gift of a Vertu smartphone [1] or an Apple Watch Hermès [2]? [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertu [2]: https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/ https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/
- c22 6y ago
  It seems manufacturing volume of new firearms in the US has been on the rise [0]. Perhaps guns that last so long aren't good for sales. [0] https://www.atf.gov/file/149886/download https://www.atf.gov/file/149886/download

CWuestefeld 6y ago

No current firearms designer is dumb enough to put nonessential electronics in the critical path. The State of New Jersey has/had a law[1] that would require all handguns sold to be outfitted with smart gun technology within X months of said technology becoming available, that would prevent the gun from firing except when in the hands of its authorized owner. At the time, it was assumed that would take a form like, the owner needs to wear a special ring on the hand that would grip the gun, and the firing mechanism would sense proximity of the ring. The nightmare stories that could arise from that pretty much write themselves. But my point is that, even if manufacturers aren't that dumb, politicians are. [1] I'm not sure of its current status

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

divbzero 6y ago

> When you've got everyone's rifle connected to a network you can know who's having a bad day and have help on the way in case they ask. This is the one (maybe) plausible use case I’ve seen in the thread so far. I’m still skeptical though given how fast technologies can change. A gun maintained well can work fine 50 years later. Will Wi-Fi or Bluetooth still work the same 50 years from now? Speed of change is also why luxury electronics is very different from traditional luxury accessories. How long is the useful lifetime for a gift of a Vertu smartphone [1] or an Apple Watch Hermès [2]? [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertu [2]: https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/ https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/

c22 6y ago
It seems manufacturing volume of new firearms in the US has been on the rise [0]. Perhaps guns that last so long aren't good for sales. [0] https://www.atf.gov/file/149886/download https://www.atf.gov/file/149886/download