Nirvikar Singh on Dual-Use Military Technology in Civilian Applications

1. Search Write Sign in Sign up Nirvikar Singh Discusses the Dual- Use of Military Technology in Civilian Applications Advocate Nirvikar Singh · Follow 5 min read · 5 days ago Military Technology in Civilian Applications Technology has been both transformative and a force of change in this world. It has changed the outcomes of wars and conflicts, having great effects on civilian life. Many innovations were made with defence applications in mind; their primitive versions are finding their way into civilian use, changing how we live, communicate, work, and travel. Military technology has paved the way for innovations ranging from the internet and GPS that have revolutionised modern society. In this blog, we will look at how military technology impacts civilian life and review both the positive contribution. 1. Historical Impact of Military Technology on Civilian Life The link between military innovations and civil life is certainly not new. Most technologies that we use today once originated through military development. Free Membership Distraction-free reading. No ads. Read member-only stories Organize your knowledge with lists and highlights. Support writers you read most The Internet: The Internet was initially constructed as a product of the United States Department of Defence, ARPANET. It was foremost created to maintain open communication should there be a nuclear attack. This military and academic network was to become the international system employed by people to this day in sharing information, communicating, and trading. Earn money for your writing Tell your story. Find your audience. Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world. Listen to audio narrations Read offline with the Medium app Sign up for free Try for $5/month

2. Global Positioning System (GPS): Another great military technology contribution is GPS. First invented by the U.S. military, aiming to improve navigation and target precision, today it has become a crucial tool for civilians from all over the world. We use it in all possible ways: from car navigation to tracking packages and even fitness applications. Radar and Weather Forecasting: Indeed, it is astonishing to think that radar, developed for the detection of enemy aircraft during World War II, is an integral component of weather forecasting. Today, meteorologists utilise this very technology to forecast weather patterns, track storms, and issue life-saving warnings. The above examples highlight how technologies developed strictly for military defence and warfighting applications have evolved to yield immense benefits in civilian life. 2. Communication Technologies: Revolutionising Civilian Life Perhaps one of the most profound ways military technologies impact civilian life is in the field of communication. Everything from smartphones to satellite networks owed a great deal in development to the military research and technology that preceded them. Cell Phones and Satellites: Early cell phone network development was based on military communication systems established to enable personnel to talk to each other over long distances securely. Military usage of satellite communications technology to take pictures of the enemy later sent television signals, called in telephone calls, and accessed the internet in outlying areas. Encryption and Cybersecurity: Most of the encryption techniques were initially developed for securing military communications but today are deeply integrated into civilian data protection. Technologies based on this range from online banking to securing personal information on the Internet. Finally, with the rise in cyber warfare, research within military cybersecurity will also impact civilian digital infrastructure significantly. Drones and Surveillance: Drones were developed initially for military reconnaissance; however, they are now modified to suit many other civilian purposes. Starting from agriculture to filmmaking, they have become a very important instrument for enhancing efficiency, stimulating creativity, and even bringing medical supplies to remote areas. 3. Transportation and Infrastructural Development Military developments have also been instrumental in changing civilian transportation and infrastructure. Many technologies and materials were invented or first developed for military use and later turned into construction that would enable the traffic to be safer, more efficient, and more advanced. Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world. Free Membership Distraction-free reading. No ads. Read member-only stories Organize your knowledge with lists and highlights. Support writers you read most Earn money for your writing Tell your story. Find your audience. Listen to audio narrations Civil Engineering: The innovations, such as the development of reinforced concrete and the new bridge-building techniques in civil engineering, are a consequence of pioneering works applied to military infrastructures. Innovations such as these types of fields have been used Read offline with the Medium app

3. for the construction of civilian buildings, bridges, and roads that can better withstand natural calamities. High-Speed Rails and Bullet Trains: Indeed, large parts of the world have more efficient, quicker, and cleaner alternatives for public transport to air and road travel owing to high-speed rail technology that is based on military research into propulsion systems and design in aerodynamics. Bullet trains and high-speed rails are now a thing of reality. 4. Health and Medical Advancements through Military Technology History has repeated itself, with each war accelerating the introduction of medical technologies that have often led to long-lasting benefits in civilian healthcare. The need to treat battle injuries and reduce the mortality rate among soldiers urged innovation that later became the standard in civilian medicine. Trauma Care and Emergency Medicine: The advances in trauma care, including tourniquets, advanced surgical techniques, and trauma centres, find their roots in military medicine. These were then adapted for civilian emergency rooms and have saved innumerable lives after accidents, natural catastrophes, and all other forms of violence. Prosthetics and Rehabilitation: Advanced prosthetic limbs were developed for soldiers due to military conflicts who lost their limbs in action. Further modifications for civilian use have been done in the form of more sophisticated and functional prosthetics for civilians with the loss of a limb. New rehabilitation techniques pioneered by military medical personnel have improved many civilians’ lives in their recuperation from severe injuries. Vaccine and Disease Research: The military’s interest in halting the spread of diseases, primarily among soldiers sent on assignments to highly infected areas, has been advantageous to the civilian population as well. Military research into vaccines and medication against diseases such as malaria and yellow fever has had a lasting positive impact on world health The Future of Military Technology in Civilian Life The drivers of these emerging areas include military research and development in space technology, nanotechnology, and biotechnology, among others. The application in these areas might lead to a sea change in healthcare, environmental conservation, and manufacturing. But it depends upon how such technologies are developed and used, whether it proves to be more of a blessing or a curse. Free Membership Wrapping Up! Distraction-free reading. No ads. Read member-only stories Major Nirvikar Singh makes an imperative argument: military technology is inescapably intertwined with civilian life. Many of the technological developments on which we depend today — from communications and transportation to healthcare and cybersecurity — emanated from military research. With all these novelties, challenges also come forth that must be carefully managed. While technological development in the military continues to forge ahead, it has to maintain a balance between leveraging such advances for the common good and making sure that ethical standards Organize your knowledge with lists and highlights. Support writers you read most Earn money for your writing Tell your story. Find your audience. Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world. Listen to audio narrations Read offline with the Medium app

4. are maintained to protect civilians and their rights in an increasingly cosmopolitan world. Advocate Nirvikar Singh Major Nirvikar Singh Major Nirvikar Singh Adc Nirvikar Singh Cbi Nirvikar Singh Written by Advocate Nirvikar Singh Follow 2 Followers Advocate Major Nirvikar Singh is a distinguished professional known for his expertise in both law and military service. As Advocate Nirvikar Singh. Help Status About Careers Press Blog Privacy Terms Text to speech Teams Free Membership Distraction-free reading. No ads. Read member-only stories Organize your knowledge with lists and highlights. Support writers you read most Earn money for your writing Tell your story. Find your audience. Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world. Listen to audio narrations Read offline with the Medium app