Tech universe: Thursday 26 August

The Assault Intervention Device. Photo / Supplied

A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.

PRISON AID: The Assault Intervention Device shoots huge laser beams. At prisoners. In the Pitchess Detention Center in Los Angeles. It throws a laser beam up to 30 metres away where it penetrates half a millimetre into the skin. The pain makes the prisoner move away. Isn't that rather like a cattle prod? Details at the DailyMail and video on YouTube.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW: Thump, and another bird hits the window. They don't need to any more though with Ornilux. Birds can see ultraviolet, but we can't, so the impact-resistant insulated glass uses a special patterned UV reflective coating. Birds see a web, but we see right through. That's smart glass. More at TreeHugger.

HORSE VEST: When falling from a horse it's a long way to the ground. How about a bit of cushioning? Riders wear an air vest that is attached to the saddle by a cord. If they jerk the cord, perhaps by falling off, a small canister of CO2 inflates the vest in a trice. Especially handy for the water jumps. More at Gizmodo.

WATER, WATER: Drifting in a life raft at sea? Kim Hoffman's Sea Kettle liferaft has a built-in desalination plant. You pump seawater into a reservoir in the roof where it evaporates to condense into collectors. The raft provides enough drinking water for 5 people per day. Many a drop to drink, after all. Details at Discovery.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz.