I had a chance to shoot TrackingPoint’s first system when the company initially released it. The company was founded by personnel that had previously worked on computerized targeting systems for big military projects. This offering was different as it was first offered to the civilian market with the internals based on readily-available commodity hardware and open source software. Literally, the interfaces, accelerometers, processors, WiFi transceiver, and Linux-based embedded operating system found in a TrackingPoint rifle are very similar to those in modern Android cell phones and the like.

The company had various problems, as many small businesses do. Still, this news is interesting (and not really surprising.)

From John Tate

All the hoopla about the new scopes that actually calculate all the windage, elevation bullet drop, temperature etc. are vulnerable to hacking or being turned off remotely. Bet the military is scrambling right about now…those systems are big bucks.

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-can-disable-sniper-rifleor-change-target/

http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2015/07/29/i-shot-the-sheriff-my-hacked-rifle-shot-the-deputy/

There’s a reason the Navy still teaches how to use a sextant.

Corollary: Once when I was in London, I wanted to take some photographs. The battery in my camera had died, so the light meter didn’t work. However, I remembered the classic, base shutter-aperture formula: aperture at f/16 and shutter at the ASA of the film. (By base, I mean this is for a normal, daylight environment). The photos came out properly exposed.

Lesson: Carry a lighter, but never forget how to rub two sticks together to start a fire.