Toys That Make Their Way Into Combat - Ralph Osterhout

Ralph Osterhout describes the "perverse symbiotic relationship" between the children's toy industry and military innovation.

EG is the celebration of the American entertainment industry. Since 1984, Richard Saul Wurman has created extraordinary gatherings about learning and understanding. EG is a rich extension of these ideas - a conference that explores the attitude of understanding in music, film, television, radio, technology, advertising, gaming, interactivity and the web - The Entertainment Gathering

Known as a serial productizer of technology, Ralph Osterhout regularly ricochets between Advanced military Systems, High-tech Toys, Electronic Intelligence and Consumer Products. His major customers are the Department of Defense, major Toy Companies and perfromance-oriented product companies, worldwide. The common thread: high performance, low cost and meaningful innovation.

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• entertainment
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[dom1940]

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. It just depends on your perspective right?

[CVKent317]

It really is disturbing how the military seems to take anything and use it for destructive purposes.

[bloodypinksock]

how did i get here in the first place o.O

[MarzakProductions]

I am not supporting war. so please do not comment back screaming at me. but war stimulates economic growth. our governments want war so we can get money

[badger5079]

@TheGreatWhiteScout

Maybe you are right. It's been interesting arguing with you.

[TheGreatWhiteScout]

@badger5079 Again, what you think and what are the facts are two different things. The estimates of casualties came from hard experience during the invasion of Okinawa (82 days - 55,000 US and over 150,000 Japanese military and civilian casualties). The home islands were larger with denser population centers and the evidence from Okinawa was that the civilians would fight alongside the military. If anything, the estimates were on the conservative side.

[badger5079]

@TheGreatWhiteScout

Which ever path leads to less civilian deaths is more moral. I think that the projections that have been given for casualties of a U.S. invasion of the Japanese home islands are excessive. I believe that the majority of dead would have been military. By using the nuclear bomb, Truman was ensuring that the number of dead U.S. soldiers was minimised but a moral leader would have had the protection of civilians (even Japanese) as his primary concern.

[TheGreatWhiteScout]

@badger5079 So nearly a million KIA and 2 million WIA (both civilian AND military) is more moral than a third of a million KIA and the end of the war? Not sure where you learned either math or morality, but I'd say you are in great need of instruction in both. Adding courses in political science and logic might help too.

[badger5079]

@TheGreatWhiteScout

Yes, some actions are more moral than others. You shouldn't need to think about that one for too long to realise it is true. I already stated that the deaths of soldiers in a war is more morally acceptable than the deaths of civilians.

[TheGreatWhiteScout]

@badger5079 More moral? Morality is measured on a scale? News to me. Well let me give you some numbers - anticipated casualties for Operation Olympic (US invasion of the home islands based upon the loses suffered on Okinawa) - US - 500,000 WIA, 250,000 KIA Japan - 1,000,000 WIA, 700,000 KIA (civilian and military).  Death toll for Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 300,000 WIA, 150,000 KIA. So which would be better in your mind?

[badger5079]

@TheGreatWhiteScout

Soldiers are supposed to die if necessary. It is more moral to have soldiers die than civilians, regardless of what side they are on.

[TheGreatWhiteScout]

@badger5079 Truman decided no such thing. It was a joint decision at Casablanca and confirmed at Yalta by the three major allied powers. What we disagree upon is whether the 'last resort' was reached. It was. The War Department had already purchased the serial-numbered Purple Hearts required for the anticipated casualties for Operation Olympic. The US DOD is still handing out those same medals out today, 66 years later, and we're not even close to reaching the end of them.