PS3 now a national security device

[Triv1um]

Via Playstatic

Research is being conducted on the technology used in the Playstation 3 in an effort to develop new national security devices in the US.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington, USA, is using the processing power of Cell to help manage complex information, such as security videos and facial recognition technology. Apparently the PS3’s technology has approximately a quarter the computing power of the lab’s 8,000 square foot supercomputer.

Quoting lab researcher, Mark Goodwin;

“It [facial recognition and video surveillance] places a tremendous burden on the operator of those control environments that are look at all these video feeds coming in an not knowing how to process all of that information. This is an opportunity to bring machine based processing into the video analysis environment.”

The article doesn’t state exactly what “technology” is being made use of from the Playstation 3 but one might assume they refer to Cell, with its seven separate processing units. It may be an expensive toy for the average gamer, though cheaper than building another giant super-computer.

PS3 - not only Folding for cancer but Big Brother too.

[bah]

Around release there was talk of the PS2 being a security threat due to its 'incredible power' being able to 'control an ICBM' or something along those lines.

It got a fair amount of press online despite being a rather dubious statement, sony's marketing team at work.

I would say if the 4 core CPUs are equal in computing 'power' (MIPS/MFOLPS?) to their 8000 square foot 'supercomputer' then they may want to reconsider its 'super' prefix.

Old article that mentions the whole sony PS2/missile advertising BS.

[Basil Zero]

wow..just wow

[sappo]

Around release there was talk of the PS2 being a security threat due to its 'incredible power' being able to 'control an ICBM' or something along those lines.

It got a fair amount of press online despite being a rather dubious statement, sony's marketing team at work.

I would say if the 4 core CPUs are equal in computing 'power' (MIPS/MFOLPS?) to their 8000 square foot 'supercomputer' then they may want to reconsider its 'super' prefix.

Old article that mentions the whole sony PS2/missile advertising BS.

Yeah, their super-computer are ridiculous. Also, another Sony Marketing idea.

They haven't still understood that a powerful crappy system, even if powerful, remains crappy.

[mavsman4457]

Yeah, their super-computer are ridiculous. Also, another Sony Marketing idea.

They haven't still understood that a powerful crappy system, even if powerful, remains crappy.

Once we can access the RSX through Linux it will be absolutely limitless and we'll see what it's made of.

[Basil Zero]

Once we can access the RSX through Linux it will be absolutely limitless and we'll see what it's made of.

I cant wait for that