U.S. Navy invents a covert e-reader for sailors
Mario Tama/Getty Images
The U.S. Navy has invented and released a low-tech e-reader, reports BBC News. Dubbed the Navy eReader Device, or NeRD, the lightweight tablet doesn't have Wi-Fi or data capabilities, so enemies can't hack into the devices or discover a sailor's whereabouts via GPS.
Popular e-readers like Amazon's Kindle aren't allowed aboard Navy ships because they're loaded with Wi-Fi and GPS functions that can transmit their location. Unfortunately, that means sailors can't download new books to their NeRDs, and must choose from 300 titles ranging from classics to best-sellers that come pre-loaded. The Navy has assembled roughly 400 e-readers so far.
The devices, which are free for sailors, are currently only available on submarines, but there are plans to expand the program fleet-wide.
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Jordan Valinsky is the lead writer for Speed Reads. Before joining The Week, he wrote for New York Observer's tech blog, Betabeat, and tracked the intersection between popular culture and the internet for The Daily Dot. He graduated with a degree in online journalism from Ohio University.
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