disposable organic sensors networks (DOSN)

The military is developing Disposable Organic Sensors Networks (DOSN.) Also referred to as unattended ground sensor (UGS) Here's and interesting link with a few excerpted sentences following...

http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2004/Army/0602709A.pdf

Disposable Sensor Network. In FY04, research low cost, throw away visible/near infrared active pixel imaging sensors and non-imaging sensors for increased situational awareness and survivability in open and complex terrain operations. A Disposable Sensors Network project will be performed in concert with Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and will apply industry expertise in high volume, low cost electronic components and imaging systems to demonstrate prototypes. This program will focus on developing mature key technologies for very small, low cost multi-functional unattended ground sensors to be disbursed on the battlefield and fuse data to help detect & classify threats.

Basically, drop thousands of inexpensive sensors covering a large area. The sensors sense, of course, and network, sending their information and location to the next node. Node by node, the information eventually reaches computing centers.

Or, that's close.

I read the other day that the same technology is being used to protect forests. Put thousands of sensors on tress that can sense fire and signal their next node, and node by node the information eventually reaching a computer where the data is acted on.

It strikes me that Sousveillance is another version of "disposable organic sensors network." Only, we're the organic part. Ironic! We will try our best to avoid the disposable part!!

Power to the people!