And the picture is of the soldiers pealing off their gloves…

On June 3, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States military is testing the iPhone and Android for combat use in military operations.  Already, the military is a bit touchscreen savvy with touchscreen GPS systems in many conveyances and equipment.  But now, the US Army has invested about $4.2 million in the development of military apps and the study of smartphone specific technologies.

Photo used in the June 3, 2010 WSJ article.

According to the article, desert trials with “off-the-shelf iPhones, Androids and tablets” the U.S. Army start today. If trials prove successful, the Army would be able to update information quickly from smartphone devices and integrate apps to streamline information and data sets straight from the field or from enemy lines. The locations of battled soldiers could be expedited to medical wards; identity could be verified through iris-scanning apps.

Of course, soldiers need to have a rugged device.  A shattered iPhone screen would not only be dangerous, but fragmented light situations would not be good in combative regions, surely.  Thus, the U.S. government would need to make the devices a bit more rugged.  According to the article, they government could spend up to $2,500 transforming the fragile iPhone into a battle-ready device.

It’s all in the name of colloquial touchscreens.  Touchscreens have now seeped into nearly every nook and cranny in everyday life ranging from ATMs and ticket kiosks now into the frontlines of battle.

Agloves help in all touchscreen situations, especially in cold weather.  We thought it was hilarious and great that the photo the WSJ chose to use illustrated army soldiers actively TAKING OFF their gloves to access the devices.  Agloves hopes to help solve the government’s problems…

In fact, anybody who works for state or federal government can now purchase Agloves through the U.S. General Services Administration, or GSA. Agloves, which recently approved by the GSA, has a GSA Schedule Number of GS-35F-0673P.  Find out more, here.