Apple’s iPads are not designed to be submerged in water, but a Navy scientist found a way to use the tablet under the ocean’s surface as part of a recent optics experiment conducted by the Naval Research Lab’s (NRL’s) Oceanography Divison.
Due to the nature of their work at sea, the Navy and Marine Corps constantly work to better understand ocean optics — or the behavior and properties of light under the sea — to safely and effectively perform functions such as hunting for undersea mines, engaging in dive operations, and creating models for the performance of anti-submarine activities.
Most of the US military’s interest to date in using tablets like the iPad — such as with the Army’s online mobile application store and other initiatives — has been due to their ability to support custom applications and networking capabilities.
