Graw technology in real life

Here's a question: With all the advances in optics (they can put a fricking camera in your heart!), why is the vision system so monstrously big? Neat tech, but man if it doesn't look cumbersome and unwieldy.

this is such a cool technology, and something I think could save lives, especially friendly fire.. Next they just need to figure out how to stop IEDs from destroying vehicles so easily.. and identifying a terrorist in a crowd..

From personal experience: Nothing will replace actual eyes on a target. There is so much more to engaging an enemy target than just aquisition. You have to determine if the target fall within the ROE (Rules of Engagement) before engaging. That means you have to determine if they are armed, taking hostile actions, or if they are a specifically designated "snatch and grab" target. All the video targeting technology I have come across lacks the clarity that the human eye does. Video is typically small, garbled, and interruptable. I dont want to sound like I am not into advancing technology, but sometime high tech doesnt mean highly effective.

Cool stuff but I suspect that when shit is hot that crap will be the first stuff dropped and the ol' reliable eyeball will come into play. I do love that show on Discovery though!

To Unwashed...The big device on the M4 in the bottom pic is actually a Night Vision device. Used for low light engagments. The camera he is using is mounted on the front of the weapon and is small like fiber optics.