Army tucker reassessed

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 19

Army tucker reassessed

During the Falklands War, the British Army found its soldiers often performed below par. The problem? They were eating the wrong food. The New Zealand Army, whose own ration pack was based on the British version and had also remained virtually unchanged since 19405, learnt from the Falklands experience and decided to redesign. On Friday on “Fast Forward" (7 on One) there is a report on a food technologist from Massey University, who has researched the requirements of soldiers in the field and come up with a new, scientifically designed ration pack. It not only provides enough nutri-

tion and energy for the most hard working of soldiers, it also achieves something equally important (and also missing in the old pack) ... this latest army tucker actually tastes good. “Fast Forward” also visits a 3‘/ 2 - year-old who has just been given her own wheels. Melissa has spina bifida, the disease which robs its victims of mobility. But these days she is independent and can keep up with other youngsters, thanks to the Disabilities Resource Centre in Palmerston North which has developed the electric go-cart. Traditionally, portable underwater wireless systems are plagued with distortion problems. However,

as “Fast Forward” reports, a small Canadian company has come up with an alternative, the Scubaphone, which means for the first time divers can hear each other as if they were talking on the telephone. On their recent trip to North America “Fast Forward” staffers stopped off at the Vancouver Aquarium to film the scubaphone in action. Finally on Friday, the Christchurch - based science and technology show features a story on new technology which enables pilots to see in the dark. Night-vision goggles look like a pair of binoculars and are handled in much the same way, but they are much more sophisticated.