Situational awareness in Afghanistan just got a little easier

U.S. soldiers in the Regional Command South sector of Afghanistan are using a touch-screen, handheld device developed by the Defense Department's research arm that provides them with a wealth of information designed to boost their situational awareness, reports Defense News.

The device, which soldiers call TransApps, was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency through its DARPA’s Transformative Apps program, the story said.

Soldiers using TransApps can track their movements, take pictures, view maps and send position coordinates to other soldiers carrying the same devices, the story said.