Drones in My Backyard

Gr 7 Up—From an irritating buzz in a neighbor's yard to deadly military weapons, drones have a number of downsides, explored here by director and narrator Alan Snitow. Snitow, whose films focus on social issues, uses original interviews and footage, spliced together with clips from PBS, the Israeli Army, YouTube, and other sources to demonstrate the potential uses of drones. Their positive aspects are mentioned (finding lost hikers, police surveillance, and fantastic aerial footage that allows the viewer to experience flying). But the emphasis here is on the negative, from peeking in windows to drones strapped with machine guns and bombs. The film has a charming interview with a drone hobbyist, whose do-it-yourself creations are laced with duct tape and recycled materials, made strictly for his own enjoyment. A brief Mission: Impossible-style segment highlights the espionage aspect of drone activity. With a playing time of 13 minutes, robotics or government classes would have ample discussion time for practical or ethical issues, and budding engineers could consider positive and negative possibilities before assembling any unmanned aerial vehicles.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX