Okay so I saw a "Future Weapons" (or similar type show) special on this on the discovery channel. They were talking about weapons that were being developed for the future that didn't harm people but would incapacitate them. Example:

They had a gun that would shoot a direct high pitch sound at a person that would overwhelm them and hurt their ears so they had to drop their weapons and hold their ears. (or well something like this anyway)

They also had one that shot a beam of bright light at people to momentarily blind them.

Does anyone have any idea what these types of weapons would be called? I keep calling them alternative weapons... lol but I know this can't be the correct term.

Any clues?

Nonlethal weapons?
Carol

I googled and the US military, at least, do seem to designate these precisely as Carol suggests. I got back a host of websites, all talking about 'non-lethal weapons'. This one, for instance, is just one example:

Miltary Systems

LabRat

Thanks guys!

Actually one of the most intriguing non-lethal weapons is essentially silly string, only you can't break it. The sound weapon is a low frequency weapon that basically prevents the target(i.e. person) from moving forward. Think of the boom busters in cars next to you at a stop light going "thrum thrum" and moving your heart beat and you get the idea.

Artemis

actually there have been a lot of reports of helicopter pilots being blinded by lasers shone into the night sky by people on the ground...

some recent incidents in Australia have been rather dangerous (well, more dangerous than other incidents) because the helicopters in question were Rescue Helicopters on route to hospital Emergency departments

A news report from Sydney\'s: The Daily Telegraph


so, not so sci-fi after all

possibilities for terrorists and law enforcement alike

Yes, but lasing a person though not lethal, can cause long term to permanent damage to the eye.

From Wiki
Laser safety


Also, the sonic cannon has been around for a little while. Sonic Cannon or LRAD
James.