The original VATS concept was simple: give the target control of the bullet.

Using a mix of short microwave, thermal and optical tracking systems - all of them vestigal, for economic and packaging reasons, but the combination usually worked - the bullet would identify and lock onto the target, when fired and residual energy would be used to fine tune the targeting.

Of course, this kind of ammunition was soon made illegal, by international treaty. One of the biggest concerns was that these bullets did not have the capacity to recognize and exclude endangered species. Another more practical issue was that there wasn't enough left, when they failed, to figure out what had gone wrong.

Also, combat experience showed that you could easily defend against this early version of VATS targeting using a heavy frying pan or other solid object, held over the chest.

This lead to VATS version 2, version 3, and version 5. By moving the targeting first into the weapon we avoid international treaty problems. This also gives us the processing capacity needed to target individual regions of the body. Version 5 goes a step further by moving the targeting out of the weapon and into the pipboy.

Here, we are able to take advantage of coupling with the user's nervous and endocrine systems and that leads us to the current model.

The initial targeting implementation was nice and simple - point and shoot. We make the assumption that whatever the gun is aimed at is what we want to shoot. This has been the trandition for centuries - ever since firearms were first invented (albeit, with some exceptions for ballistic weapons, for example).

The problem is that in a combat situation there is not much time for reflection and yet accuracy is important.

Anyways, cutting out a lot of the BS that you are already familiar with: the current VATS gives us an endocrine boost to give the user an experiential moment of calm to assist in target selection - a "burst of adrenaline" according to popular media, but my tech staff would laugh at me if I said that with any seriousness.

And, with that out of the way, let us move on to the demonstration. I think you will be pleased.