Working to reduce the number of civilian casualties and collateral damage in conflicts overseas continues to be a main focus for our U.S. troops and NATO allies around the world. Thirty nations met to discuss these challenges in Ottawa, Canada this week. In part one of a three part series, our Amanda Kelley tells us how battlefield changes are boosting the demand for new technologies, better known as non-lethal force.

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OTTAWA, CANADA -- Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister, Dept. Of National Defense Dan Ross said, "Non-lethal capabilities are a realm of weaponry that is new to the battlefield, but it's debut has been overdue."

Today's battlefield is calling for a new set of skills and a new arsenal to fight with. Thirty different NATO Allies, including the U.S., met in Ottawa, Canada to discuss the ever growing need for non-lethal technology.

U.S. Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations Lt. Gen. Richard Tryon said, "I think the field of Non Lethal Weaponry and scalable effects systems is a growth industry. The offer the potential to be a game changer."

Vendors from around the world came to Canada to showcase the latest developments in technology to control crowds, vehicles and other scenarios.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Securities Challenges Gabor Iklody said, "This is a unique opportunity and this is the single biggest one really where industry and government experts can really come together and where industry can show, demonstrate what are the technologies that are being developed and available on the market and promote practicality, the use of such technologies."

Marine Corps retired Lt. General Emil Bedard said, "By bringing thirty nations together, there becomes a kind of commonality of what's the base line that each of us have in term of capabilities."

But creating and developing these non-lethal weapons is half the battle. Many defense leaders said their policies to allow their use on the battlefield are taking far too long, putting communities and troops in danger.

Iklody said, "I heard many complaining about the fact that it takes too much time for government to take time to actually, to take the right decisions and acquire these technologies, so how that time could be reduced, that's a major challenge."

Military leaders discussed these challenges at length, but are also concerned about how they will soon be forced to do more with less.

Iklody said, "We are living in a resource scarce environment and to change mindsets and re-direct the use of those scarce resources is a difficult challenge."

It's a reality many NATO allies are facing, but they said their focus to move towards technology that will save lives and relationships around the world won't waver.
Lt. General Bedard said, "I think that someday there won't be a differentiation between less than lethal and lethal weaponry. There will be a spectrum."