The search for the one true universal camouflage pattern still goes on. The benefits of finding is enormous: militaries can have a single multi-environment, multi-mission uniform for their soldiers and helping save on budget costs, and for the owner of such pattern, royalties and contracts that will know no boundaries. However, there is no such thing as a universal pattern, no matter how camo makers tell us, for now.

Since such a camo pattern remains elusive, most practical thinkers look at camo patterns as more environment or mission specific. The problem with this thinking is cost as it is expensive to issue armies different sets of camo patterns. Thus, attempts at it, such as the multicam, the ACUPAT, etc. improve the knowledge of building even better camo patterns, but nowhere close to the holy grail.

Thus, it always goes back to the environment/mission specific approach. It is at the moment, the most practical way to equip soldiers and operators to operate in different environments, issue what is more appropriate to the operating environment. Special Operations Apps, a company that is owned by former operators for current operators, use this approach, but pushes it even further with their CamoScience.

CamoScience is an application for the iOS (iPhone, iPad, etc.) and works as a tool to develop a mission-specific camo pattern. It was developed with special Operations in mind, using various sources of imagery such as intelligence photographs generated by reconnaisance, satellite or drone imagery, and whatever image they can lay their hands on about a specific location for their sensitive operation. These images are overlayed to come up with a special pattern that will work best for the operation and is then printed on the garment for immediate use. This means that with this tool, various camo patterns are created. This may mean that no two patterns will be alike --- each pattern is distinct for it is very specific, and sometimes, "one time" purpose.

Since these are in most cases, "one time" missions, these patterns can only be used by Special Operations Forces rather than large units or else it becomes an exercise in penny-pinching by the military accountants and procurement units.

CamoScience is an interesting an app. However, this app might not be widely available as it's only made for operators and will not be available in the Appstore. Special Operations Apps is building its own "SF Appstore" for this purpose and other applications that they will develop. This means, that for us airsoft players who are not operators by occupation, will be locked out from this appstore.

Still, it's another affirmation that COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) products can be used for a lot of tactical purposes and the smartphones are the most useful among such products.