BANGKOK: In the movies, James Bond relies on "Q" to invent all the high-tech gadgetry that Bond uses during his missions. Well, Thailand might not have a 007 agent, but it does have its' own "Q" - Songphon Eiamboonyarith.

As a child, Songphon loved to watch the Mission Impossible TV series. He fell in love with all the cool devices that were shown, and decided that he wanted to become an inventor. At the age of 12, he even rummaged through his mother's wardrobe for materials to make a bulletproof vest.

Now 52, Songphon has lived up to his childhood dream. His creations include a bulletproof vest that also protects against bladed weapons, a gun that fires a net to entangle targets, an electroshock gun, as well as umbrellas and walking sticks that can double as guns.

Songphon grew up on a remote military base, studied for and received an engineering degree, and spent 10 years in the army. After his discharge, Songphon combined the knowledge of weapons that he had gained while in the army with his own lively imagination to create his own weapons and equipment for the Thai military. These are then sold to the Thai military through his defense contracting firm, Precipart Co.

But the motive behind these creations is to protect and not to harm. In Songphon's own words, the equipment is meant "to help in the fight against terrorism." No small order in Thailand, where armed separatists in the south do not hesitate to use lethal force in pursuit of their goals.

Songphon presently has 400 employees working under him, and has created 50 different items for the Thai military, including a reinforced shield that can withstand the explosion from a car bomb. He is currently working on a bulletproof wig for teachers to protect them from being shot in the head by separatists. The separatists attack teachers because they see the teachers as part of a plot to spread Buddhist culture and teachings.