Slashdot Mirror
Invisible Cloaks, Translucent Walls
jd writes "The University of Tokyo has developed the illusion of invisibility, under the name of 'Optical Camouflage.' The system is remarkably simple - you have a mix of light-sensitive and light-emitting devices attached to an adapted reflective surface. The devices are hooked to a computer, which simply projects on each side whatever is on the opposite side. The result is more of a translucent look, than real invisibility, but the potential is there. The inventer's next objective is to make walls that are invisible, using the same technology. Project a real outside image onto an interior wall without windows. This almost sounds more frightening than the cloak, since there's no reason why the sensors would have to be placed outside. Imagine a world where PHBs can turn their office wall into a window onto any cube. Zero privacy. The technology is great, but the potential for abuse is definitely there." Update: 06/15 00:20 GMT by T : You may remember we mentioned this project when it was cloak-only.
...i can see right thru their work,,,
"Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
Almost as good as glass walls for watching birds fly into it!
the story of the emperor's new clothes is not going to make any sense at all to our children.
Cthulu saves... in case he gets hungry later.
::helping geeks get laid since 1983::
do we get the Infinite Ammo Bandana and
Soliton Radar System to go with it?
anata sekai o kakumei surush ga nai deshou? Anata no susumu michi wa yoi shite arimasu.
Finally I'll be able to get into the women's locker room undetected!
An activity for two people called sex has been demonstrated by researchers from the University of Phoenix; almost immediately, the ACLU denounced the practice as invasive to privacy. "Somebody can just carry off your DNA, which contains everything about you, and do who knows what with it," stated an unidentified ACLU spokesman. Meanwhile, dork website Slashdot recommended using a version of sex modified for one person.
The key development of the cloak, however, was the development of a new material called retro-reflectum.
Anyone else think "retro-reflectum" sounds like some harry potter spell?
I should have read closer... that's not really cool at all. I can't sneak into the women's locker room with that thing.
All we need is Admiral Akbar to announce "It's a TRAP!"
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
As for see-thru wall, it's probably a lot easier then this guy wants it to be...
:)
I've got one... it's called a *window*
In other words, when the wall's off, it's opaque
Yup, got one of those too... it's called a *window blind*.
Not sure if the technology's there yet, though....
Cap'n Archer's Enterprise doesn't have a cloaking device and thats 150 odd years into the future! Pfft. I hate it when TV lies to me.
So what you're saying is that there is no use mucking about with all these reflectors, LEDs and computers. Just paint the guy pink and turn on a cheap and simple Somebody Else's Problem Field.
Oh, to be able to get women's clothes to become invisible at will!...
I don't think soldiers will be wearing this technology any time soon.
Especially since the army has already invested in their first uniform redesign in 23 years as announced today, and it should take 3 years for a transition. So if they go at the same rate, expect something like this in 25 years or so.
Yeah, it would be very similar to a world full of ads for X-10 cameras and high availibility of office security cameras. I wouldn't want to live in a world like that. I mean ... riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
My blog
This technology opens us up to all sorts of new privacy abuses--oh, wait, no it doesn't. We've had cameras for years. It's the display that's new.
I think the poster is worried that they'll replace his tin-foil hat with one of these optical camo dealies. Then all his hard work will be for nought; everybody he meets will be able to see his thoughts, his filthy, filthy thoughts.
Imagine a world where PHBs can turn their office wall into a window onto any cube. Zero privacy.
I cannot believe that's your biggest worry.
Dude, if you're spending so much time on Slashdot that your PHB has to put a half a billion dollars worth of tech in your cube just to get an honest day's work outta you, then you have some serious issues.
Just do your job, man. And then your PHB won't have to have an entire Romulan Warbird keep a friggin eye on you.
Weaselmancer
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
This is slashdot, where you always get bonus points for pointing out potential privacy abuses, no matter how remote the possibility is.
Now if only the romulans would let starfleet have the technology...
This sounds like it's the future of what our soldiers will be wearing.
No, it sounds like what future peeping toms will be wearing.
That's okay -- if the military won't buy it, the rave kiddies will.
I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
Hmmm... Velcro. Stealthy....
The Philosophy of Liberty | lewrockwell.com
Hurray for American Ingenuity! Who else would think to wait till they saw something halfway across the world in the news, then quickly patent the idea in their home country?
Holy Schitt, you might be right... I heard of this evil technology that's available right now, as we speak, to PHBs, the CIA, and other evil entities. It permits them to see things located in another place, live, or they can store the collected images as a motion picture of sorts and refer back to it later. This evil invention is called the video camera, and I have a feeling that these things will soon pop up all over the place. Zero privacy. Oh well.
WOW! I love that.
But, imagine if civil disobedience crowds wore this stuff. I wonder what it would look like from heli-cams or orbital devices.
It might confuse the hell out of sharks, too. Especially if the makers can keep it from shorting out, and if it can project menacing images to deter the shark. Maybe it might be better to just give chemical repellents to the people in this predicament.
Halloween parties could be really freaky, especially if the shimmering effects make the kids laugh.
But, we would have problems if people in these digs (with audio effects) were running around shimmering and growling in Leisure World. Might kick some tickers into overdrive.
David Syes
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
If a soldier wants to blend into Los Angeles, all he needs to do is wear-- nah, it's too easy...
"The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the pieces." --Aldo Leopold (Paraphrased)
I'm just afraid that if I put the cloak on, it shows whats on the either side: My very mangy cold naked butt!
Karma whoring
(President Scroob is having a pee when the wall in front of him becomes a video screen)
Officer: "President Scroob"
President Scroob: "Aargh. I told you never to call me on this wall."
(He gets his pecker caught in his zip)
Listen to it!
Other Spaceballs quotes
The Awful Truth
I'm ex military (australia) and the last thing you want or need is velcro on your uniform. Waiting quietly in an ambush, just need to carefully and slowly remove a pen from my pocket RRRRIIIIPPPPPPPPP
:-)
You ambush the enemy with just a pen?
You guys must be REALLY tough...
Information wants to be beer.
You ambush the enemy with just a pen?
The pen is mightier than the SAW!
Thank you, I'm here all week.
I say we take-off and slashdot the site from orbit... it's the only way to be sure
First, it uses by projecting light onto something. So it doesn't work at night. Second, looking at the cloak, there's still shadows and all. And now they want to apply the same technology to make invisible walls? They'll have a tough job beating the ancient technology called 'glass'.
Reminds me of the old joke:
Q: What do you call a device to listen to the heart?
A: A stethoscope.
Q: What do you call a device to see far?
A: A telescope.
Q: What do you call a device to see very small things?
A: A microscope.
Q: What do you call a device that allows you to see through walls?
A: A window.
Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
They are. They have to be. They've got some scary wildlife down there in Oz -- haven't you heard about the heavily-armed kangaroos? (page has no bookmark link -- page down to "Damn Wildlife").
David Gould
main(i){putchar(340056100>>(i-1)*5&31|!!(i<6)<< 6)&&main(++i);}