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.

Comments

Window Offices Galore!

[BlueCup]

While the potential for having windows viewing into cubes is there, it seems like security cameras already do this.

No, I think the positives for this could far outway the negatives. Just think about how great it would be to have a window view of the outside world, even though you're in the middle of the building... sure, it's something that could be done with a monitor, but this sounds like it would give it a more real effect...

... cost however would probably keep this from changing anything.

Re:Window Offices Galore!

[Syre]

I saw the cloak demonstrated last month and talked to the U. of Tokyo people who were showing it and I have to tell you: this is about the lamest thing ever.

THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY THERE AT ALL!

It's a grey cloak. That's it. A grey cloak. You look at it, and it's a grey cloak. Nothing special at all. But no, "please look at the video monitor!"

Oh, in the video monitor the cloak is sorta transparent. Why? Because they're doing an absolutely standard compositing effect IN THE VIDEO MONITOR.

The cloak is NOT transparent. It's just a piece of blue screen and they composite the background on it. But only if you look at a video monitor. In real life, the cloak is entirely opaque and it's just a grey cloak.

I asked the professor how long it would be before they had a real working prototype and he said "Maybe 20 years."

In other words, they have nothing. Just a concept. And it's not even a new concept. It's an old science fiction concept.

There is nothing to see here. It's just PR and a very standard old-hat video effect.

Best possibility for abuse...

[Cat9117600]

Almost as good as glass walls for watching birds fly into it!

people who live in optical camoflage houses...

[philoticjane]

the story of the emperor's new clothes is not going to make any sense at all to our children.

So when

[Ossadagowah]

do we get the Infinite Ammo Bandana and
Soliton Radar System to go with it?

The evils of technology!

[J. T. MacLeod]

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."

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.

Wow, my last two posts have been bitter. I suppose Slashdot has finally rubbed off on me.

Re:The evils of technology!

[dubl-u]

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.

Locker Room

[cybermint]

Finally I'll be able to get into the women's locker room undetected!

Sex invented, Slashdotters have "privacy concerns"

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:Future of armed infantry

[cybermint]

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.

Re:Future of armed infantry

[EvilTwinSkippy]

Well, no, you can't run with this stuff on. You would blur just like the Preditor. Probably worse than blur, as there is a transform equation that is run. You have to potential to flare out into interesting color patterns until it settles into a solid state if you step between two radically different backgrounds. (Red to Blue might accidentally take you through green, or flourescent purple.)

The IR thing is more of a problem. Heck, we already have an excellent visible light stealth system. It's called DARK. All night vision systems track IR since it's generally around in abundence at night.

You are also still a target on Radar, and probably Lidar as the system still reflects or absorbs high amplitude pulses of light differently that the background.

You also run into interesting problems with lighting. If someone shines a spotlight on you, your shadow would still be dark, so you would stand out as a dark spot.

There are undoubtedly computational ways around all that, but after a while your number cruncher is going to be more of an emmission signature than whatever you are hiding.

Re:Future of armed infantry

[baxissimo]

It requires an image to be project on the material.

Actually it's worse than that. It requires the image be projected from the onlooker's point of view. That's what they mean by HMP (==head-mounted projector) So for army dudes to use this, they'd have to actually run up to the enemy, and surreptitiously slap a projector on the head of each bad guy they wanted to hide from, then run back and go about their business of avoiding detection. There's probably a greater liklihood of success basing your military tactics on lethally funny jokes.

Re:Future of armed infantry

[aka-ed]

It's way more complicated than that:

In Susumu Tachi's cloaking system, a camera behind the wearer feeds background images through a computer to a projector, which paints them on a jacket as though it were a movie screen. The wearer appears mysteriously translucent - as long as observers are facing the projection head-on and the background isn't too bright.

To Achieve true invisibility, optical camouflage must capture the background from all angles and display it from all perspectives simultaneously. This requires a minimum of six stereoscopic camera pairs, allowing the computer to model the surroundings and synthesize the scene from every point of view. To display this imagery, the fabric is covered with hyperpixels, each consisting of a 180 x 180 LED array behind a hemispherical lens. This is fantastic, although I'd rather drink a potion.

http://www.kevinrewatts.com/filter/archives/2003_0 7.html

Good grief

[Weaselmancer]

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

Something scarier is already out there.

[rice_burners_suck]

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.

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.

Re:Future of armed infantry

[mattrumpus]

Once again Mil Procurement fucks it up. Just read the cnn article. VELCRO fucking pockets!! 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're dead... Perhaps its not such a problem for US forces, with all that technology maybe there's no need for Fieldcraft anymore - but I doubt it...