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Boeing Patents Star Wars Style Force Field Technology
An anonymous reader was one of many to point out that Boeing doesn't want to rely on a sad devotion to an ancient religion to protect aircraft and conjure up the stolen data tapes, but plans on using force fields instead. "Boeing's new patent may let the force be with you even in real life. The aircraft and defense company has taken a cue from science fiction with its plan to develop a Star Wars style force field that would use energy to deflect any potential damage. Just liking the luminescent shields seen in the film, Boeing's "Method and system for shock wave attenuation via electromagnetic arc" could provide a real-life layer of protection from nearby impacts to targets. The downside: It won't protect from direct hits."
This is Sci-Fi because somebody in marketing thought they could get more buzz if they called it that. It deflects shockwaves, not projectiles. Then again who knows; maybe the blasters in Star Wars just make photon shockwaves? But this just looks like trademark infringement to me.
The sad thing is their clickbait worked. But a shockwave deflector shield is pretty neat tech anyway.
I sometimes ask revealing, often ignorant-seeming questions. Maybe they're harder to answer than you think.
I'm waiting for rock bands to start using it for speakers! ;)
So, can Douglass Adams' estate claim prior art via Disaster Zone?