Post by Cadeho on Feb 7, 2003 17:49:33 GMT -5
Tokyo Professor Working on Invisibility
Fri Feb 7,12:38 PM ET Add AP - Feature Stories to My Yahoo!
NEW YORK - A University of Tokyo professor claims he and his research team have developed a system that can make you 'invisible.'
Engineering Professor Susumu Tachi is in the early stages of technology that he says will eventually enable camouflaged objects to be virtually transparent by wearing an optical device.
Professor Tachi demonstrated the technology on Wednesday. In a photo of graduate student Kazutoshi Obana, it appears as if three men walking in the background can be seen 'through' Obana's green overcoat.
The retroreflective material of the coat acts as a screen and gives a transparent - or invisible - effect.
For the best effect - one that keeps the correct depth of focus - the observer needs to look through a pinhole.
Tachi's second example shows the image of the skeleton being projected onto a sheet of the retroreflective material, giving the impression the body has become transparent.
The technology could be useful in medicine, where surgeons might use it during operations to avoid having their fingers or surgical tools block their view.
In aviation, cockpit floors could become 'invisible' to assist pilots in landing.
Professor Tachi hopes to have a commercially viable system within a few years.
Fri Feb 7,12:38 PM ET Add AP - Feature Stories to My Yahoo!
NEW YORK - A University of Tokyo professor claims he and his research team have developed a system that can make you 'invisible.'
Engineering Professor Susumu Tachi is in the early stages of technology that he says will eventually enable camouflaged objects to be virtually transparent by wearing an optical device.
Professor Tachi demonstrated the technology on Wednesday. In a photo of graduate student Kazutoshi Obana, it appears as if three men walking in the background can be seen 'through' Obana's green overcoat.
The retroreflective material of the coat acts as a screen and gives a transparent - or invisible - effect.
For the best effect - one that keeps the correct depth of focus - the observer needs to look through a pinhole.
Tachi's second example shows the image of the skeleton being projected onto a sheet of the retroreflective material, giving the impression the body has become transparent.
The technology could be useful in medicine, where surgeons might use it during operations to avoid having their fingers or surgical tools block their view.
In aviation, cockpit floors could become 'invisible' to assist pilots in landing.
Professor Tachi hopes to have a commercially viable system within a few years.
Awww thanks