Cloak of Invisibility Coming Soon?

Chris writes "The idea of an "invisibility cloak" has made the leap from science fiction books to an international patent application. The "three dimensional cloaking process and apparatus" for concealing objects and people (WO 02/067196) employs photodetectors on the rear surface which are used to record the intensity and color of a source of illumination behind the object. Light emitters on the front surface then generate light beams that exactly mimic the same measured intensity, color and trajectory. The result is that an observer looking at the front of the object appears to see straight through it."

The biggest question of course...

[kylus]

...what's the bonus to saving throws when wearing it? :)

S.E.P. field theory?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd have thought a Somebody Else's Problem field would be much easier and cheaper to contstruct. But I guess our reasearch into Psi is less advanced.

In fact...

[Anonymous Coward]

...it will be so expensive it will make your money vanish right before you eyes!

Flaw

[alnapp]

I suspect that the squeaking of the wheelbarrow that you'll need to carry the batteries, fuel cells or magic moonbeams that'll be needed to power this thing will render any invisibility firly useless.

But I still want one, go figure

Far more useful

[anthonyclark]

I'll be more impressed when a Cloak of Charisma is released; hellloooo, laydeez|boyz!

(and no, those new cargo pants you just bought from Gap do not count).

Been done

[Anonymous Coward]

Most readers of Slashdot already have one of these. Problem is, it only works on women.

I can see it already

[Wind_Walker]

Person who thinks he's invisible: You can't see me!!!

Naked Woman: Actually, I can see a shimmery shape, because you're slightly off-center to me.

PWTHI: Wait, wait, you're not in the right place. Move to the left.

NW: Ok. Now you're even MORE shimmery

PWTHI: No, no, MY left, not your left

NW: Oh, sorry. There, the shimmering went away.

PWTHI: Ha ha ha ha!!!! I can see you naked!!

NW: Sir, this is a strip club. It's not exactly difficult.

Here's an even better application

[Brento]

Instead of making me invisible, I just want it to make me look thinner. Shave off my side edges by painting the background over my sides, and voila, I've lost 20 pounds.

Wow, it sounds exactly like...

[ActiveSX]

...Metal Gear Solid! Honestly, I think the bandana would be more fun to have, but I'd settle for invisibility, even if a cardboard box works most of the time.

Huh?

[Hard_Code]

What, no pictures?

A patent!

[Bob Cat - NYMPHS]

Where do I send my money so he can finish the prototype? I want to use it to hide my perpetual motion machine!

Close one

[The Pim]

Whew!... just imagine if this technology had been developed before our ability to uncloak terrorist networks [slashdot.org].

Re:The biggest question of course...

[oval_pants]

+1 bonus
-6000 dexterity for "wheelbarrow that you'll need to carry the batteries, fuel cells or magic moonbeams " post [slashdot.org]

I'll believe it...

[yelims]

...when I see it.

Sorry, it had to be said.

Geez.

[Gannoc]

Wouldn't it be easier just to drill a hole into the girl's locker room?

I mean, its not as high tech, but its a lot cheaper.

Hopefully...

[l1gunman]

...they'll also discover the cure for "Quicksilver Madness" before this goes operational.

I made one of these. Now I can't find it!

[Bubblesculpter]

I made one of these before...

...Now I can't find it.

Can they fire phasers while cloaked?

[goatwarrior]

We won't be ahead of the Klingons until we can fire phasers while cloaked.

I much rather have...

[GutterBunny]

...a productivity cloak.

Imagine it. You're having a lousy day at the office. Got nothing done, but read email. Your boss comes storming in asking for a report that's 2 months overdue. You simply throw on your productivity cloak and (walla!) your screen shows a nearly completed report, while you appear confident it'll be done soon.

Re:moving "eyes" can pick it up?

[happyclam]

Reminds me of Predator, and the way that it shimmered when it moved. My guess is that they used the same thought when they made that movie.

More likely, they were just thinking that a truly invisible creature didn't make for very scary film footage.

Tall guy sitting in front of you.....

[3seas]

Now that they have solved the tall guy sitting in front of you in the movie theater .... Now they just need to solve the jerk sitting behind you kicking your seat.

Easily defeated...

[DevNova]

As soon as someone wearing this walks in front of a painting or billboard or magazine rack...BAM!...you get them on copyright infrigement. No hope for you.

Re:Practicality?

[CitizenjaQ]

This color scheme is used on a certain tropical fish (though I forget it's name/species/location). It's shaded dark/black on the top and light on the bottom.

That would be the "penguin" species of tropical fish, I believe.

Re:The biggest question of course...

[Dark Lord Seth]

+2, +5 vs Trolls