Illusion Cloak Makes One Object Look Like Another 219
KentuckyFC writes "Metamaterials are synthetic substances that can steer light in any way imaginable. Their most famous incarnation is in invisibility cloaks which work by steering light around a region of space making any object inside that region invisible. But invisibility is just the start. A team of physicists in Hong Kong (the same guys who recently worked out how to cloak objects at a distance) have worked out how to create a cloak that makes one object look like another. Instead of steering light to make a region of space look empty, the illusion cloak manipulates light in a way that makes a region of space look as if it contains a specific object. So any object within that region of space, a mouse say, takes on the appearance of an elephant."
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:5, Insightful)
We're about as close to achieving a usable cloak of illusion as we are to achieving world piece...
ugg (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:That's some sweet stuff (Score:3, Insightful)
Still won't change the pleasure your new elephant can give.
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:5, Insightful)
Seems to me like you could just make a small tank look like a heavy truck by hanging some shit on it. Ditto for the rocket launcher situation.
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:5, Insightful)
Or vice versa.
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:2, Insightful)
It's made out of unobtanium (Score:3, Insightful)
Amazing magic tricks? (Score:1, Insightful)
A peaceful application would be for magicians, since these could lead to amazing magic tricks.
Are you really all that amazed by "Wow! That guy bought a product and used it! On stage!"?!?
Re:Magic: yes or no? (Score:2, Insightful)
Silly rabbit (Score:3, Insightful)
What makes you think there are no prototypes yet? Just because they didn't show you photos? If you were in the military, wouldn't you fly out to see these guys ASAP when you heard this? Would you give them large amounts of cash if it looked probable? Would you keep a very tight lid on any prototypes that they produced?
I am not a believer in conspiracy theories, but I would be very disappointed in the collective militaries of the world if SOMEONE wasn't working with these guys on making this happen.
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:3, Insightful)
Imagine the ability to make a tank look like a heavy truck at a distance(say to a drone)
While that may work really well with people and detection systems that depend on light, it's probably worth pointing out that these metamaterials will probably have little affect on other methods of detection, such as radar and infrared, for example.
Metamaterials are synthetic substances that can steer light in any way imaginable
As I understand it, Drones have do have infrared cameras (as an example). Of course, that doesn't make much difference if the ground pilot is navigating entirely by the visible light camera and has to switch modes or something, but I'm not really sure how that stuff works. I think it's worth considering, though.
Something else too, I imagine many autonomous systems we have / develop probably don't / won't depend on visible light either.
I wonder how metamaterials affect other, invisible parts of the spectrum?
Re:That's some sweet stuff (Score:2, Insightful)
If they are hot just fuck them in the ass. What's the big problem. Ass is ass if they are hot. Just stick your cock in their nice plump rear and call it a night. Fucking prude.
- Wolf Bearclaw
Re:Doesnt sound like much? (Score:3, Insightful)
The disguise cloak will probably be more expensive than a rocket launcher. :)
Re:Silly rabbit (Score:3, Insightful)
Just because they didn't show you photos
Of an invisibility cloak ?