HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Start-up’s £769 hi-tech invisibility shield makes you vanish... just like boy wizard Harry Potter
■ THE first astronauts to land on the Moon in more than 50 years will carry tools to measure seismic activity beneath the lunar surface if all goes to plan. They will also set up a mini greenhouse to monitor plant growth and hunt ice deposits, says Nasa. The Artemis III mission, planned for 2026, also aims to put the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon’s surface.
THEY say seeing is believing but this mind-bending ‘invisibility shield’ is helping its makers cash in by playing tricks on the eyes of observers.
Inspired by fictional superpowers and the ‘invisibility cloak’ used by boy wizard Harry Potter, a team of pals have created a device that will help you hide in plain sight.
Essentially a flat panel that magically hides whoever ducks behind it, the shield is a great way to surprise friends or avoid enemies. It works by deflecting light around people using a precision engineered lens array, say creators Invisibility Shield Co.
The shape and placement of the lenses cause background light to spread over its face and be directed towards the observer instead, effectively cloaking whatever is behind.
‘The possibilities are endless but, most important of all, these shields are great fun to play around with,’ said designer Tristan Thompson. ‘We wanted to see how far we could push this technology and now have a real working invisibility shield you can roll up and sling over your shoulder.’
The shield’s rigid frame means it is free-standing and it doesn’t need a power source. It is also constructed out of 100 per cent recyclable material.
The team has set up a Kickstarter fund to launch the business. The 6ft-tall Megashield costs £769 and will be available by the end of the year.