Thursday, May 25, 2006

Will JK Get Any Recognition...?

If you had one of these, what would you make invisible?

So obviously the technology will be used to make it easier for people to kill other people, as with most new, cool stuff. But the article added an interesting afterthought:

As well as hiding objects, an invisibility cloak could have other uses, such as clearing away obstructions and eyesores.

Factory buildings or warehouses could be encased in invisibility material to prevent them blocking views of the unspoiled countryside.



I'm all for the pretty views, but it might be good to think about ways this technology could be abused. Big polluters already tuck their emissions away from the public eye - a building sized "cloak" could make it easier for industry to build closer to residential and other sensitive areas, increasing health risks.

Obviously there are many ways this material could be used for evil - there must be some ways it could be used for good, right? I guess researchers could use it to observe wildlife with less interference. That's all I can come up with right now. I'm sure there are worlds of possibilities I'm not thinking of because my mind has immediately turned to spies, and longer lines at airports.

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