A CAMERA that can see through people’s clothing at distances of up to 80ft has been developed to help detect weapons, drugs and explosives. The camera could be deployed in railway stations, shopping centres and other public spaces. Although it can see objects under clothes, its designers say the images do not show anatomical details. However, it is likely to increase fears that Britain has become a surveillance society.
The new technology, known as the T5000 system, has attracted interest from police forces, train companies and airport operators as well as government agencies. It has been developed by ThruVision, an Oxfordshire-based company spun out from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, one of the government’s leading physics research centers. It was designed for use in spacecraft and astronomy but researchers soon realised that cameras capable of seeing through clouds of cosmic dust could also see through clothing. ThruVision already offers a smaller system designed for office foyers that can scan through clothing at a range of 30ft-40ft. Bill Foster, the president of Thermal Matrix, an American defense contractor specializing in imaging systems for the US military, is one customer. He said: “This could be deployed at major sporting events, concerts and rail stations as well as for military use.”
How many of you would’ve killed for this as a kid. Of course, it will never be used for questionable purposes.
I bought a set of those specs when I was a kid.
Boy was I disappointed when they showed up. I don’t think they had the “An hilarious optical illusion” disclaimer back then. If they did, I was too young to know what it meant.
I knew I’d chosen the wrong HMO when my doctor walked into the exam room wearing X-ray Specs 😉
TeraHertz, technology. Very cool stuff. See your patient’s broken bones, and sterilize him at the same time.
This reminds me of the subway scene in Total Recall. Phil K. Dick was a visionary.
it’s 2008 – is it too much to ask for a pic? thank goodness for DU article banners.
Sony had to pull a camcorder off the market a few years ago because it would “see” through clothes. Apparently quite well from what I remember reading.
Use in trains and subways is ridiculous. People shouldn’t be treated like criminals because they are carrying guns.
6. Fahrquar. You beat me to this one. It was the IR nightvision aspect that allowed it to see thru clothing, I believe. My Uncle had one.
RBG
I have to wonder what Muslims are going to think of this thing — obviously, they are VERY sensitive to anyone seeing under the hijabs of their women.
I bought a pair of those X-Ray specs when I was a kid. They created a sort-of halo around things. I took them apart to see how they worked (like I did everything) and was surprised to find a small down-like feather in each eye hole. I never did understand why the feather.
Apparently, electrical conductors such as metal and conductive liquids such as body parts (66% salty water)are opaque to T-rays. So a $5000.00 invasion of the public privacy is cured by 5 cents worth of aluminum foil.
nunyac
So much for that radiation limit that we are supposed to be bombarded with each year.
It just happens to be called a T5000? Sounds like SkyNet to me.
I’m wearing my tinfoil jockey shorts.
And yet they arrest you if you go around nude on a hot day….Shesh!