What is an Invisibility Cloak?
There are two versions of an invisibility cloak that scientists are working to perfect. The first uses augmented reality, or a combination of computers, cameras and reflective surfaces to make a person appear invisible. The second invisibility cloak is made of metamaterials using nanotechnology. The first invisibility cloak is sometimes called optical camouflage. A person wears a cloak made of a special reflective material. When viewed by an observer from a particular angle, that cloaked person disappears from the view. This invisibility cloak uses parts of a scientific offshoot called augmented reality technology. This technology provides useful information to supplement the real world. An example of this is a portable Global Positioning System (GPS) that tells useful information about a particular location or a pair of goggles that overlaps computer generated information to the real world picture viewed by the wearer. Using some ideas behind this technology, scientists have been able
The search for invisibility technology has been the focus of much scientific research. Studies delving into its mechanics and possibilities have been in motion as early as the 1960s. Ivan Sutherland (Harvard University Professor) made groundbreaking research on the subject of scientific basis of visual invisibility through the technology dubbed as augmented reality.
