Many of us have been in that situation of spotting someone we don't want to see approaching and wishing to disappear.
A British start-up has made that wish a reality with an actual invisibility shield.
London-based Invisibility Shield Co has spent years developing the latest versions of its 'optical cloaking technology', which can completely hide people and objects from view in broad daylight.
Invisibility Shield designer Tristan Thompson stated: 'The possibilities are limitless, but most importantly, these shields are enjoyable, they're fun to play around with, and they're exciting for us to create.
We wanted to see how far we could advance this technology. A real working invisibility shield that you can easily roll up and carry? Two years ago, nobody believed anyone could accomplish that.'
The shields function by using ultra-large precision engineered lens arrays. These arrays redirect the light that reflects off the person standing behind the shield away from the observer on the other side.
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The shape and placement of these lenses then causes background light from either side of the shields to spread over the shield’s face and be directed towards the observer instead, effectively concealing whatever is behind.
So essentially, it functions like a mirror for the person behind it, but a window for everything else.
However, the company has not specified what practical uses it thinks the shields could be deployed for, and instead are focusing on fun.
And if you’re imagining a Harry Potter-style cloak, well, they’re still a little way off that.
The shield is simply a fixed board with handles for the 'wearer' to hold or use to prop it up and use hands-free.
The firm added: “The new shields have also been designed with convenience in mind and can pack down as small as 1/30th of their assembled size, allowing people to easily take them anywhere they want to disappear.’
But disappearing doesn’t come cheap. While the 8″ 'Mini' shield is available for £54, the 3′ 'Full size' costs £329, while those in the market for the 'Megashield' will have to part with £769.
Even though it conceals several people at once, so you might be able to split the cost.
