[TML] 3d Invisible now

[John Kwon]

On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Jerry W Barrington <
jerry.barrington at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 8/11/08 9:27 AM, "Leon Wu" <Leon.Wu at newswire.ca> wrote:
>
> > Next step to Ghost in the Shell's thermo-optical camoflague...
>
> Well, all this "cloaking" tech is working on bending or eliminating
> incoming
> light.  But what about the IR coming off the target?  It *has* to come out,
> or you fry yourself.
>


There are currently limitations to the effectiveness of thermal imaging.
One is resolution.  The other is that even without Traveller "chameleon"
IR-matching technology, if you're in hot terrain, virtually everything is
going to blend in as white (except bodies of water) and yes, I know how to
adjust my thermals.  Essentially, if the background is similar to body
temperature, people aren't going to stick out on thermals.

When night comes, however, you can see a mouse easily.

Yes, the IR comes out, but that is no guarantee that a thermal will see you.

Additionally, I've used something as simple as a WW II German technique to
hide from thermals.  It's called an umbrella.  Just cut half of the top
away, festoon it with burlap, and push it in front of you as you crawl.
Thermal won't see through the umbrella, and as long as you are behind it,
they won't see you.  Even if you do peek out enough to take a shot, you're
not a human silhouette (maybe we should have a Spotting thread).

People are looking for a head and torso or a head, torso and legs.  When
actually they should be looking for parts of the body alone.  If you don't
have the resolution and don't have enough background difference, the image
recognition wetware in your head won't be able to spot people.