London-based Invisibility Shield Co. has launched a new range of portable screens that it claims can completely conceal a person from view, edging closer to the iconic Harry Potter invisibility cloak. The company says its precision-engineered lens arrays scatter light reflected from anyone standing behind them, effectively rendering them invisible.
How the Invisibility Technology Works
Tristan Thompson, founder of Invisibility Shield Co., said: "In terms of use cases for the new invisibility material, we are getting closer to the type of invisibility cloak featured in Harry Potter. It's not truly flexible in the way a fabric is yet, but it's getting close." He added: "Right now it is possible to join sheets of material together, wrap them around a person or object and hide them/it from view. There are potential military applications as you can imagine."
The material can also be fitted with an adhesive backing, allowing it to be effortlessly applied to windows or room dividers to create instant invisibility screens. The company states: "This can extend to any size as the material can be tiled indefinitely to hide truly massive objects - on that subject we've received a lot of interest and are currently in preliminary tests to use the material to hide unsightly objects in the landscape such as cellphone towers."
Product Range and Pricing
The new range includes several shield sizes, along with a 180 by 120cm 'Megashield', billed as the largest commercially available invisibility shield on the market. Pre-order prices range from a 12" 'Mini' shield for £49 to the £599 Megashield. The company is currently accepting pre-orders via Kickstarter.
Thompson said: "This generation is about allowing people to flexibly cloak whatever they wish. We're also pushing the effect further - with bigger, clearer, and more durable invisibility shields."
Potential Applications and Next Steps
Beyond personal use, the company highlights potential military applications and ongoing tests to hide large landscape objects like cellphone towers. As the material can be tiled indefinitely, it could be scaled to hide truly massive objects, according to the firm. The company is currently in preliminary tests for such uses, with pre-orders open now for the new range.
