I've just read an article in the latest issue of Discovery magazine (US, May 2011) that has the title "Invisibility Cloaks Hit the Big Time". Following is the whole article:

Until recently, every invisibility cloak developed has operated at microscopic scale, hiding objects that were already too small to see with the naked eyes. If invisibility cloak for invisible things seem disappointing, take heart: This year two separate teams stepped up with the first devices capable of concealing objects as big as a paper clip, bringing a practical invisibility cloak within reach.

In both cases, the researchers carved out a hiding place in a mineral known as a calcite crystal. Physicist Shuang Zhang and colleagues at the University of Birmingham in England hid a paper clip, while MIT engineer George Barbastathis and his team chose a rolled up piece of paper. Both objects appear to vanish."This is not simply an illusion," Barbastathis says."Even scientific instruments will not be able to detect the objects."

The real magic is an optical property of calcite called anisotropy. The mineral splits up light rays and reflects them in such a way that it renders the chamber invisible. Of course, there is a catch. Concealment depends on light waves oscillating in the same direction, an effect that spoils most practical applications. Zhang, however, is hopeful; he believes the technology might eventually be capable of hiding humans.

Is this the cloak that has a camera being pointed at it? ANd looks like a 1980's version of powerppoint? (pun)

When it comes to cloaking though we just haven't found something that can bend light effectively. A power source, enough magnetism and certain materials will warp space time. Thats how you warp light. Heard some sort of... meta materials or meta metals.

We'll see where it leads. Would be sweet for surprise parties, hiding the entire party from the unsuspecting birthday boy

We'll see where it leads. Would be sweet for surprise parties, hiding the entire party from the unsuspecting birthday boy
lol
thats exactly what i thought about when i read this!

lol great minds think alike.

Just wait a few years... You'll see amazing things.

Is this the cloak that has a camera being pointed at it? ANd looks like a 1980's version of powerppoint? (pun)

When it comes to cloaking though we just haven't found something that can bend light effectively. A power source, enough magnetism and certain materials will warp space time. Thats how you warp light. Heard some sort of... meta materials or meta metals.

No, it has to do with the crystals properties not being identical in all directions, like that light won't pass through in one direction, but may do so in another direction.This will in essence give you the ability to shape the path light will move through a medium. No cameras and projectors.

There were two different ones I was talking about. Meta materials bend light by producing small magnetic fields and distor the light path. Most likely what your talking about.

The first one was this weird japanese cloak with a freacking projector... so damn embarassing really. Looked like a cheap 1980's power point demonstration lol Hell not even a blind guy would fall for that one

There were two different ones I was talking about. Meta materials bend light by producing small magnetic fields and distor the light path. Most likely what your talking about.

The first one was this weird japanese cloak with a freacking projector... so damn embarassing really. Looked like a cheap 1980's power point demonstration lol Hell not even a blind guy would fall for that one

Yes, I know the exact product you're talking about. I believe it was a raincoat or something. XD The point probably wasn't to develop a military grade stealth device; it was probably just a gimmick. I could see uses for that product though: visible enough so that other pedestrians and drivers still can see you, but transluscent enough so that you don't block someones field of vision.

Calcite, the material mentioned in the OP, isn't a meta material since it isn't artificially engineered. It's a naturally occuring crystal that has some interesting refractive properties, but not the same as the materials you mention. I know what you're talking about though.

oh nvm then. i was talking about a device that looks like rings of metals within rings of metals that bend light. Like looking at distant galaxies with the help of more nearby galaxies.

Nvm didn't even knew there was a natural ocurring material that could be used for that.

On the raincoat thing... I dont know. Something that "allows" you to see but also allows you to be seen to an extent is a bit weird.

Either way .....lol the only raincoat I've seen that is awesome looking is in the Ghost Recon future soldier trailer lol. now THAT is a freaking awesome raincoat/ stealth robe :p

I picture people using it for more criminal things. and a few teenager things. i.e. hiding in plain sight in a girls shower room.

Doubt it will be available for civilian purposes that soon. As always technology follows this path.

Animals.. unfortunately
Spec Ops
Elite Infantry
Mass Production for Military Purposes
Black Market
Civilian under restriction, and safety measures.

By the time someone is able to use it in the civilian world to watch women get naked most likely it will have a counter to it. Some EMP device designed specifically for lower quality stealth parts like civilians could get. Place in airports, military instalations... locker rooms of course.

I mean how sick would be for a birth day boy to enter his house and all the sudden have people appear from nowhere behind him... Like harry potter cloak but a big ass blanky ... would be sweet.. SURPRISE... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!.